The Abbotsford Canucks are amidst their most successful season in franchise history as they are currently in the Pacific Division Finals, playing the Colorado Eagles for a chance to advance to the Western Conference Finals.
While their top point scorers haven’t been the ones carrying the load, it’s their depth that has been producing for them. Sammy Blais sits second in the entire AHL in points with 10, while his linemates on the third line (Jujhar Khaira and Nate Smith) both have five points.
Abbotsford’s top line of regular season leading scorer Arshdeep Bains and number one centreman Max Sasson also have five points, with Jonathan Lekkerimäki with only three points – although he nabbed a multi-point night in Game 2.
However, the Canucks’ best player so far this postseason has to be their goaltender, Arturs Silovs.
Silovs has played the most minutes of any AHL netminder, leading in wins (six). His 1.81 goals against average (GAA) sits fourth, and his .929 save percentage (S%) is tied for sixth in the league – third and second respectively of all goaltenders still in the playoffs.
While these numbers look great, there is a massive discrepancy when you dive into his splits. The Latvian netminder seems to really struggle in Game 2’s this postseason.
In Round 1 against the Tucson Roadrunners, Silovs allowed three goals on 31 shots, finishing with a 3.02 GAA and a .903 S% in Abbotsford’s 4-1 loss.
In Round 2 against the Coachella Valley Firebirds, Silovs allowed three goals on eight shots and was pulled after the first period. He would finish the game with a 9.00 goals against average and a .625 S% in Abbotsford’s 5-4 overtime loss.
In Round 3 against the Colorado Eagles, Silovs allowed four goals on 20 shots, finishing with a 4.12 goals against average and a .800 S% in Abbotsford’s 5-3 loss.
Add this all together, and that amounts to a 0-2 record (Nikita Tolopilo was given the loss in overtime), a 5.38 GAA and a .776 S%.
But that shouldn’t define the amazing postseason he’s had outside of Game 2’s.
Silovs has a perfect 6-0 record in Game 1’s, 3’s and 4’s, amounting to a 0.83 GAA and a .967 S%, with three shutouts – two of which have come in close-out games.
With numbers like these, the Canucks wouldn’t be still fighting for their playoff lives without the play of Silovs. But diving under the hood and looking at his struggles in Game 2s was shocking to find.
The Canucks hope Silovs returns to form for Game 3 against the Colorado Eagles, and put the Game 2 woes behind him, as he’s done twice this postseason. Silovs has stopped 46 of the 47 shots he faced in Game 3’s, holding a 0.50 GAA and a .981 S%.
Puck drops in Colorado at 6:05 pm PST.
