Arturs Silovs has rocketed up the Vancouver Canucks91裸聊视频� depth chart this post-season, going from third-string goalie to starter in pivotal elimination games.

The rookie remains unfazed.

91裸聊视频淵ou just have to be always ready,91裸聊视频� Silovs said Sunday. 91裸聊视频淎 lot of things happen in life like accident, someone gets hurt, right? And you just have to be ready to embrace your moment.91裸聊视频�

The 23-year-old Latvian netminder has made the most of his opportunities in recent weeks, backstopping the Canucks to two wins in his first three NHL playoff games.

On Friday, he made a series of crucial saves late as Vancouver blanked the Nashville Predators 1-0 and earned their way through to the second round where they91裸聊视频檒l face the Edmonton Oilers. The victory marked Silovs91裸聊视频檚 first-ever NHL shutout.

91裸聊视频淚 think that he just did a great job,91裸聊视频� said Canucks captain Quinn Hughes. 91裸聊视频淗e91裸聊视频檚 a young guy but obviously very competitive. And the moment wasn91裸聊视频檛 too big for him. I91裸聊视频檓 really happy for him and really happy for our team that we have another guy like that in the locker room.91裸聊视频�

Playing Silovs wasn91裸聊视频檛 the plan when Vancouver started its playoff run.

All-star goalie Thatcher Demko was in net for Vancouver in Game 1 of the first-round series, but sustained a lower-body injury.

He was replaced by Casey DeSmith, who went 1-1-0 with a 2.02 goals-against average and a .911 save percentage in Games 2 and 3 before going down with a lower-body injury himself.

Enter Silovs.

The six-foot-four, 203-pound netminder spent much of the season with Vancouver91裸聊视频檚 American Hockey League affiliate, the Abbotsford Canucks, making just four regular-season appearances for the NHL club.

Getting called into action in the playoffs hasn91裸聊视频檛 rattled him, though, said Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet.

91裸聊视频淯sually you tell a guy he91裸聊视频檚 playing, he gets a little bit more 91裸聊视频� even as a forward or defenceman 91裸聊视频� guys get a little bit more intense,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频�(Silovs) is the same guy, whether he91裸聊视频檚 a backup or a starter. I like that, guys that don91裸聊视频檛 change just because they91裸聊视频檙e playing or not.91裸聊视频�

One of the rookie goalie91裸聊视频檚 mid-game rituals embodies his calm demeanour: between periods, Silovs sits in his stall with an ice bag on his head to cool down.

Whatever he91裸聊视频檚 doing seems to be working. Across Games 4, 5 and 6, Silovs went 2-1-0 with a 1.70 GAA, a .938 save percentage and a shutout.

The goalie credited experience on another big stage for preparing him for playoffs.

Last May, Silovs played in the world championships on home soil in Riga, Latvia. He helped his country to bronze 91裸聊视频� its first medal 91裸聊视频� and was named MVP of the tournament.

91裸聊视频淚 feel like especially playing at home, it was more like a pressure to (win) because like people are hungry for hockey there,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淲e don91裸聊视频檛 have like any major team who91裸聊视频檚 playing a full season. So I felt like this was the chance to show the people, to give something back. And I91裸聊视频檓 glad we managed to do it.91裸聊视频�

What role Silovs will play for the Canucks as the post-season continues remains to be seen.

Tocchet ruled Demko out for Game 1 of Vancouver91裸聊视频檚 second-round series on Sunday, but said the star goalie is improving.

The coach said he and Canucks director of goaltending Ian Clark will look at a number of factors when they decided whether Silovs or DeSmith will start against the Oilers.

91裸聊视频淵ou go through the whole list,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淵ou91裸聊视频檙e playing this team, the play of the goalie, how many practices he91裸聊视频檚 had, the health. It91裸聊视频檚 the same thing (as always.)91裸聊视频�

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Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press