Head coach Rick Tocchet isn鈥檛 revealing who鈥檒l start in net for the Vancouver Canucks when they face the Nashville Predators in Game 5 of their first-round playoff series Tuesday.
The choice will be a 鈥済ame-time decision鈥 based on both the health of his goalies and their recent performances, he said.
鈥淵ou look at where that person is at injury-wise, you talk to the doctor, you talk to the trainer. And then you talk to him,鈥 Tocchet said his team skated Tuesday morning. 鈥淭here has to be a three-way conversation. And then you make your decision.鈥
The Canucks started three different goalies in the series and each has earned a win, giving Vancouver a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven matchup.
All-star goalie Thatcher Demko was in net for Vancouver in Game 1, but sustained a lower-body injury and is currently listed as week to week.
He was replaced by Casey DeSmith, who went 1-1-0 with a 2.02 goals-against average and a .911 save percentage in Games 2 and 3 before going down with a lower-body injury.
The 32-year-old American has been working his way back to full health and will likely be dressed for Tuesday鈥檚 game, Tocchet said.
鈥淐asey had a good day (Monday),鈥 the coach said. 鈥淪o I would foresee if he did not play, he would be a backup.鈥
Arturs Silovs is expected to be the other half of Vancouver鈥檚 Game 5 tandem.
Both goalies were on the ice for the morning skate.
Silovs got the start in Game 4, stopping 27 shots in his first NHL playoff appearance as the Canucks came back from a late two-goal deficit to beat the Preds 4-3 in overtime.
Vancovuer鈥檚 goalie situation is unlike anything veteran forward J.T. Miller has experienced over his 82 career playoff games.
鈥淢aybe the starter a little bit, but never that many,鈥 he said.
The way the netminders have responded to the adversity is important, Miller added.
鈥淚n the playoffs, it鈥檚 the next-man-up mentality, and I think that goes for the goalies too,鈥 he said. 鈥淭hey鈥檝e been unreal. I couldn鈥檛 imagine being in their spot where you do a lot of sitting around. 鈥 Those are big moments of the series.鈥