Casey DeSmith injured, Arturs Silovs to start Game 4 for Canucks

That is beginning to get absurd.

In response to a number of stories, Casey DeSmith has suffered an damage and isn’t out there for the Vancouver Canucks in Sport 4.

With Thatcher Demko already out with a critical knee damage, this forces the Canucks to show to their third-string goaltender, rookie Arturs Silovs, along with his Abbotsford Canucks backup, Nikita Tolopilo, behind him.

Whereas DeSmith was hit behind the web in Sport 3 by Michael McCarron, this damage is unrelated to that collision, in accordance with ChekTV’s Rick Dhaliwal. McCarron obtained a $2000 positive for goaltender interference.

DeSmith was excellent in Sport 3 towards the Nashville Predators, making 30 saves on 31 pictures, coming three minutes in need of the shutout. 

In response to The Fourth Interval’s Irfaan Gaffar, DeSmith might return for Sport 5, because the damage isn’t a serious one.

Actually, regardless that DeSmith will not be within the Canucks’ lineup on Sunday, he would be the Canucks’ emergency backup goaltender, aka. EBUG, for the sport. That implies the damage is a minor one.

That is excellent news for the Canucks however it nonetheless means the Canucks shall be utilizing three totally different goaltenders within the area of 4 playoff video games. 

Happily, the 23-year-old Silovs has loads of expertise in high-pressure video games. Silovs has made two appearances on the World Hockey Championship along with his house nation of Latvia, with a mixed .929 save share throughout 14 video games. That features a unbelievable four-game run after stepping in for the struggling Elvis Merzlikins in 2022.

Final yr, Silovs stepped into the web 5 minutes into the primary recreation of the event and performed each recreation after that. He carried his group to the bronze medal — Latvia’s first medal in IIHF historical past. He was named the event MVP for his efforts.

“He beat me at Worlds this yr, he stood on his head and took a medal from us,” stated Conor Garland, who confronted Silovs within the bronze medal recreation for Group USA.

The Canucks won’t want Silovs to hold them however shall be searching for him to assist them earn not less than one win in order that DeSmith can relaxation up and get again within the web.