Pittsburgh Penguins name Arturs Silovs the starter, 2.93 GAA, .896 SV% entering crucial Metro clash

PUBLICATION

Daniel Lucente
February 26, 2026 (10:58)

SHARE THIS STORY

Photo credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Arturs Silovs is first off the ice, and the Pittsburgh Penguins desperately need him to steal Thursday.

That little practice clue usually screams "starter," and the stakes feel loud right away.

Pittsburgh is back from the Olympic break and drops straight into a Metro fight with the New Jersey Devils.

The Penguins sit 29-15-12, and there's no time to ease in.

This is also the first game of a nasty stretch, 12 games in 21 days.

Silovs is 24, a 2019 sixth-round pick by the Vancouver Canucks, and he's suddenly living real NHL pressure every start.

-

If he gets the crease, it's not a ceremonial nod. It's trust.

Silovs has started 26 games this season with an 11-7-8 record, 2.93 goals-against average, and a .896 save percentage.

Penguins fans are nervous, because every soft goal feels like a season turning point.

New Jersey comes in bruised, but dangerous, and divisional games don't care about rust.

Pittsburgh also has to survive without Sidney Crosby for a bit, so goaltending can't wobble.

That's why "first goalie off" matters more than usual.

Silovs' game is simple when it's right, seal the posts, track through traffic, kill second chances.

If he gives them calm early, the bench can play freer, and the points stay in the building.

Thursday is a truth test, and the Penguins need their new guy between the pipes to pass it.

Update: Dan Muse just confirmed it's Silovs starting.

-

Previously on HockeyUnplugged

POLL
FEVRIER 26\|106 ANSWERS Pittsburgh Penguins name Arturs Silovs the starter, 2.93 GAA, .896 SV% entering crucial Metro clash Will Arturs Silovs steal the Pittsburgh Penguins' first game after the break?
Yes	93	87.7 %
No	13	12.3 %
List of polls