Arturs Silovs reflects on his playoff run: Hints at his new role with the club

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Cooper Godin
August 14, 2024 (12:28)

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Vancouver Canucks goaltender Arturs Silovs recently reflected on the Stanley Cup Playoffs and is looking forward to being full-time back-up this coming season.

Arturs Silovs is back at home in Latvia and preparing for the upcoming Final Olympic Qualifying tournament later this month. It's a big moment for him as Latvia is looking to participate at their seventh Winter Olympics in the last eight tournaments, missing out in 2018.

In a recent interview with Latvian media outlet Sportscentrs, Silovs reflected on being thrusted into action during the Stanley Cup Playoffs due to injuries to Thatcher Demko and Casey DeSmith. Silovs appeared in ten games during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, helping the Canucks reach Game 7 of the second round where they ultimately fell to the Edmonton Oilers.

Note: the quotes in this story are translated from Latvian.

"It's not easy to lose in game seven. It was an opportunity to play in an atmosphere that I have never played in. Great experience that will help in the future. The regular season and the playoffs are two different things, the pressure is two different things. I think I have to play better in the regular season as well." Silovs said.

He added, "I had prepared for it. I tried to play as well as I could, catch pucks as much as I could. Playing against the best in the world, especially in the minority, is a huge lesson. Creativity, speed. The players are able to put all of ours on top and return it to the far post, maybe find another pass. You think there is no such pass at all, but he finds it. I believe that you get used to such opponents, decisions, and with time it becomes easier to play."

This summer, Silovs became a restricted free agent and it didn't take him long to sign a new deal with the Canucks as he agreed to terms on a two-year contract. With Casey DeSmith now out of the picture, signing with Dallas as a free agent, Silovs is preparing to be the Canucks' full-time back-up goaltender behind Thatcher Demko to start the 2024-25 campaign.

"Getting ready for the season in Vancouver, yes. One-way contract." Silovs said.

He added, "When Casey DeSmith went to Dallas and offered me a one-way contract, it was like a signal that I would be the second goaltender, I would start as the second."

Canucks fans won't have to wait long to see Arturs Silovs back in game action. If he's named to Latvia's roster, which is expected, he'll be in between the pipes on August 29th as they take on Slovenia, who may have Los Angeles Kings captain Anze Kopitar in the lineup. Silovs and Latvia will also face Ukraine and France on August 30th and September 1st, respectively.

Source: Sportacentrs.com
Shilov: "One-way contract - I'm preparing for the season with the Vancouver Canucks"