Canucks to start rookie Arturs Silovs in pivotal Game 5
The Vancouver Canucks will start rookie goalie Arturs Silovs as they look to eliminate the Nashville Predators in Game 5 of their first-round playoff series on Tuesday night.
The 23-year-old Latvian led the Canucks out for warm-ups after head coach Rick Tocchet said earlier in the day that his choice of netminder would be a “game-time decision.”
The Canucks have started three different goalies in the series and each has earned a win, giving Vancouver a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven matchup.
All-star goalie Thatcher Demko was in net for Vancouver in Game 1, but sustained a lower-body injury and is currently listed as week to week.
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.
Silovs got the start in Game 4, stopping 27 shots in his first-ever NHL playoff appearance as the Canucks came back from a late two-goal deficit to beat the Preds 4-3 in overtime.
DeSmith has been working his way back to full health and will be the backup for Game 5.
Tocchet said the decision about who would start Tuesday would be based on the health and recent performances of his goalies.
“You look at where that person is at injury-wise, you talk to the doctor, you talk to the trainer. And then you talk to him,” he said as his team skated Tuesday morning. “There has to be a three-way conversation. And then you make your decision.”
Vancouver's goalie situation is unlike anything veteran forward J.T. Miller has experienced over his 82 career playoff games.
“Maybe the starter a little bit, but never that many,” he said.
The way the netminders have responded to the adversity is important, Miller added.
“In the playoffs, it's the next-man-up mentality, and I think that goes for the goalies too,” he said. “They've been unreal. I couldn't imagine being in their spot where you do a lot of sitting around.. Those are big moments of the series.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 30, 2024.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Court eases internet restrictions for Sask. man who had sex with a 15-year-old girl he met on Tinder
A Saskatchewan man who had a sexual encounter with a 15-year-old girl he met on Tinder successfully appealed to shorten release conditions barring him from online dating.
Stittsville residents seeking answers as bylaw cracks down on street basketball nets
Stittsville residents on Kearnsley Way are seeking answers after an unusual bylaw crackdown on Friday. Every home with a basketball net received a ticket instructing homeowners to remove their nets from the road.
'A horrible way to start the summer': 3 killed in serious boat crash on lake north of Kingston, Ont.
Three people were killed and five others were injured Saturday night following a boat crash on the Buck Bay area of Bobs Lake, north of Kingston, Ont., the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) said.
Iran President Ebrahim Raisi still missing after helicopter accident in mountains
A helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, the country's foreign minister and other officials apparently crashed in the mountainous northwest reaches of Iran on Sunday, sparking a massive rescue operation in a fog-shrouded forest as the public was urged to pray.
What do we know so far about the mysterious crash of the helicopter carrying Iran's president?
The apparent crash of a helicopter carrying Iran's president and foreign minister on Sunday sent shock waves around the region.
Ex-partner charged with first-degree murder after 55-year-old woman killed in Montreal
Less than 24 hours after Montreal's 12th homicide investigation began, Montreal police confirmed that a 55-year-old woman's death in St. Michel is the island's 13th homicide. The woman's ex-spouse has been charged with first-degree murder.
Walmart, Costco refusing to sign grocery code of conduct 'untenable': industry minister
Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne says it's 'untenable' for 'smaller players' like Walmart and Costco to delay signing on to the government- and industry-led grocery code of conduct, now that industry giant Loblaw has agreed to do so.
VIDEO Born without front legs, this dog has been inspiring the world for 3 years: Dresden farm owner
A sanctuary dedicated to animals with disabilities is celebrating the third birthday of one of its most popular residents.
Toxic drugs circulating in northeastern Ont., police say
Canada’s largest First Nations police service, the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service issued a community safety alert as extremely toxic drugs are likely circulating in many of the communities it serves.