Artūrs Šilovs Powers Pittsburgh Penguins to Key Victories

Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Arturs Silovs concluded the 2025-26 NHL regular season with a series of high-volume appearances, including playing in back-to-back games on April 4 and April 5, 2026.

In the season finale on April 5, 2026, Silovs faced the Florida Panthers, stopping 31 of 35 shots in a 5-2 victory for the Penguins. This followed a game on April 4, 2026, where Silovs stopped 23 of 32 shots in a 9-4 win against the same opponent.

Recent Performance and Season Trends

The end of the season saw a shift in Silovs’ form compared to his peak performance in early March. On March 2, 2026, it was announced that Silovs had been named the NHL’s Second Star for the week ending March 1, 2026.

During that award-winning period, Silovs recorded a 2-0-0 record with wins over the New Jersey Devils and Vegas Golden Knights. He stopped 51 of 52 shots, resulting in a .981 save percentage and a 0.50 goals-against average over those two games, including a shutout against the Golden Knights on March 1, 2026.

Silovs’ performance throughout the 2025-26 season has been marked by significant fluctuations. In January 2026, he appeared in seven games, recording four wins and a 2.39 goals-against average with a .909 save percentage.

His most challenging stretch occurred in December 2025, where he posted a 3.66 goals-against average and a .866 save percentage over five games. However, he rebounded in February 2026, recording two wins in three games with a 2.04 goals-against average.

Statistical Breakdown by Month

• March 2026: Silovs played eight games, recording five wins and three losses. He posted a 3.42 goals-against average and a .862 save percentage.
• February 2026: In three games, he earned two wins with a 2.04 goals-against average and a .931 save percentage.
• January 2026: Across seven games, he secured four wins with a 2.39 goals-against average and a .909 save percentage.
• December 2025: He appeared in five games, winning two and losing three, with a 3.66 goals-against average and a .866 save percentage.

Impact on Team Standings

The play of Arturs Silovs and Stuart Skinner following the NHL’s Holiday Break was instrumental in the Penguins’ success. The team earned points in 20 of 23 games during that span, going 16-3-4.

During this specific period, the Penguins ranked among the top three in the NHL in several key categories, including wins (16, tied for 3rd), points (36, tied for 2nd), and win percentage (.783, 2nd). They ranked 1st in the league for both goals against (51) and goals-against average (2.22), while ranking 2nd in save percentage (.913).

Silovs also brought international momentum into the season, having returned from the Olympics where he helped Latvia earn its first Olympic win since 2014.

Notable Game Results

Throughout the 2025-26 campaign, Silovs recorded several key results, including a 4-1 win against the New Jersey Devils on February 26 and a 5-2 win against the Buffalo Sabres on February 5.

He also contributed to victories against the Winnipeg Jets (5-4 SO on March 21) and the Colorado Avalanche (7-2 on March 16). Conversely, he faced a difficult outing on March 12 against the Vegas Golden Knights, where he allowed six goals in a 6-2 loss.