“He deserves it.” Shilov will start the season as the Canucks’ first goalie

“I don’t know who will play the lion’s share of the games,” said the Canucks head coach. “Lankinen will help us in games against teams that play with the puck deep (behind the goal). It is a nuance of the game that Artur needs to improve and he is working on it.”

In the NHL preseason, Shilov kept the goal in three games, winning two and being recognized as one of the three best players. Lankinen, on the other hand, played in two matches, losing both. The Finnish goalkeeper saved 89.8% of all shots, while Shilov saved 91.7%.

“Canucks” will play the first game of the season on October 10 at 5 a.m. Latvian time. The Vancouver team will play against the Calgary Flames at home.

It was previously reported that the Canucks placed the Czech goalkeeper Jiri Patera, who was selected by the Boston Bruins, on the list of vulnerable players, but now the 25-year-old hockey player has returned to the Vancouver club.

Patera and 24-year-old Belarusian goalkeeper Nikita Tolopilo will start the season in the farm club – the Abbotsford Canucks of the American Hockey League (AHL).