Vancouver Canucks stay quiet on starting goalie for pivotal Game 5

VANCOUVER — Coach Rick Tocchet isn't revealing who'll start in net for the Vancouver Canucks when they face the Nashville Predators in Game 5 of their first-round playoff series tonight.

He says the choice will be a "game-time decision" based on both the health of his goalies and their recent performances.

The Canucks have started three different goalies in the series and each has earned a win, giving Vancouver a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven matchup.

Rookie Arturs Silovs got the start in Game 4, stopping 27 shots in his first NHL playoff appearance as the Canucks came back from a late two-goal deficit to beat the Preds 4-3 in overtime.

He replaced Casey DeSmith, who played Games 2 and 3 before going down with a lower-body injury. All-star goalie Thatcher Demko was in net for Vancouver in Game 1, but sustained a lower-body injury and is currently listed as week to week.

Tocchet says if DeSmith "had a good day" yesterday and if he doesn't start Game 5, he will likely be the backup.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 30, 2024.

The Canadian Press