Arturs Silovs Leaves Vancouver Canucks GM Patrik Allvin With a Tough Goaltending Ultimatum

The Abbotsford Canucks were back in action on Saturday night as they looked to take a 2-0 series lead in the Western Conference Final and inch closer to their first-ever Calder Cup Final in franchise history.

A big reason for Abbotsford's play in the latter part of the regular season and in the playoffs thus far is goaltender Arturs Silovs, who could force Patrik Allvin's hand this summer and lead to the Canucks moving on from Thatcher Demko.

Saturday's Game 2 against Texas was a very tight, low-scoring affair, with defenseman Akito Hirose scoring his first of the playoffs in the third period, giving Abbotsford a 1-0 lead.

Hirose's third period marker would stand as the game's only goal, as Abbotsford would take a 2-0 series lead over the Texas Stars thanks in part to a 26-save shutout from Arturs Silovs.

With his 26-save effort last night, Arturs Silovs is getting closer to the Calder Cup Playoff record for most shutouts in a single postseason, which is currently held by former Vancouver Canucks netminder Mika Noronen, who had six with the Rochester Americans in 2000.

The Riga, Latvia native not only has five shutouts in the postseason, but a very impressive goals against average of 1.61 and a save percentage of .941, both of which lead the Calder Cup Playoffs as of Sunday morning.

As mentioned, with Arturs Silovs' strong play throughout the Calder Cup Playoffs, along with the five-year extension Vancouver gave to Kevin Lankinen back in February, Thatcher Demko could be the odd man out as he enters the final year of his contract.

There's been some doubt on whether or not the Canucks will be able to get an extension done with Thatcher Demko this summer, with David Pagotta of The Fourth Period reporting last week that the San Diego native is open to a change of scenery.

For now, Arturs Silovs is focused on helping the Abbotsford Canucks reach the Calder Cup Final and not on making a push for the NHL roster this fall and the 24-year-old will have the opportunity to push the Texas Stars to the brink of elimination tomorrow night, with puck drop set for 5 pm PT.