Artūrs Šilovs Named Starting Goalie for Penguins’ Season Opener

PITTSBURGH, PA – Artūrs Šilovs has secured his place as the starting goalie for the Pittsburgh Penguins in their season opener against the New York Rangers on Tuesday night. The 24-year-old Latvian netminder was traded to the Penguins from the Vancouver Canucks earlier this summer after a standout performance in the AHL playoffs.

Šilovs, who backstopped the Abbotsford Canucks to their first Calder Cup title in late June, shows promise as the Penguins look to maintain stability in goal. Head coach Dan Muse expressed confidence in both Šilovs and veteran Tristan Jarry, who is expected to share goalie duties throughout the season.

“Silovs had a good camp,” Muse told reporters. “We’re going to look for both guys to come up big early this season.” Šilovs’ impressive preseason performance—recording a 2-1-0 record, a .904 save percentage, and a 2.55 GAA—earned him this opportunity.

Last year, Šilovs played the majority of the AHL season but stepped into the NHL spotlight during the Calder Cup Playoffs, where he was named MVP, posting a .931 save percentage and five shutouts. His strong play contributed significantly to the Canucks’ success, making it clear he had outgrown the AHL.

The Penguins have struggled with their goaltending since their last Stanley Cup victories in 2016 and 2017. The organization believes Šilovs has the potential to be a long-term solution as they transition away from Jarry, whose performance has been inconsistent.

As the Penguins begin their new season, they welcome a familiar yet challenging opponent in the Rangers, under the guidance of former coach Mike Sullivan. The match will kick off at 8 p.m. ET at Madison Square Garden, marking a new chapter in both Šilovs’ career and the Penguins’ goaltending saga.