The Abbotsford Canucks look to get back on track as their American Hockey League Pacific Division Final shifts to Colorado.
The best of five series is tied one win apiece, with the remainder of the games to be played in Loveland, CO – about 80 kilometres north of Denver.
What we know
The Canucks have responded to their first two losses of the postseason with victories. They find themselves in bounce back mode tonight after falling 5-3 on Sunday night in Abbotsford. The Canucks have now been tied 1-1 in all three playoff series so far. In each one, they took the opener and then dropped Game 2 before winning the third one. They hope that trend continues tonight.
Arturs Silovs, who had posted back to back shutouts, was beaten just 1:57 into Game 2. He ended up allowing four goals on 20 shots.
Jonathan Lekkerimäki scored his first goal of the playoffs and added an assist on Linus Karlsson’s power play goal. Karlsson now leads Abbotsford with four postseason markers. Chase Wouters had the team’s other goal in Game 2.
Sammy Blais netted an assist on Wouters’ goal giving the veteran forward a team-leading 10 points in the playoffs. Despite not scoring since the opening round against Tucson, Blais still sits second in AHL playoff points. All three of his goals in the playoffs have come on the power play.
As a team, Abbotsford continues to produce with the man advantage. It went one for three on Sunday and is now seven for 30 (23.3%) in the postseason. The power play has accounted for seven of the team’s 27 playoff goals. The penalty kill remains perfect successfully defending all 26 shorthanded situations.
It’s possible Manny Malhotra will insert Danila Klimovich into the line-up tonight. The team’s leading goal scorer in the regular season has not dressed since Game 2 of the last round against Coachella Valley. Klimovich scored 25 times in the regular season, but has just one goal in five playoff games.
The opponent
The Eagles found another gear on Sunday after getting shutout for the first time all season in the series opener. Jake Wise, Wyatt Aamodt, Chris Wagner, Ivan Ivan and Jayson Megna scored the Colorado goals and Trent Miner made 27 saves in goal for the victory.
Megna’s empty netter was his team leading fourth goal of the postseason while Megna and Matthew Phillips share the team lead with seven points apiece in the playoffs.
The Eagles were the top home ice team in the AHL during the regular season posting an impressive 26-6-2-2 record in the 6800 seat Blue Arena. They were also the highest scoring team on home ice registering 21 more goals than any other team in the league. Colorado outscored its opponent 149-89 at home this season. So far in the playoffs, Colorado is 2-0 on home ice winning both games against San Jose in the previous round.
Series at a Glance
Game 1: 2-0 Abbotsford
Game 2: 5-3 Colorado
Both teams have scored five goals so far. Abbotsford holds a 54-43 edge in shots on goal. The Canucks are 2 for 5 (40%) on the power play while the Eagles are 0 for 6. Linus Karlsson has scored in both games and leads the series with two goals.
These teams will meet again in Game 4 at 6pm PT on Friday. If necessary, Game 5 will be played at 2pm PT on Monday afternoon
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.
READ NEXT: Top Abbotsford Canucks scorers need to find another offensive gear in deadlocked series vs. Colorado
Sponsored by bet365
