Flyers turn it on to overcome another deficit, beat Blues in overtime originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Rick Tocchet said he was going to be “shocked” if the Flyers didn’t play a good game Thursday night.

His team was coming off a four-day break, a stretch that included plenty of practice time and video sessions to address what the head coach felt were some concerning trends.

While the Flyers fell into another 2-0 hole, Tocchet had to be happy with his club’s resolve. The Flyers rallied for a 3-2 overtime win over the Blues at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

“I don’t know if it was that bad of a start,” Tocchet said. “I know the optics, you make a bad pass or something, that’s when it looks bad. But overall, I didn’t think it was that bad.”

Travis Sanheim delivered the game-winner for the Flyers (10-6-3), who bounced backed from their most lopsided loss of the season.

“Not the start you wanted,” Sanheim said. “In saying that, you have the four days off, it takes a little bit to get your mind and your legs back into it. Then I thought we started to find our game toward the second half of the game.”

Rodrigo Abols and Tyson Foerster scored the other goals to fuel the Flyers’ comeback.

Tocchet’s club has gone to overtime nine times and improved to 6-3-3 in games decided by one goal.

“Another resilient win for us,” Nick Seeler. “Just need to build on it and continue to work at those first-period starts.”

The Flyers swept the two-game regular-season series from the Blues (6-9-6). They picked up a 6-5 shootout win in St. Louis six days ago.

• For the third time in the last five games, the Flyers fell down 2-0.

They’ve been outscored 9-1 in the first period over the last six games.

Justin Faulk scored both of the Blues’ first-period markers. The first came on a blast from deep just 5:31 minutes into the game. The second came on a St. Louis power play after Trevor Zegras was whistled for hooking.

Dan Vladar kept the Flyers in it with some key saves. He stopped 27 of 29 shots and was very good down the stretch.

“From my side, I wasn’t happy with the start,” Vladar said. “Just felt a little bit off, but as the game went on, I started to feel a little bit better. I think since the get-go, we played a pretty good game.

“Obviously when you’re down 2-0, you basically have nothing to lose. You’re going to keep getting scored on or you’re going to do what we did, so I’m really proud of the guys in front of me.”

Emil Andrae had a clutch defensive play at Vladar’s doorstep with three minutes left in regulation to keep the game tied 2-2.

“I probably owe him some steak, for sure,” Vladar said.

The 23-year-old Andrae continued to pick up more minutes and also had an assist.

“You can really tell that he really wants to be here,” Vladar said.

Blues backup Joel Hofer denied 25 of the Flyers’ 28 shots. With some help from his post, Hofer robbed Zegras on a third-period power play for the Flyers.

But Foerster ended up providing the equalizer about three and a half minutes later.

• It was appropriate that Abols got the Flyers on the board with 2:03 minutes left in the second period.

The 29-year-old center was playing an active and energetic game with the team in desperate need of a spark.

“On the scoreboard, I think it was a slow start,” Abols said. “Obviously 2-0, it’s not what we want, but game-wise, I think it wasn’t that bad. Just stick with it. There’s a ton of belief in this room.”

Zegras and Owen Tippett assisted Abols’ goal. Travis Konecny had two helpers on the night.

• In non-contact fashion, Oliver Bonk joined the big club this week for practice and Thursday’s morning skate.

The 20-year-old prospect hasn’t played this season because of a lingering upper-body injury. He missed all of training camp and the preseason after participating in just a few days of rookie camp.

Last month, general manager Danny Briere didn’t have a firm timeline for Bonk’s return. But it’s a good sign that the defenseman has been able to go through consecutive skates with the team.

When Bonk is cleared, he’ll head to AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley.

Rasmus Ristolainen was seen wrapping up a rehab skate Monday morning.

Briere on Oct. 27 considered Ristolainen four to six weeks away from potentially rejoining the team.

The 31-year-old defenseman hasn’t played this season. He has been recovering from surgery on a second triceps tendon rupture.

• The Flyers are back in action Saturday when they host the Devils (7 p.m. ET/NBCSP).

Flyers turn it on to overcome another deficit, beat Blues in overtime originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Rick Tocchet said he was going to be “shocked” if the Flyers didn’t play a good game Thursday night.

His team was coming off a four-day break, a stretch that included plenty of practice time and video sessions to address what the head coach felt were some concerning trends.

While the Flyers fell into another 2-0 hole, Tocchet had to be happy with his club’s resolve. The Flyers rallied for a 3-2 overtime win over the Blues at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

“I don’t know if it was that bad of a start,” Tocchet said. “I know the optics, you make a bad pass or something, that’s when it looks bad. But overall, I didn’t think it was that bad.”

Travis Sanheim delivered the game-winner for the Flyers (10-6-3), who bounced backed from their most lopsided loss of the season.

“Not the start you wanted,” Sanheim said. “In saying that, you have the four days off, it takes a little bit to get your mind and your legs back into it. Then I thought we started to find our game toward the second half of the game.”

Rodrigo Abols and Tyson Foerster scored the other goals to fuel the Flyers’ comeback.

Tocchet’s club has gone to overtime nine times and improved to 6-3-3 in games decided by one goal.

“Another resilient win for us,” Nick Seeler. “Just need to build on it and continue to work at those first-period starts.”

The Flyers swept the two-game regular-season series from the Blues (6-9-6). They picked up a 6-5 shootout win in St. Louis six days ago.

• For the third time in the last five games, the Flyers fell down 2-0.

They’ve been outscored 9-1 in the first period over the last six games.

Justin Faulk scored both of the Blues’ first-period markers. The first came on a blast from deep just 5:31 minutes into the game. The second came on a St. Louis power play after Trevor Zegras was whistled for hooking.

Dan Vladar kept the Flyers in it with some key saves. He stopped 27 of 29 shots and was very good down the stretch.

“From my side, I wasn’t happy with the start,” Vladar said. “Just felt a little bit off, but as the game went on, I started to feel a little bit better. I think since the get-go, we played a pretty good game.

“Obviously when you’re down 2-0, you basically have nothing to lose. You’re going to keep getting scored on or you’re going to do what we did, so I’m really proud of the guys in front of me.”

Emil Andrae had a clutch defensive play at Vladar’s doorstep with three minutes left in regulation to keep the game tied 2-2.

“I probably owe him some steak, for sure,” Vladar said.

The 23-year-old Andrae continued to pick up more minutes and also had an assist.

“You can really tell that he really wants to be here,” Vladar said.

Blues backup Joel Hofer denied 25 of the Flyers’ 28 shots. With some help from his post, Hofer robbed Zegras on a third-period power play for the Flyers.

But Foerster ended up providing the equalizer about three and a half minutes later.

• It was appropriate that Abols got the Flyers on the board with 2:03 minutes left in the second period.

The 29-year-old center was playing an active and energetic game with the team in desperate need of a spark.

“On the scoreboard, I think it was a slow start,” Abols said. “Obviously 2-0, it’s not what we want, but game-wise, I think it wasn’t that bad. Just stick with it. There’s a ton of belief in this room.”

Zegras and Owen Tippett assisted Abols’ goal. Travis Konecny had two helpers on the night.

• In non-contact fashion, Oliver Bonk joined the big club this week for practice and Thursday’s morning skate.

The 20-year-old prospect hasn’t played this season because of a lingering upper-body injury. He missed all of training camp and the preseason after participating in just a few days of rookie camp.

Last month, general manager Danny Briere didn’t have a firm timeline for Bonk’s return. But it’s a good sign that the defenseman has been able to go through consecutive skates with the team.

When Bonk is cleared, he’ll head to AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley.

Rasmus Ristolainen was seen wrapping up a rehab skate Monday morning.

Briere on Oct. 27 considered Ristolainen four to six weeks away from potentially rejoining the team.

The 31-year-old defenseman hasn’t played this season. He has been recovering from surgery on a second triceps tendon rupture.

• The Flyers are back in action Saturday when they host the Devils (7 p.m. ET/NBCSP).

One area that the Philadelphia Flyers would benefit upgrading is the left side of their defense. 

Due to this, let's take a look at two defensemen who are interesting targets for the Flyers to consider pursuing.

Bowen Byram, Buffalo Sabres 

The Sabres have had a shaky start to the 2025-26 season, and they very well could be sellers if they do not turn things around. If the Sabres do end up selling, blueliner Bowen Byram would be a clear player to watch.

Byram was the subject of trade rumors this off-season before signing his two-year, $12.5 million bridge deal with the Sabres. If the 24-year-old becomes available due to Buffalo's struggles, he would undoubtedly provide the Flyers' top four with a nice boost if acquired. In 20 games this season, he has recorded three goals and nine points.

Pavel Mintyukov, Anaheim Ducks 

Pavel Mintyukov is a new name in the rumor mill who should grab the Flyers' attention. NHL insider Elliotte Friedman reported that the young defenseman "would like to be moved" if he continues to be scratched. 

With Mintyukov being a 21-year-old former first-round pick with good upside, he is somebody who would make a lot of sense for the Flyers to target. In 18 games so far this season, he has recorded three assists and a plus-1 rating. He also showed offensive potential during his rookie year in 2023-24, scoring four goals and setting career highs with 24 assists and 28 points in 63 games.

On Thursday, the Winnipeg Jets have granted 2022 first-round pick Brad Lambert permission to seek a trade, Daily Faceoff has learned.

League sources say #GoJetsGo have given 2022 first round pick Brad Lambert's representation permission to find a trade partner.

Lambert, 21, has one goal in four games for #nhljets in limited minutes this season.

— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) November 20, 2025

Insider Frank Seravalli confirmed that Lambert’s camp recently received approval to explore potential landing spots as his path to full-time NHL duty has tightened in recent weeks.

The Jets have welcomed back a wave of injured regulars, which has created a crowded forward group and limited Lambert’s opportunities despite a promising start to the season.

Jets Ink Five-Year, $25 Million Extension With Captain Adam Lowry Captain Adam Lowry commits his future to the Jets, securing a $25 million, five-year extension.

The 21-year-old has appeared in four NHL games this season, scoring one goal while seeing very limited minutes. In total, he has dressed for ten career NHL games over three seasons with one goal and two assists.

Lambert scored his first career goal just two weeks ago in a game versus the Pittsburgh Penguins, however this didn't last long as he was again sent back down to the AHL this past Tuesday.

Once regarded as a potential top-five pick in the draft, Lambert fell to the Jets due to his final junior season. He still has two years left on his entry-level deal. 

While the Jets remain high on his long-term potential, the organization also understands Lambert’s growing frustration with being stuck in the minors. Lambert's camp likely believes he will have a clearer route to NHL minutes with another club.

Lambert has been a consistent performer at the AHL level with the Manitoba Moose, recording 30 goals and 63 assists for 93 points in 141 games. 

The Finnish forward was an important contributor for his home country at the 2022 World Junior Championship, where he helped secure a silver medal. Before reaching the professional ranks, he excelled at the junior level with the Seattle Thunderbirds, producing 38 points in 26 games.

For Winnipeg, this decision does not necessarily indicate a desire to trade Lambert, but it does reflect the reality of his stalled development path. If another team can offer a clearer opportunity and the Jets receive an appropriate return, both sides may see a move as beneficial. 

As for what the return could be is hard to say as Lambert has shown some upside at the NHL level with his production so far but has been very limited. The last thing the Jets organization will want is to trade away a high-end prospect that can easily produce 25-30 points tomorrow with room to go even higher and get left with a lesser return.

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

The Wraparound is back with more NHL and hockey topics in rapid-fire segments.

Who Are Buffalo And Calgary's Top Trade Candidates? by The Wraparound

Here's what Emma Lingan, Michael Augello and Stephen Kerr discussed in this episode:

0:00: Should the Vegas Golden Knights be concerned about their goaltending situation?

4:42: Could Macklin Celebrini receive significant Hart Trophy consideration this season?

8:10: Will Jesper Wallstedt’s rise cause a shake-up in net for the Minnesota Wild?

11:30: Breaking down Adam Lowry’s five-year extension with the Winnipeg Jets

15:10: Could Charlie McAvoy’s absence bring the Boston Bruins down to earth?

18:50: Should the Anaheim Ducks look to trade Pavel Mintyukov?

22:10: Could Alexandre Texier end up terminating his contract with the St. Louis Blues?

25:26: Looking at the top trade candidates for the Buffalo Sabres and the Calgary Flames

See below for where to subscribe to the show for future episodes.

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Podbean

iHeartRadio

Amazon

Thursday's slate of NHL action is chalk full of marquee matchups across the league with 12 games for fans to enjoy. One of the most intriguing games on the board features the surging Capitals that have won three of their last five games with close losses to the Florida Panthers and the New Jersey Devils. 

After winning in decisive fashion on Wednesday versus the Edmonton Oilers, Washington will play their second leg of a back-to-back on the road versus the slumping Montreal Canadiens. The Habs started off the season in flying colors with a 9-3-0 record through their first 12 games but have since dropped six of their last seven games. 

A win on Thursday could a long way for both teams and should culminate in a hard fought game in one of the best arenas in all of hockey at the Bell Centre. 

All betting lines are from BetMGM Sportsbook and are subject to change. Hockey is a difficult sport to predict so please gamble responsibly. 

Sign up with BetMGM, make a deposit, and place your first wager on any game using your First Bet Offer token. If that bet with the token applied loses, you’ll get your original stake paid back in Bonus Bets, up to $1,500! Get in the game today with BetMGM.

Maple Leafs Set For High-Scoring Clash Versus Marchenko, Blue JacketsThe Toronto Maple Leafs have won just three of their last nine matchups versus the Columbus Blue Jackets with winger Kirill Marchenko recording points in three of their last four meetings for a total of one goal and three assists.

Montreal Canadiens vs Washington Capitals Best Bets

Over 6.0 Goals (-120)

Habs ML (-139)

Habs First Period Over 0.5 Goals (-189) Parlay Add

Tom Wilson Over 0.5 Points (-149)

Josh Anderson Anytime Goal (+475) Longshot Pick

Nick Suzuki Anytime Goal (+175)

The Habs are clear favorites in this matchup, and for good reason. They are long overdue for a win after their recent slump and have yet to secure a strong home record, splitting their ten home games this season with five victories. However, the Capitals usually perform well against Montreal, winning seven of their last nine games and taking three of the last four trips to Montreal.

Adding to the challenge, Washington will be traveling the day after a tough game against the Oilers, in which they scored seven goals in a 7-4 shootout. This fatigue is likely to be exposed early by a Habs team that is tied for 12th in first-period goals, alongside five other teams, with 18 goals and a +5 first-period goal differential.

Montreal will also benefit from facing the Capitals without their top goaltender, Logan Thompson. Thompson has been outstanding this season but started on Wednesday, leaving backup Charlie Lindgren in net. Lindgren, a former Montreal goaltender signed as an undrafted free agent by Washington, has a 2-3-1 record and a 3.17 goals-against average (GAA) this season.

Montreal’s starter, Sam Montembeault, has struggled this season, holding a 4-5-1 record and a 3.56 GAA. His career numbers against Washington are also underwhelming, with a 2-3-0 record, a 3.49 GAA, and a .893 save percentage over six appearances. Public opinion is fairly divided on this game, with 56 percent favoring a Habs win at home, while nearly 80 percent believe Montreal will not cover the spread.

This game is likely to turn into a high-scoring affair, but Montreal should find a way to win. They are overdue for a strong response and could do so by taking an early lead and maintaining momentum offensively. For Washington, leading scorer Tom Wilson will be key. He is averaging a point per game over 20 contests this season and has accumulated nine points over his last eight games against Montreal, including five goals and four assists.

Wilson will also be motivated after last season’s postseason brawl with Montreal’s Josh Anderson. Anderson is expected to respond offensively, having scored twice and assisted once for three points over his last four games entering Thursday.

Montreal captain Nick Suzuki is another key player to watch. In 20 career games versus Washington, he has tallied 11 goals and 10 assists for 21 points. Suzuki is due for a big night, having earned just one point over his last four games.

Islanders' Matthew Schaefer, Avalanche's Cale Makar Already Near-Locks in NHL Award RacesAn 18-year-old phenom and a Norris contender are dominating early NHL award races, setting impressive records and dazzling fans.

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

With the recent signing of Shane Pinto, the Ottawa Senators have done a fine job of locking up the bulk of their core for the next few years, the ones they believe are part of their eventual Stanley Cup formula. Here's a list of some of their top players who are signed for the next three years, along with the year their contract expires.

Tim Stutzle: 2031
Brady Tkachuk: 2028
Jake Sanderson: 2032
Thamas Chabot: 2028
Dylan Cozens: 2030
Shane Pinto: 2030
Fabian Zetterlund: 2028
Ridly Greig: 2029
Linus Ullmark: 2029

So, it would seem like this group's window of opportunity is here, and according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, GM Steve Staios appears ready to do something big to crank it wide open.

While referring to the NHL trade market in his latest 32 Thoughts column, Friedman wrote, "The Senators are lurking, looking to hit a home run."

Given his druthers, Staios would probably prefer that his trade discussions weren't described as lurking, but it is interesting to hear that, according to Friedman, Staios is in the batter's box and looking to go yard.

If nothing else, it shouldn't be a surprise that Stais is out there laying the groundwork for a big swing between now and the deadline, as he's done in the past.

But identifying the proper time to push your chips all-in can be a risky business. For example, Pierre Dorion's timing was badly off with his go-for-broke deals, such as they were.

The season after the Sens' run to the Eastern Final in 2017, Dorion acquired Matt Duchene from Colorado in a costly blockbuster trade involving Nashville. The Senators completely fell apart after that, finishing second-last in the league, sparking a long rebuild. Meanwhile, the Avalanche went from last place the previous season to making the playoffs, sparking a run of excellence they're still on.

In that deal, the Sens had to surrender the 4th overall pick in 2019, which they could have used to take a player like Mo Seider, Matt Boldy, or Cole Caufield, who went 6, 12, and 15, respectively. Any one of whom could now be helping the Senators' cause mightily.

Dorion also went out and got players like Alex DeBrincat and Jakob Chychrun. Neither of them moved the needle, neither of them stayed long, and even after they were flipped, their acquisition damaged the overall quality of Ottawa's assets.

So is now the right time for Staios to make a home run trade? In general terms, the answer is yes, but it obviously needs to make sense.

Last spring, the Sens finally shook off a seven-year playoff drought, and with the group now a little older and wiser, with new lessons learned from their playoff christening, they do appear to be on the doorstep, where supporting the troops with another big-time player or two finally makes sense.

But if Staios chooses that path, whether it's the tough-as-nails defenseman or a proven NHL scorer, his trade partner will likely be a lower-end team that's out of the playoff mix. And at the quarter turn, which team is that, exactly? The season is starting to get away from Calgary, Nashville, and St. Louis, but after that, every other NHL team is within 4 points of a playoff spot. So there aren't many sellers or surrenders yet.

But that will change in the new year, as it always does, and like many people after Christmas, Staios doesn't have as much to spend as he'd like. But he can still do some things.

At first glance, pulling someone off the existing roster would seem counterproductive, but in the name of improving through rebalancing, Staios certainly hasn't been shy to do it. In the past year and a half, he's shipped out Josh Norris to get Dylan Cozens and Jakob Chychrun to get Nick Jensen. Is there another deal like those to be made? 

On the other hand, Staios could choose to deal away picks or prospects. But they don't have a first-round pick next summer. Would they deal their top pick in 2027 or 2028? Would they ship out former first-rounders like Carter Yakemchuk or Logan Hensler?

They certainly could, but that comes with its own long-term pitfalls, which is true of any team that gambles away some of its future to take a shot now. But the Sens have already parted with a lot of their future to make some of their ill-advised (and poorly communicated) trades of the past.

If they peddle away much more in the name of taking their shot, things could get ugly when this current Cup-or-bust window closes, and the Senators might find themselves in a rebuild that's even uglier than the one they just emerged from.

The good news for Sens fans is that, when it comes to trades, Staios' batting average has been pretty good so far. As he lurks near the plate, it will be fascinating to see if he gets another pitch he likes this season.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News Ottawa

Read more Ottawa Senators articles at The Hockey News Ottawa:

Former Senators Defenseman Returns To Ottawa In Monday Trade With Philadelphia
Arthur Kaliyev Heating Up, Now Third In AHL Goal Scoring
Forsberg Returns To Ottawa As A King, Pitches A Shutout 
Senators Have Big UFA Contract Decisions In Next Few Years (Who Stays And Who Goes?)
Four More Years: Shane Pinto Signs Four-Year Extension
Creator Of 'New Heights' Gives Brady And Matthew Tkachuk Their Own Podcast

Will Borgen is listed as day-to-day with an upper-body injury.

This is the same injury that forced him to miss two games against the Columbus Blue Jackets and Detroit Red Wings. 

Borgen returned to the lineup on Tuesday night during the Rangers’ game against the Vegas Golden Knights, but he did not practice on Thursday. 

Mike Sullivan said on Thursday that Borgen's injury status is a situation the team will have to manage accordingly going forward.

Wolf Pack Head Coach Speaks Highly About Gabe Perreault's GameGabe Perreault still has some aspects of his game he needs to refine before being fully ready to take on the trials and tribulations of the NHL. 

The 28-year-old defenseman did not practice on Thursday, an indication that he will miss tonight’s matchup against the Colorado Avalanche. 

In his place, Scott Morrow is expected to slot into the lineup, as he practiced on the second power-play unit.

According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, the Buffalo Sabres have placed Mason Geertsen on waivers. 

Geertsen has appeared in five games this season with the Sabres, where he has recorded zero points, eight hits, 12 penalty minutes, and a minus-1 rating. This is the first time that he has played at the NHL level since the 2021-22 season when he was a member of the New Jersey Devils. 

The Sabres signed Geertsen to a two-year contract this off-season. This was after he posted five assists, 77 penalty minutes, and a plus-3 rating in 31 games this past season with the Henderson Silver Knights of the American Hockey League (AHL).

Teams looking for more toughness could consider claiming Geersten off waivers. However, if he passes through waivers unclaimed, the Sabres will then be able to assign him to their AHL affiliate, the Rochester Americans. 

Pittsburgh Penguins' goaltender Artūrs Šilovs is enjoying quite a fast start to what is, technically, considered his rookie season in the NHL. 

The native of Riga, Latvia suited up for the Vancouver Canucks in 10 games during the 2024 playoffs, and he performed pretty well for a guy with only nine games of NHL experience spread across two seasons prior to that. Unfortunately - for the Canucks' sixth-round pick in 2019 - the emergence of Kevin Lankinen in Vancouver and the commitment to veteran Thatcher Demko didn't leave much room for Šilovs going forward with the Canucks, even though he led the Abbotsford Canucks to their first-ever AHL championship last season with a .931 save percentage and five shutouts through 24 games.

So, he was dealt to the Penguins this summer for a fourth-round pick and a lower-level prospect. And he's made a huge impact so far.

Heck, the 24-year-old's .917 save percentage this season has been enough to catch the attention of folks around the league, as he is involved in some early-season Calder Trophy talks. In fact, he has been one of the best goaltenders in the league up to this point, with the third-highest save percentage among NHL goaltenders with at least 10 appearances. 

There's no doubt that Šilovs came to Pittsburgh with a lot to prove and some pressure to perform, and he has risen to the occasion thus far. But what some may not know is that Šilovs has also already performed well at the highest levels of international hockey - and he will have another chance to do so for Team Latvia at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milano Cortina. 

As one of the first six players named to Team Latvia's Olympic squad - Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender ⁠Elvis Merzļikins, Canucks forward Teddy Blueger, Tampa Bay Lightning center ⁠Zemgus Girgensons, Philadelphia Flyers center Rodrigo Abols, and Florida Panthers defenseman Uvis⁠ ⁠Balinskis are the others - Šilovs is getting an opportunity that he hasn't yet experienced, even if he has thrived on Latvian national teams. 

Good luck opening the door on these four... 🚪

The future is looking VERY bright for these young goalies! pic.twitter.com/05V4QxYeoA

— NHL (@NHL) November 20, 2025

“It’s always an honor to represent your country, especially [for the] Olympics," Šilovs said. "NHL players didn’t have a chance to play in the past, what, 10 years? I think it’s a great opportunity to see the best of the best, especially representing the national team... it’s a special team. Everyone is doing anything for the cause.”

And saying he's "thrived" on Latvia's national teams is a bit of an understatement. He turned heads at the 2022 IIHF World Championship, when he put up a .952 save percentage and 1.22 goals-against average in four appearances despite a 2-2 record - giving his team a chance in every game. For IIHF competition in general that year, Šilovs appeared in six games and posted a whopping .968 save percentage and 0.87 goals-against average against some high-level competition, including Sweden and Finland.

He followed that up in 2023 with a .921 save percentage in 10 appearances at the World Championship, which - once again - caught the attention of many, especially since Latvia was one of the biggest surprises of that tournament when they won the Bronze Medal game over Team USA, 4-3, and went 7-3 overall in the tournament.

Canucks Blueger & Šilovs Named To Latvia's 2026 Winter Olympic Games Preliminary RosterTeddy Blueger and&nbsp;Artūrs Šilovs are headed to the Olympics. The two Vancouver Canucks players were among the first six named to <a href="https://x.com/IIHFHockey/status/1934496913610486061/photo/1">Latvia's&nbsp;preliminary roster</a> for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. As for the other four named, they were Elvis Merzļikins,&nbsp;Uvis Balinskis,&nbsp;Zemgus Girgensons and former Canucks draft pick,&nbsp;Rodrigo Ābols.

Of course, Šilovs was a huge part of the team's success. But he gave a lot of credit to the fans and to the fact that high-level hockey is becoming more and more prevalent in his home country. 

“I think more guys are now playing outside of Latvia, and we can see a lot of junior guys are playing Canadian or American or or somewhere else and top in Europe," he said. "So I think it gives a lot of experience for the guys, and when they get together for, like, U20s, or their first international game, I think they have a confidence that they’ve already played against good players. There’s a lot of [draft picks] and guys who are probably going to play in the NHL like two, three years later.

"So, I think that gives confidence for a lot of guys. You’ve already seen the skill, what can happen and what can’t happen, and I think just getting experience. Because if you’ve never seen anything like that, it’s really hard to say, ‘Oh, we’re going to play good.’ I feel like, for smaller countries and for less developed countries which don’t have hockey that much, it’s really tough. You can’t compare the guys who play in their local tournament and then try to play against some of the best, right?”

BREAKING: Abbotsford Canucks Win 2025 Calder Cup After a magical <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/vancouver-canucks/latest-news/the-abbotsford-canucks-road-to-the-2025-calder-cup-final">playoff run</a> filled with standout performances, the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/vancouver-canucks/latest-news/it-s-all-about-the-next-game-abbotsford-canucks-discuss-calder-cup-finals-game-5-mentality">Abbotsford Canucks</a> have officially won the 2025 Calder Cup. This is Abbotsford’s first Calder Cup win in franchise history and their first time making it out of the second round since their inaugural season in 2021. They clinched the Calder Cup after a 3–2 Game 6 win against the Charlotte Checkers in the Calder Cup Finals. The last time the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/vancouver-canucks">Vancouver Canucks</a>’ AHL affiliate made it to the Calder Cup Finals was when the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/vancouver-canucks/latest-news/looking-back-on-the-2015-utica-comets-run-to-the-calder-cup-finals">Utica Comets</a> did so in 2015.&nbsp;

And playing against some of the best internationally - in addition to his playoff experience in both the AHL and NHL - has given Šilovs that "ice-in-the-veins" mentality that is a requirement for the NHL's best goaltenders. Part of the reason so many folks are excited about what prospect Sergei Murashov could do at the highest level is because of that exact thing. 

Well, Šilovs has it, too. He plays at his best when the stakes are highest, and no stage is too big for him. And that hasn't gone unnoticed by his teammates and his coach.

"He's gained some really good experiences in his career so far, and he's obviously still a relatively young guy," Muse said. "I think those things, they seem to all kind of stack up. To have that run that he had last year, and then to have the playoffs before, and then you also look at some of the different experiences that he's had in international play... you look at it and see he's not that old. He's got all these things already, and you own those now. You own those experiences, and you carry them with you."

Like some of his teammates in Sidney Crosby (Canada), Erik Karlsson (Sweden), Rickard Rakell (Sweden), and Bryan Rust (USA), playing on, arguably, the biggest possible stage at the Olympics is a huge motivating factor for Šilovs this season, especially since - again - he has never had the chance to participate prior to 2026. 

And if his track record - and his play so far this season - is any indication, he should give Team Latvia a pretty good chance to remain competitive in every game during the tournament. And he is excited for the opportunity. 

“I’ve never been in an Olympics, so it’s just awesome to be a part of it," Šilovs said. "[It's my] first time for the Olympics to experience things, experience the way it is there, and see how the Olympics work. So, yeah, it's just very exciting.”

'It's Huge For Me': Olympics Big Motivating Factor For Penguins' Players This SeasonThe 2026 Olympic Games in Milano Cortina are a huge motivating factor for several Pittsburgh Penguins' players like Erik Karlsson, Rickard Rakell, and Bryan Rust - as well as for the entirety of the NHL.

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