Goaltender Arturs Silovs will get a chance to win his second straight playoff game on Tuesday. But this time, it will be in front of the home fans.
Silovs will get the start as the Vancouver Canucks look to close out their series against the Nashville Predators in Game 5 on home ice.
Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet said Tuesday morning that the decision would be a “game-time decision” as Casey DeSmith is still dealing with a lower-body injury. DeSmith is expected to dress and be available as the backup on Tuesday.
Vancouver has started three different goalies in the series, each of which has earned a win, giving the Cancucks a 3-1 series lead.
All-star Thatcher Demko was in net for Vancouver in Game 1, but sustained a lower-body injury and is currently week to week. He was replaced by 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.
Silovs subsequently got the start in Game 4, stopping 27 shots in his first NHL playoff appearance as the Canucks came back from a late two-goal deficit to win 4-3 in overtime.
If the Canucks come out with a win, it’ll be their first playoff series win since the 2020 COVID bubble, and their first non-bubble series win since 2011. With a Game 5 win, Vancouver would move on and await the winner of the Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings matchup. The Oilers currently lead 3-1 in that series.