Vilmanis scores goal and shootout winner, Šilovs stops 23 shots in win

Two Latvian hockey players stood out in Saturday's National Hockey League (NHL) preseason games.

Forward Sandis Vilmanis featured for the Florida Panthers, who played their final preseason game of the schedule. He scored a goal in regulation, and the game was decided in a shootout, where Vilmanis converted his attempt.

Šilovs makes 23 saves

Meanwhile, Latvian goaltender Šilovs helped his team secure a win in a separate preseason matchup, stopping 23 shots over the course of the game.

NHL preseason games serve as a preparation period for teams ahead of the regular season, giving coaches a chance to evaluate player form and make decisions about final roster spots for the weeks ahead. These games carry particular weight for Latvian players, since strong performances can influence whether they make the opening-night roster.

Both players have become established NHL fixtures in recent seasons, and their results are closely followed by hockey fans in Latvia. Vilmanis is known as a productive forward who has spent several seasons with various NHL clubs, while Šilovs's recent performances have drawn particular attention amid a growing number of Latvian players competing at the sport's highest level.

Both games were part of the league's broader preseason schedule, during which every NHL team plays a series of exhibition games before the regular season begins in late September or early October.