Nashville Predators to face Canucks' backup Arturs Silovs with Casey DeSmith out Game 4

For the second time in their best-of-7 series with the Vancouver Canucks, the Nashville Predators are facing a backup goaltender.

With Canucks goaltender Casey DeSmith out with an injury (undisclosed), backup Arturs Silovs will start Game 4 on Sunday (4 p.m. CT, TBS, Bally Sports South) at Bridgestone Arena.

The Canucks lead the series 2-1.

Prior to Sunday's game, Canucks coach Rick Tocchet declined to say DeSmith, who started Game 2 and Game 3, would be the starter for Game 4. DeSmith took over for Thatcher Demko, who was injured after Game 1, and is "week to week" with an injury.

DeSmith made 29 saves in Game 3, giving Vancouver a 2-1 series lead.

Now Silovs will start an NHL playoff game for the first time in his career.

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Silovs has made nine regular season starts in his NHL career. He has a 6-2-1 record with an .898 save percentage. A sixth-round selection in the 2019 NHL Draft, Silovs played most of this season for the Abbotsford Canucks, Vancouver's AHL affiliate. He went 16-11-6 for Abbotsford with a .907 save percentage and a 2.74 goals allowed average.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Predators to face backup Canucks' Arturs Silovs in Game 4