When the final horn sounded on their season, they were without goalie Thatcher Demko and forward Brock Boeser. Both were sidelined with undisclosed ailments. Both were described by Tocchet as “all-stars.”
With Demko and backup Casey DeSmith unable to play after three games because of undisclosed injuries, Silovs got the call for Game 4 against the Predators and backstopped the Canucks all the way to a do-or-die game against the Oilers. In the end, he went 5-5 with a 2.91 goals-against average, .898 save percentage and gave his team a chance to win every night he played.
“’Artie’ played his (butt) off,” Tocchet said. “What a playoff for that kid. That’s going to be huge for his growth.”
As for Boeser, Tocchet said he found out on Sunday that the forward would be unavailable for Game 7. He tied for the team’s postseason lead with 12 points (seven goals, five assists) and was a key cog on the power play.
His absence was evident Monday when the Canucks failed to register a shot with a four-minute man-advantage in the first period.
“I don’t feel sorry for us, I feel sorry for him,” forward J.T. Miller said. “He’s worked his (butt) off all year, had a career year. He’s come so far as a player since I got here (in 2019), out there blocking shots and such. He’s that type of player now.
“For him not to be out there tonight and to be suffering, I feel for him.”
Miller pointed out the Canucks were just a bounce away from tying the game. In that respect, he was right, given the one-goal margin.
In reality, however, the majority of the game wasn’t that close. The Oilers built up a 3-0 lead and a 22-4 shot advantage before goals by Conor Garland and Filip Hronek in the final 8:33 led to a nail-biting finish.
In the end, it just wasn’t enough.
“It’s hard to reflect and take it in right now,” captain Quinn Hughes said afterward, trying to find an explanation that was not yet there.
He glanced to his right over the sea of cameras and microphones. There, he saw Silovs, looking stunned, saying nothing.
No words needed be said. Not on this heartbreaking night.
