Arturs Silovs has rocketed up the Vancouver CanucksB次元官网网址� depth chart this post-season, going from third-string goalie to starter in pivotal elimination games.
The rookie remains unfazed.
B次元官网网址淵ou just have to be always ready,B次元官网网址� Silovs said Sunday. B次元官网网址淎 lot of things happen in life like accident, someone gets hurt, right? And you just have to be ready to embrace your moment.B次元官网网址�
The 23-year-old Latvian netminder has made the most of his opportunities in recent weeks, backstopping the Canucks to two wins in his first three NHL playoff games.
On Friday, he made a series of crucial saves late as Vancouver blanked the Nashville Predators 1-0 and earned their way through to the second round where theyB次元官网网址檒l face the Edmonton Oilers. The victory marked SilovsB次元官网网址檚 first-ever NHL shutout.
B次元官网网址淚 think that he just did a great job,B次元官网网址� said Canucks captain Quinn Hughes. B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 a young guy but obviously very competitive. And the moment wasnB次元官网网址檛 too big for him. IB次元官网网址檓 really happy for him and really happy for our team that we have another guy like that in the locker room.B次元官网网址�
Playing Silovs wasnB次元官网网址檛 the plan when Vancouver started its playoff run.
All-star goalie Thatcher Demko was in net for Vancouver in Game 1 of the first-round series, but sustained a lower-body injury.
He was replaced by Casey DeSmith, who went 1-1-0 with a 2.02 goals-against average and a .911 save percentage in Games 2 and 3 before going down with a lower-body injury himself.
Enter Silovs.
The six-foot-four, 203-pound netminder spent much of the season with VancouverB次元官网网址檚 American Hockey League affiliate, the Abbotsford Canucks, making just four regular-season appearances for the NHL club.
Getting called into action in the playoffs hasnB次元官网网址檛 rattled him, though, said Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet.
B次元官网网址淯sually you tell a guy heB次元官网网址檚 playing, he gets a little bit more B次元官网网址� even as a forward or defenceman B次元官网网址� guys get a little bit more intense,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址�(Silovs) is the same guy, whether heB次元官网网址檚 a backup or a starter. I like that, guys that donB次元官网网址檛 change just because theyB次元官网网址檙e playing or not.B次元官网网址�
One of the rookie goalieB次元官网网址檚 mid-game rituals embodies his calm demeanour: between periods, Silovs sits in his stall with an ice bag on his head to cool down.
Whatever heB次元官网网址檚 doing seems to be working. Across Games 4, 5 and 6, Silovs went 2-1-0 with a 1.70 GAA, a .938 save percentage and a shutout.
The goalie credited experience on another big stage for preparing him for playoffs.
Last May, Silovs played in the world championships on home soil in Riga, Latvia. He helped his country to bronze B次元官网网址� its first medal B次元官网网址� and was named MVP of the tournament.
B次元官网网址淚 feel like especially playing at home, it was more like a pressure to (win) because like people are hungry for hockey there,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲e donB次元官网网址檛 have like any major team whoB次元官网网址檚 playing a full season. So I felt like this was the chance to show the people, to give something back. And IB次元官网网址檓 glad we managed to do it.B次元官网网址�
What role Silovs will play for the Canucks as the post-season continues remains to be seen.
Tocchet ruled Demko out for Game 1 of VancouverB次元官网网址檚 second-round series on Sunday, but said the star goalie is improving.
The coach said he and Canucks director of goaltending Ian Clark will look at a number of factors when they decided whether Silovs or DeSmith will start against the Oilers.
B次元官网网址淵ou go through the whole list,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檙e playing this team, the play of the goalie, how many practices heB次元官网网址檚 had, the health. ItB次元官网网址檚 the same thing (as always.)B次元官网网址�
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