Silovs gets Game 5 nod for Canucks

Arturs Silovs will get the opportunity to clinch a series win for the Vancouver Canucks.

The rookie is in net for Game 5 of their first-round playoff series against the Nashville Predators on Tuesday night. Silovs was Vancouver's surprise starter in Game 4 on Sunday in the wake of injuries to Thatcher Demko and Casey DeSmith.

Both Silovs and DeSmith got the standard "starter's chat" from goaltending coach Ian Clark at Tuesday's morning skate, according to The Athletic's Thomas Drance. After practice, Silovs left the ice first - a ritual usually carried out by the starting netminder - but head coach Rick Tocchet later said it would be a game-time decision.

Silovs made 27 saves en route to the Canucks' 4-3 victory in Game 4, which Vancouver forward Elias Lindholm ended in overtime to give his team a 3-1 series lead. It was Silovs' playoff debut.

The 23-year-old Latvian played only nine regular-season NHL games over the last two campaigns, which he spent primarily with the Canucks' AHL affiliate in Abbotsford.

DeSmith allowed three goals on 15 shots during a 4-1 loss in Game 2, then bounced back with a 29-save performance in a 2-1 victory in Game 3.

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