Canucks Casey Mittelstadt Drops A Bomb Shell “I May Not Continue With This Play Off”
From Arturs Silovs standing tall with the Canucks to Casey Mittelstadt excelling after years of playoff misses, these NHL players are thriving in their first playoffs.
The NHL’s Stanley Cup playoffs are a completely different animal than the regular season.
Being a successful regular-season contributor is hardly a prerequisite to playoff success. That’s why there’s always a bit of buyer beware when acquiring an unproven playoff commodity at the deadline or throwing a young player into the post-season fire.
The following five players aren’t technically NHL rookies, but they’re playoff newbies who are thriving under the spotlight.
Arturs Silovs, G, Vancouver Canucks
When Vezina-finalist Thatcher Demko and backup Casey DeSmith both got injured in the first round against the Nashville Predators, the Vancouver Canucks were forced to start Silovs in net.
A sixth-round pick in the 2019 NHL draft, the 23-year-old had only dressed in nine career NHL games before these playoffs.
But against all odds, the Latvian rookie has shocked the hockey world and kept Vancouver afloat, even getting the nod after DeSmith was ready to return.
In seven playoff contests, Silovs has posted a .907 save percentage and a 2.71 goals-against average.
His underlying numbers are even shinier, with Silovs ranking fifth in goals saved above expected per 60 minutes (0.428) among the 13 goalies who have played at least five games during these playoffs,
Mason Lohrei wasn’t even with the Bruins to start the post-season.
But after deadline acquisition Andrew Peeke got injured in Game 2 of the first round, Lohrei — who split the season between the NHL and AHL — was summoned from the minors.
Given how the last three weeks went, it’s safe to say the 23-year-old won’t be returning to the AHL anytime soon.
The 6-foot-5 smooth-skating defenseman had a coming-out party in Game 1 of the second round, recording the eventual game-winning goal and an assist. That breakout performance earned him a spot alongside Charlie McAvoy on the team’s top pair, where he’s remained ever since.
Since his promotion, Lohrei has four takeaways, and he’s tied for second on the team with five blocks during 5-on-5 play over the last four games.
Logan Stankoven continues to exceed expectations throughout his rookie season.
After recording 57 points in 47 AHL games — tying him for the second-best point-per-game mark of any U-21 player from the past decade with 1.21 — the 5-foot-8 forward earned a recall in late February