“Penguins” of Shilova scores an important victory in the New Year
The Pittsburgh “Penguins” team represented by Artūrs Šilov defeated the Detroit “Red Wings” in extra time with the result 4:3 in the home game of the National Hockey League (NHL) on Friday night Latvian time. This win is especially significant as it is the first of the team’s winning streak in 2026, confirming a solid late-game performance. As TV3 reports, the Pittsburgh team took the lead twice during the game, but the Detroit team was able to fight back, including the majority of the game’s final score. The high-scoring game ended only in the first minute of extra time, when experienced defenseman Kris Letang scored the winning goal. Shilov’s performance in this match was solid; he made 24 of 27 saves for an 88.8% save efficiency.
Shilov’s statistics and the road to Pittsburgh
Latvian goalkeeper Artūrs Šilovs has played 18 games this season, winning seven and losing five in regular time. His shooting percentage is 88.8%, he averaged 3.20 rebounds per game. Before moving to Pittsburgh, Shilov represented the Vancouver Canucks and their farm club Abbotsford in the AHL, winning the Calder Cup in 2025 and being named the playoffs’ most valuable player. He was also included in the Latvian national team for participation in the 2026 Olympic Games. In July of this year, Artur Shilov was traded from the Vancouver Canucks to the Penguins, which marks a new stage in his career and an opportunity to prove himself in the elite circles of the NHL.
The performance of other Latvians in the NHL
On the same night, striker Zemgus Girgensons also showed an equally impressive performance, representing the Tampa Bay “Lightning” team, which won its sixth consecutive victory in NHL games, defeating the Anaheim “Ducks” with a score of 4:3 in extra time. Girgenson was on the court for 16 minutes and 10 seconds in this match, notching five power plays and a neutral efficiency rating. “Lightning” has moved up to second place in the Atlantic division with this victory. This season, Girgensons scored 5 goals and made 2 assists in 32 games for the Lightning, accumulating a -2 efficiency coefficient. His NHL career includes the 2012 draft where he was selected 14th overall, becoming the highest drafted Latvian player. Girgenson has played 804 NHL games, scoring 96 goals.
“Penguins” and “Red Wings” future path
Pittsburgh “Penguins” with 45 points in 39 played games are in tenth place in the Eastern Conference standings. The team will play the next game on Saturday evening, Latvian time, against the same “Red Wings”. Detroit “Red Wings” have collected 52 points in 42 matches and are in the first position in the Eastern Conference. Last season, the 2024-2025 NHL season took place throughout. 2018 season, which ended with the Florida Panthers as champions.
Other NHL and Latvian perspectives of the game
Several other interesting games took place on the NHL field last night. The Toronto Maple Leafs pulled off an impressive comeback against the Winnipeg Jets, winning 6-5. On the other hand, the New York “Rangers” convincingly defeated the Florida “Panthers” with 5:1. Artur Shilov has solidified his position in the Pittsburgh Penguins lineup, and his performance is rated as solid, with particular emphasis on his contributions to the team’s victories.
