The Pittsburgh Penguins are making a goaltending change heading into Game 4 of their Eastern Conference first-round series versus the host Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday.
Penguins coach Dan Muse announced hours before his team’s do-or-die contest that Arturs Silovs will get the nod over Stuart Skinner in net.
The Flyers hold a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.
“Both guys have played very well for us all year,” Muse said of Silovs and Skinner. “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.”
Skinner, who has started all three games, has a 3.08 goals-against average and .873 save percentage in the series.
Silovs, 25, posted a 19-12-8 record with two shutouts and a 3.07 GAA and .888 save percentage in 39 games (38 starts) this season.
“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.”
As for the Flyers, head coach Rick Tocchet announced on Saturday morning that Dan Vladar will start in net for Game 4.
Vladar appeared to sustain an injury to his right arm during a chaotic sequence in front of the net in the third period of Philadelphia’s 5-2 victory over Pittsburgh in Game 3 on Wednesday.
Vladar, 28, did not practice on Thursday and the team had the day off on Friday before he participated in the morning skate on Saturday.
He has been in net for all three games, stopping 70 of 74 shots — including all 27 he faced in Philadelphia’s 3-0 win in Game 2 on Monday.
