In a first-round series known for low-scoring games, the Vancouver Canucks beat the Nashville Predators 1-0 in Game 6 and secured their spots in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs by winning the match 4-2 in six games.
Surprisingly, the Canucks achieved this without starting goalie Thatcher Demko or backup netminder Casey DeSmith, both of whom were nursing injuries earlier in the series (DeSmith was available for Game 6, though).
As a result, rookie goaltender Arturs Silovs became a hero in Vancouver where fans celebrated the series-clinching win over Nashville on May 3 in the streets outside Rogers Arena.
Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet could have chosen to start DeSmith on Friday against the Predators as Vancouver entered Game 6 leading the series 3-2, but he chose to keep Silovs as the goalie, and the rookie stopped all 28 shots he faced.
Undoubtedly, the decision paid off for the Canucks, as they advanced to the second round for the first time since 2011, not counting the 2020 Bubble playoffs when no fans were allowed into venues.
Canucks Move to Second Round Supported by Rookie Arturs Silovs
Canucks goalie Silovs was not named the starter for Game 6 by coach Tocchet ahead of game time. Only when players hit the ice for pregame warmups was the decision revealed to everyone as Silovs was the first man coming out of the locker room.
Silovs’ 28 saves earned him a part of NHL history. The goalie became just the 14th rookie goalie to finish off a series with a shutout and only the fifth in the last 30 years.
With less than two minutes remaining in the third period of Game 6, the Canucks and the Predators were still tied with no goals. It was not until 18:21 into the final frame that Pius Sutter scored the game-winning goal for Vancouver.
“He stepped in and what a crazy scenario he’s been thrown into,” Canucks forward J.T. Miller said about Silovs. “He made the saves when he needed to in such a big and crazy environment. We’re happy for him.”
Canucks Injuries Help Arturs Silovs Perform an Amazing Shutout
The only reason Silovs was able to get into the Canucks starting lineup was due to the injuries suffered by fellow goalies Thatcher Demko (who was week-to-week after winning Game 1) and backup Casey DeSmith (the starter for Games 2 and 3).
Silovs made his postseason debut in Game 4 when the other two Vancouver goalies were ruled out, won that game and gave the Canucks a 3-1 series lead, but then lost Game 5 to the Predators.
Silovs and coach Tocchet, however, never lost any confidence and remained determined to support the team into the second round and to keep the rookie goalie as the goalie, respectively, entering Game 6.
“I just embraced the challenge,” Silovs told reporters after the Game 6 win on May 3. “I knew I had already played on big stages before. I was already familiar with what would happen, what kind of games they were going to be.
“It was a great opportunity for me to play for the big club and seize the opportunity.”
The Predators and the Canucks could not win a game in their arena for the last five games of the series following the first-round opener in which Vancouver took a 1-0 lead.
That happened in Game 6, a 1-0 regular win that allowed the Canucks to move to the next round where they will face the Edmonton Oilers.
This year, the Oilers ended the season in second position in the Pacific Division, following just behind the Canucks. Edmonton defeated the Los Angeles Kings 4-1 in the first round.
