The Abbotsford Canucks were in Calgary over the weekend for a two-game set against one of their Pacific Division rivals.

In what was effectively a grudge match between the ninth- and tenth-place teams, Abbotsford came away with back-to-back 3–2 (shootout) victories and has now won four straight against the Calgary Wranglers.

With the weekend sweep, the Canucks moved up one spot in the overall AHL standings, leapfrogging the Utica Comets for 29th place. It’s a modest climb in what has otherwise been a forgettable season, as Abbotsford still sits 10 points outside of a playoff position with limited runway remaining.

Goaltending was the defining factor in the series, with both Jiri Patera (32) and Ty Young (36) delivering 32-plus save performances. With the pair of wins, the Canucks carry a 20-29-3-3 record and sit deadlast in the Pacific Division.

Friday afternoon’s matinee was a slow burn.

It took 40:52 to see the game’s first goal, and it came from Duncan, BC’s Ben Berard. Stationed at the netfront, Berard got his stick on a Nikolai Knyzhov point shot and redirected it up and over Arsenii Sergeev for his 12th goal of the season. With Jonathan Lekkerimäki (13 goals) expected to miss the remainder of the year, Berard now carries the team lead.

Calgary responded quickly. Just over two minutes later, off a defensive-zone faceoff win, Jimmy Schuldt attempted a clearance that was picked off by Dryden Hunt. Hunt quickly slid the puck to Sam Morton, who snapped it into the top corner over Patera’s shoulder to even the game.

Abbotsford regained the lead before the midpoint of the third. Lukas Reichel initiated the breakout in his own end and moved the puck up to Knyzhov, who joined the rush with Chase Stillman. After Stillman fanned on a one-timer, Knyzhov stayed with the play and found Reichel in space for a quick snapshot.

The goal was Reichel’s sixth of the season and extended his point streak to six games (four goals, three assists). Unfortunately, that streak would end in Game Two.

Calgary tied it again two minutes later, sending the game to overtime and eventually the first of two shootouts from the weekend.

Berard has been lights out in the shootout this season, and opened the scoring with a quick snap shot to the top corner. After a Patera save, Chase Stillman sealed it with a cheeky five-hole finish.

Patera, who saw his first start in nearly a full calendar month, stopped 32 shots in the victory. He now sports a 9-8-4 record, with a 2.59 goals-against average and a .909 save percentage.

Saturday night did not require nearly as much patience. Just two minutes in, Danila Klimovich located a loose puck in traffic and snapped home his ninth goal of the season.

For the first time in the series, a team extended the lead to two, as Chase Stillman entered the zone and found Joe Arntsen trailing. Arntsen stepped into a heavy wrist shot from the top of the circle that beat the goaltender clean to the far side.

Calgary answered with two quick goals in the final five minutes of regulation, forcing overtime for the second straight game. Once again, overtime solved nothing. And once again, Ben Berard opened the shootout scoring. This one required additional shooters, but Jett Woo ended it with a composed five-hole finish.

Ty Young was excellent in the win, earning his first AHL victory of the season. He turned aside 36 of 38 shots and was named the league’s second star of the night. He now sits with a 1-8-0 record to go with a 4.28 goals against and a .863 save percentage.

The Canucks return from a five-game road swing to open up an extended six-game homestand. First on the schedule are the Colorado Eagles, who come in as the Pacific Division’s second-rated team.

Game one will be on Friday, March 6 (7:00 pm PT), while game two follows the next day at Rogers Forum.