He’s ba-ack. Canucks netminder Arturs Silovs went down to Abbotsford for a game, made 23 saves and won it 4-2 over the Bakersfield Condors on Sunday. Now he’s back, not surprising considering Vancouver head coach Rick Tocchet said that was the plan ahead of time.
“It was fine, things change fast here, I just have to be ready and yeah, take your opportunity,” Silovs said after practice with the big club Monday. “I haven’t played for awhile, so, get some confidence, get a win, that’s like a big boost, right, and just getting prepared for the next one.”
He meant he hasn’t started an NHL game for awhile. He mopped up for almost nine minutes to close out the 7-3 loss to the Oilers on Saturday night. His last start came in a 6-0 defeat at the hands of the New Jersey Devils on October 30th.
Hey, you do what you gotta do, especially when you’re hoping and praying your elite number one goalie Thatcher Demko is going to be back sooner than later.
Silovs, Kevin Lankinen, who’s started the last four Canucks games, and Thatcher Demko were all on the ice Monday.
Demko has apparently made progress with his popliteus (knee) muscle lately, but Canucks fans will believe him when they see him.
“To see him in there, with the line rushes, the action, that’s a huge step for this team and for himself,” Tocchet said after Sunday’s practice.
Demko still has work to do and there are no guarantees.
Until then the Canucks will hope it’s not a muddle.
Earlier Canucks:
— Simmer’s Sunday 9; Goalie Changes, Injuries, Trade
