Nothing has gone according to plan for the Pittsburgh Penguins so far in their opening round postseason series against the in-state rival Philadelphia Flyers, who have won the first three games of the series and are now just one win away from not only moving to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but dealing the Penguins what would be their first postseason series sweep loss since 2013 against the Boston Bruins.
Their most recent setback was Game 3 in Philadelphia, a 5-2 loss at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Trevor Zegras, Nick Seeler, Owen Tippett, Noah Cates, and Rasmus Ristolainen all scored for the host Flyers, sending their sellout crowd into a frenzy.
And now, with their backs against the wall, Penguins head coach Dan Muse has made a major roster change that they hope will give them a glimmer of hope to try and at least extend the series to a fifth game back in Pittsburgh early next week.
The Pittsburgh Penguins Are Turning To Goaltender Arturs Silovs For Game 4 Against The Flyers
Penguins head coach Dan Muse has announced that the club will start goaltender Arturs Silovs for Game 4, which will be Saturday evening in Philadelphia.
The Penguins had given Stuart Skinner, who has been to each of the last two Stanley Cup Finals with the Edmonton Oilers before a stunning mid-December trade to Pittsburgh earlier this season, the start in the first three games of the series.
However, Skinner hasn’t been able to hold down the fort for the Penguins, posting an 0-3 record with a 3.08 goals-against average and .873 save percentage. In 27 regular-season starts with the Penguins, Skinner went 12-9-5 with a 2.99 GAA and a .885 save percentage.
“Both guys have played very well for us all year,” Muse said. “You go through the entire regular season, both guys have won big games. We have a lot of confidence in both guys. Decision isn’t based on Stu’s play; I thought Stu’s played really well this series.
“We lost three games and so (we) decided that we made some changes there in the lineup.”
Silovs was acquired by the Penguins during the offseason from the Vancouver Canucks, and appeared in 39 games, going 9-12-8 with a 3.07 GAA and a .888 save percentage.
Will Arturs Silovs Help The Penguins Extend The Series To A Game 5?
The Penguins have to pull out all the stops to avoid a humiliating first-round series sweep against a bitter rival, and they hope Silovs can help them get back into it.
“I think you’ve seen in his day to day, just his preparation, he’s a competitor, whether it’s in practice or in games,” Muse said. “You can say that obviously with both guys, but I think it’s a good thing and it’s a benefit to us, is you’ve got both guys that have been in a lot of big games, with Arty just going back to playoffs, Olympics, World Championships. He’s a young guy, but he has had a lot of big moments that he’s been in, and he’s attacked those big moments.”
Game 4 is set to drop the puck at 8:00 p.m ET.
Desperate Penguins Make Major Roster Change On Verge Of Elimination