Unlikely goalie Arturs Silovs has Vancouver Canucks buzzing - ESPN

VANCOUVER, British Columbia — «Take the ball.»

Everything about those three words was an invitation. It was a way to let Arturs Silovs know that although he had already done quite a bit, he could still do so much more, because those around him believed he was capable of more.

Several months have passed since Abbotsford Canucks coach Jeremy Colliton delivered that message. In that time, Silovs has gone from a strong AHL goaltender to one who has won three postseason games for the Vancouver Canucks in one of this year's unlikeliest situations.

Think about that. Or rather, think about it like this: Silovs is a 23-year-old goalie from Latvia, a nation whose population is smaller than metro Vancouver. For all the questions facing the Canucks about how they'd survive without injured Vezina Trophy finalist Thatcher Demko, they have found answers with Silovs' ascension.

His first postseason start saw him come away with the victory in a Game 4 overtime win over the Nashville Predators in the first round. He gave the Canucks a chance to win Game 5, only to be one of the biggest reasons they won Game 6 as he recorded a 1-0 shutout to close out the series.

It is the sort of rise that has made him and his actions unavoidable. Silovs' bold fashion choices led to Canucks alternate captain J.T. Miller donning the goalie's Hugo Boss paisley T-shirt as a practice sweater. What started as a prank turned into a full-on movement with so many Canucks fans flooding Hugo Boss' website that the «Interlock-Cotton T-Shirt with Paisley Print,» as it's called, is sold out. Fans have worn them during games at Rogers Arena — the same Rogers Arena that roared more for Silovs than anyone else announced in the starting lineup despite the fact that he has