<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Calder Cup Finals shift to the Fraser Valley as the <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/combinations">Abbotsford Canucks</a> and Charlotte Checkers play Game 3 of their championship series tonight at Abbotsford Centre.</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The teams are tied at one win apiece after <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/farmies-jim-benning-nephew-delivers-ot-dagger-abby-canucks-charlotte-ties-calder-cup-final-1-1">splitting overtime victories in Charlotte over the weekend.</a></span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">What we know</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/brandon-astle-abbotsford-calder-cup-run-playoff-travel-more-vancouver-canucks-conversation">Canucks are fairly fortunate to be in a deadlocked series</a> after getting outshot by 53 in the first two games. Arturs Silovs has been sensational throughout the playoffs and again to start this series. He has stopped 90 of the 96 shots (93.8%) sent his way by the Checkers. Tonight, he will make his 21st start of the playoffs. That matches the number of games he appeared in during the AHL regular season.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sammy Blais had a goal and set up Linus Karlsson on Sunday. The goal was the first for Blais since the opening round against Tucson. The feisty forward has had a hand in four of the six goals Abbotsford has scored in this series so far. Karlsson’s goal on a first period power play was his league-leading 10th of the playoffs. He now has 10 goals and eight assists in 20 games this postseason.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Abbotsford generated just 13 shots on goal on Sunday and only six over the final 44 minutes. Arshdeep Bains and Christian Wolanin each registered a pair and were the only Canucks with more than a single shot on goal. With a lack of shots in the first two games, the Canucks may elect to insert Jonathan Lekkerimäki who has been a healthy scratch since late in the last round against Texas. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Canucks are now three for 10 (30%) on the power play in the series after netting a pair including the double-overtime winner on Friday.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Back at home for three games, Abbotsford will look to make the most of the fan support in the Fraser Valley. The Canucks are 8-2 on home ice in the playoffs and have won three straight at Abbotsford Centre.</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">The opponent</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Michael Benning’s goal on the power play 4:02 into overtime was the winner on Sunday. John Leonard and Wilmer Skoog also scored for Charlotte. Benning, Justin Sourdif and Matt Kierstad lead the Checkers in scoring with two points apiece in this series.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">After going 0 for 5 on the power play in Friday’s opener, Charlotte went 2 for 5 with the man advantage on Sunday. The team’s power play struggles throughout the playoffs have been well documented. Prior to Sunday, the Checkers were just 3 for 48 through their first 13 playoff games. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Kaapo Kahkonen stopped 11 of the 13 shots he faced in Game 2. He was at his busiest in the first period when he saw seven shots come his way. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Justin Sourdif leads all skaters in this series with 13 shots on goal. Charlotte has four players with more shots than any Abbotsford player so far.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Tonight will be Charlotte’s first game of the season in the Pacific time zone. It is also the first time they have played a game outside the Eastern time zone since a January 28th game in Iowa. The Checkers are 5-0 on the road in these playoffs outscoring their opponents 23-7. They have not played a road game since May 29th in Laval.</span></p>
<h1><span style="font-weight: 400;">The series at a glance</span></h1>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Game 1: Abbotsford wins 4-3 in 2OT</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Game 2: Charlotte wins 3-2 in OT</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Shots are 96-43 in Charlotte’s favour. 12 different skaters have scored the goals. Sammy Blais leads all players with four points.</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">What was said</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Manny Malhotra on his team not playing up to his standards in Game 2: “Obviously, not happy with the result. We had opportunities – especially in overtime starting with the power play – to get the job done and we didn’t. But it comes down to the things we discussed before the game in terms of making sure we stay out of the box and our discipline. We took far too many undisciplined penalties to be successful.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Malhotra on getting the split of first two games in Charlotte, but knowing his team has to be much better on home ice: “Big picture stuff, obviously to come on the road and get one out of this building is big for us, set ourselves up going home. The way we lost (Sunday) doesn’t sit well. We didn’t start the game on time once again. Give them credit, they come at you with a ton of pace and make it difficult for you. We’re going to have to find a way to be more assertive early in games to make sure we’re not playing on our heels.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Make sure to join the Rink Wide postgame live stream immediately following tonight’s game. Rink Wide will provide a full breakdown and comprehensive coverage of the Abbotsford Canucks through the AHL playoffs. When the final buzzer sounds, be sure to log onto Rink Wide and join the YouTube live chat to discuss the game with other Canucks fans. Subscribe to the Rink Wide YouTube channel and never miss an episode.</span></p>
<h2><a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/jpats-monday-vancouver-canucks-mailbag-start-season-thatcher-demko-arturs-silovs">READ NEXT: JPat’s Monday Canucks Mailbag: Is Demko or Silovs more likely to start the season as a Canuck?</a></h2>
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Abbotsford Canucks captain Chase Wouters high fives fans as he exits the ice at Abbotsford Centre.

<span style="font-weight: 400;">The Calder Cup Finals shift to the Fraser Valley as the <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/combinations">Abbotsford Canucks</a> and Charlotte Checkers play Game 3 of their championship series tonight at Abbotsford Centre.</span>
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">The teams are tied at one win apiece after <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/farmies-jim-benning-nephew-delivers-ot-dagger-abby-canucks-charlotte-ties-calder-cup-final-1-1">splitting overtime victories in Charlotte over the weekend.</a></span>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">What we know</span></h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">The <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/brandon-astle-abbotsford-calder-cup-run-playoff-travel-more-vancouver-canucks-conversation">Canucks are fairly fortunate to be in a deadlocked series</a> after getting outshot by 53 in the first two games. Arturs Silovs has been sensational throughout the playoffs and again to start this series. He has stopped 90 of the 96 shots (93.8%) sent his way by the Checkers. Tonight, he will make his 21st start of the playoffs. That matches the number of games he appeared in during the AHL regular season.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Sammy Blais had a goal and set up Linus Karlsson on Sunday. The goal was the first for Blais since the opening round against Tucson. The feisty forward has had a hand in four of the six goals Abbotsford has scored in this series so far. Karlsson’s goal on a first period power play was his league-leading 10th of the playoffs. He now has 10 goals and eight assists in 20 games this postseason.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Abbotsford generated just 13 shots on goal on Sunday and only six over the final 44 minutes. Arshdeep Bains and Christian Wolanin each registered a pair and were the only Canucks with more than a single shot on goal. With a lack of shots in the first two games, the Canucks may elect to insert Jonathan Lekkerimäki who has been a healthy scratch since late in the last round against Texas. </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">The Canucks are now three for 10 (30%) on the power play in the series after netting a pair including the double-overtime winner on Friday.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Back at home for three games, Abbotsford will look to make the most of the fan support in the Fraser Valley. The Canucks are 8-2 on home ice in the playoffs and have won three straight at Abbotsford Centre.</span>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">The opponent</span></h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Michael Benning’s goal on the power play 4:02 into overtime was the winner on Sunday. John Leonard and Wilmer Skoog also scored for Charlotte. Benning, Justin Sourdif and Matt Kierstad lead the Checkers in scoring with two points apiece in this series.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">After going 0 for 5 on the power play in Friday’s opener, Charlotte went 2 for 5 with the man advantage on Sunday. The team’s power play struggles throughout the playoffs have been well documented. Prior to Sunday, the Checkers were just 3 for 48 through their first 13 playoff games. </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Kaapo Kahkonen stopped 11 of the 13 shots he faced in Game 2. He was at his busiest in the first period when he saw seven shots come his way. </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Justin Sourdif leads all skaters in this series with 13 shots on goal. Charlotte has four players with more shots than any Abbotsford player so far.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Tonight will be Charlotte’s first game of the season in the Pacific time zone. It is also the first time they have played a game outside the Eastern time zone since a January 28th game in Iowa. The Checkers are 5-0 on the road in these playoffs outscoring their opponents 23-7. They have not played a road game since May 29th in Laval.</span>
<h1><span style="font-weight: 400;">The series at a glance</span></h1>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Game 1: Abbotsford wins 4-3 in 2OT</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Game 2: Charlotte wins 3-2 in OT</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Shots are 96-43 in Charlotte’s favour. 12 different skaters have scored the goals. Sammy Blais leads all players with four points.</span>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">What was said</span></h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Manny Malhotra on his team not playing up to his standards in Game 2: “Obviously, not happy with the result. We had opportunities – especially in overtime starting with the power play – to get the job done and we didn’t. But it comes down to the things we discussed before the game in terms of making sure we stay out of the box and our discipline. We took far too many undisciplined penalties to be successful.”</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Malhotra on getting the split of first two games in Charlotte, but knowing his team has to be much better on home ice: “Big picture stuff, obviously to come on the road and get one out of this building is big for us, set ourselves up going home. The way we lost (Sunday) doesn’t sit well. We didn’t start the game on time once again. Give them credit, they come at you with a ton of pace and make it difficult for you. We’re going to have to find a way to be more assertive early in games to make sure we’re not playing on our heels.”</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Make sure to join the Rink Wide postgame live stream immediately following tonight’s game. Rink Wide will provide a full breakdown and comprehensive coverage of the Abbotsford Canucks through the AHL playoffs. When the final buzzer sounds, be sure to log onto Rink Wide and join the YouTube live chat to discuss the game with other Canucks fans. Subscribe to the Rink Wide YouTube channel and never miss an episode.</span>
<h2><a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/jpats-monday-vancouver-canucks-mailbag-start-season-thatcher-demko-arturs-silovs">READ NEXT: JPat’s Monday Canucks Mailbag: Is Demko or Silovs more likely to start the season as a Canuck?</a></h2>
<strong>Sponsored by bet365</strong>
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