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Silovs is back with another Vancouver Canucks goalie ill

Colton Pankiw
Colton Pankiw
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Dec 14 2024, 8:37 pm
Silovs is back with another Vancouver Canucks goalie ill
Steve Roberts/USA TODAY Sports

Arturs Silovs is back with the Vancouver Canucks, though it may not be for long.

The Canucks announced this morning that they had recalled Silovs from the Abbotsford Canucks on an emergency basis. It has since been reported by Jeff Paterson that Kevin Lankinen is staying away from the team due to an illness.

As also mentioned by Paterson, defenceman Derek Forbort is dealing with an illness and won’t be available for tonight’s game versus the Boston Bruins.

The Canucks also announced this morning that defenceman Mark Friedman, along with forwards Max Sasson and Aatu Raty, have been recalled from Abbotsford. All three are expected to be in the lineup this evening.

It remains to be seen if Silovs will get an opportunity to start with the Canucks, though it has already been confirmed that Thatcher Demko will be in goal tonight. Silovs was the Canucks’ starting goalie on opening night due to Demko’s injury but failed to hold onto the starting role. He’s struggled immensely in his seven NHL appearances this season, compiling a 4.11 goals against average (GAA) along with a .847 save percentage (SV%).

The good news for both Silovs and Canucks fans is that he has been excellent in his two AHL starts this season, going 2-0-0 with a 1.51 GAA and .929 SV%. He was in major need of regaining some confidence and appeared to be doing just that.

As for Demko, his first start of the season came on Tuesday night in a 4-3 loss to the St. Louis Blues. There was some expected rust, given how long he had been away, but the hope is that he can soon get back to last season’s form, where he finished as the runner-up in Vezina Trophy voting.

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