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Vancouver Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet has announced the team’s starting netminder for tonight’s clash with Connor Bedard and the Chicago Blackhawks.
After a quick trip to Calgary on Wednesday, the Vancouver Canucks returned home for practice on Friday ahead of back-to-back games this weekend against the Chicago Blackhawks and Utah Hockey Club.
The Canucks hit the ice this morning at Rogers Arena for an optional skate and afterwards, we found out who will be starting tonight’s game against Chicago.
Rick Tocchet announces starting goaltender for Saturday’s game
When speaking with reporters after the morning skate, Vancouver Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet shared that 23-year-old Latvian netminder Arturs Silovs will be getting the start tonight.
“Arturs Silovs starts tonight, per Rick Tocchet.” Brendan Batchelor of Sportsnet shared on X.
Silovs, a native of Riga, has appeared in nine games this season for the Vancouver Canucks where he has a 1-6-1 record, along with a 3.85 goals against average and an .858 save percentage.
The decision to give Arturs Silovs the start tonight means that Finnish netminder Kevin Lankinen, who signed a five-year extension back in February, will be between the pipes against Utah Hockey Club tomorrow night.
Utah Hockey Club and Vancouver are in a tight race for the second wild card spot in the Western Conference, with just two points separating the teams heading into action on Saturday.
With Kevin Lankinen having a pretty solid season for the Canucks to this point with 23 wins, a 2.55 goals against average and four shutouts in 42 games, it makes perfect sense to have him in net tomorrow.
But first, the task at hand tonight – the Chicago Blackhawks, with North Vancouver’s Connor Bedard making only his second trip to Rogers Arena of his young NHL career.
Puck drop for tonight’s game against Chicago is set for 7 pm PT on Sportsnet and CBC as part of Hockey Night in Canada.