Vancouver’s rookie goalie, Arturs Silovs, is gaining a reputation for coming through in important moments. He made an impressive 42 saves, while Brock Boeser scored twice and assisted once, and Elias Lindholm also scored twice as the Canucks managed to hold off the Edmonton Oilers 4-3 on Sunday night, putting them ahead 2-1 in the Western Conference playoff series.
Coach Rick Tocchet praised Silovs for his strong performance, highlighting his ability to handle the pressure of the big stage without hesitation. Quinn Hughes and J.T. Miller each contributed with two assists for the Canucks.
Silovs faced a tough challenge late in the game as the Oilers, trailing 4-2, pulled their goalie to add an extra attacker with over three minutes left.
Edmonton’s coach, Kris Knoblauch, strategically kept star players Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl on the ice, hoping for a late comeback. Their efforts paid off when Evan Bouchard scored with just over a minute remaining.
Despite facing 36 shots in the second and third periods, Silovs remained confident and credited his teammates for their support. He emphasized the team’s resilience, particularly in blocking shots, which helped secure the victory.
The Oilers also saw goals from Mattias Ekholm and Leon Draisaitl, but goaltender Stuart Skinner struggled, allowing four goals on 15 shots before being replaced by Calvin Pickard in the third period. Pickard made three saves in his NHL playoff debut.
