Over the past three years, an interesting trend has emerged when it comes to Abbotsford Canucks goaltender Artūrs Šilovs. As soon as late April hits, the Latvia goalie kicks his game into high gear and helps guide his team on an exciting run. Whether it is at the NHL, AHL or International level, Šilovs is showing that he has a clutch gene once the post-season begins.
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The first instance of Šilovs coming in clutch was during the 2023 World Championship. After a successful year in the AHL, the then 22-year-old led Latvia to a Bronze Medal and was named MVP of the tournament. Posting a 7-3 record with a .921 save percentage, Šilovs became a hero in his home country as it was the first time in tournament history that Latvia had captured a medal.
After leading Latvia to a Bronze Medal, it was time for Šilovs to show that he could deliver at the NHL level. While he struggled during the 2023-24 regular season, that was not the case come playoff time as Šilovs guided the Vancouver Canucks to Game 7 of the second round. With a 5-5-0 record along with one shutout, Šilovs impressed many and showed that he could have a positive impact despite being thrown into a high-pressure situation.
This leads to the 2024-25 season, where once again, Šilovs struggled during the regular season, but has elevated his game come playoff time. The Abbotsford goaltender has a record of 8-3-0 so far in the 2025 Calder Cup Playoffs, and has led the Canucks to the Western Conference Final for the first time in franchise history. Overall, Šilovs has been a brick wall during this run, as he has posted four shutouts along with a .936 save percentage.
At just 24 years old, Šilovs already has a long record of coming in clutch when his team needs him the most. This has made him an intriguing prospect, as a clutch gene is often something that can't be taught. If Šilovs continues to impress during this post-season run and wins a championship with Abbotsford, it will force the Canucks organization into a tough decision this off-season.
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