Speculation swirls around who will start in goal for Vancouver Canucks in Game 5
It’s been 20 years since an NHL team won three playoff games in the same series with three different goaltenders. It was the Vancouver Canucks in 2004, and the Canucks have done it again in their first-round series against the Nashville Predators.
Starting goalie Thatcher Demko won Game 1 before bowing out of the series with an injury. Casey DeSmith stepped in and lost Game 2 before notching in a win in Nashville in Game 3. He suffered what’s believed to be a minor injury, and third-string goalie Arturs Silovs was between the pipes for the Canucks stunning come-from-behind overtime victory in Game 4 Sunday afternoon. It was the young Latvian’s first NHL playoff game.
“Really happy for him, played great,” said Canucks defensemen Tyler Myers. “Looking at that second period specifically, coming out of it only one goal down, goes to show how well he was playing.”
Canucks coach Rick Tocchet praised the team’s depth in net, but wouldn’t say who will start Game 5. five.
“It goes by hour. We will see how Casey is today. We are not making a decision at this moment,” said Tocchet on Monday.
Considering both DeSmith and Silovs won games that many thought the Canucks should have lost, Kevin Woodley with In Goal magazine says deciding on a starter for Tuesday night game won’t be easy.
“I think they are both capable. I think the experience Casey has, my hunch is it would be his job to lose still,” said Woodley.
But he added if the mysterious injury that kept DeSmith out of Game 4 is still impacting him, the Canucks should consider starting Silovs.
“If there is any chance there is anything lingering, why would you take that given how well Arty played? He’s given you that margin to maybe give Casey a little more time to make sure when he does return he is 100 per cent,” Woodley said.
While Canucks fans won’t find out who will start until game day, it won’t be Thatcher Demko, who remains week to week with a knee injury. But the team’s number one netminder did get some good news Monday. It was announced he’s one of three finalists for the Vezina trophy, the NHL award for the top regular season goaltender.
“Very deserving, he had an unbelievable year,” said Myers.
“If not for that injury down the stretch he probably has a real chance to be the winner,” added Woodley.
Demko would likely trade all the accolades for a chance to return to playoff hockey this season. But he will have to watch one of his backups take the ice on Tuesday, as the Canucks try to close out the Predators at home.
Woodley says while that’s not ideal, the team has proven they can win with any of their top goalies.
“You have to trust not just in the goaltenders themselves in that moment, but in the team to continue to play the way they have all season in front of them.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canada to launch 'national action plan' to fight auto theft
The federal government is launching what it calls its 'national action plan' to combat auto thefts, which will include stronger penalties for thieves, and increased information sharing between police agencies, government officials and border enforcement.
U.S. Supreme Court rejects appeal from former Guantanamo detainee Omar Khadr
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday rejected an appeal by a Canadian-born former Guantanamo detainee who was seeking to wipe away his war crimes convictions, including for killing a U.S. soldier in Afghanistan.
What is BORG drinking, and why is it a dangerous trend? An expert explains
If you've been to a party lately and haven't seen someone drinking a BORG, you're likely not partying with college students.
Iran's president and foreign minister die in helicopter crash at moment of high tensions in Mideast
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and the country's foreign minister were found dead Monday hours after their helicopter crashed in fog, leaving the Islamic Republic without two key leaders as extraordinary tensions grip the wider Middle East.
Michael Cohen says he stole from Trump's company as defence presses key hush money trial witness
Former Donald Trump attorney Michael Cohen admitted Monday to jurors in the Republican's hush money trial that he stole tens of thousands of dollars from Trump's company as defence lawyers seized on the star witness' misdeeds to attack his credibility.
The world's best airline is paying staff a bonus of 8 months' salary
Singapore Airlines will reward its employees with a bonus worth nearly eight months of salary, a person familiar with the matter told CNN on Friday.
Investors watching posts from 'Crypto King' in the wake of fraud, money laundering charges
Former investors of the self-styled “Crypto King” say they are watching his social media accounts and worried his displays of wealth are signs he’s spending their money, even now, as another large expense tied to Aiden Pleterski has triggered a previously unreported lawsuit.
Woman, 35, in critical condition after her truck collided with a Via Rail train near Montreal
A 35-year-old woman is in critical condition after the pick-up truck she was driving was struck by a Via Rail passenger train Monday morning in Quebec's Monteregie region.
Jury finds Andrei Donet guilty of second-degree murder in stabbing death of Montreal teen
A jury has found a 21-year-old man guilty of second-degree murder in the stabbing death of Montreal teenager Jannai Dopwell-Bailey outside his school in 2021.