The Abbotsford Canucks charged into Bakersfield on Tuesday with everything on the line—a franchise-record 10th straight win, a chance to match the AHL’s longest streak this season, and a shot at clinching a playoff berth.

Riding a nine-game heater that tied their best-ever run, they aimed to topple the Cleveland Monsters’ league-high mark from November and set a franchise record.

Furthermore, a regulation win and a Tucson loss would also lock in a playoff position.

The stakes couldn’t be higher, and the Canucks delivered—just barely.

Down early, they faced a red-hot Brett Brochu, peppered him with 36 shots, and clawed back with Tristen Nielsen’s clutch equalizer and Phil Di Giuseppe’s late dagger. Ultimately, a Tucson win delayed the playoff party, but a 2-1 victory etched Abbotsford’s name in the record books.

Let’s check in to see how it went down.

Arturs Silovs hadn’t started an AHL game since March 8th. Yet, oddly enough, it was he who actually kicked off the team’s scorching nine-game heater.

The Condors got the memo that there was a lot at stake for the Canucks, and they responded accordingly.

It took them just 15 seconds to open the scoring, with Seth Griffith beating Arturs Silovs with a beautiful backhand move off the quick one-touched breakout.

Welcome back to the American Hockey League, Arturs.

The visiting team looked to return the favour immediately, nearly cashing in via a Cooper Walker drive.

Off the Akito Hirose point shot, Walker followed up toward the net with plans to jump on the rebound, but could not solve a scrambled netminder.

The Canucks continued to stay hungry, collecting the game’s next nine shots on net.

None better than this Danila Klimovich breakaway opportunity, where Brett Brochu dropped to throw the blocker up to stone the young Belurrisan.

No Canuck has had more success against the Condors than Klimovich this season, with nine points in six games. He’d have to wait to make that eight.

Over at the other end, Silovs finally saw some rubber in the back half of the period, settling in with a few saves to get some confidence going.

It wasn’t much, but after a quick goal against 15 seconds in, it was something.

Unfortunately, the Canucks ran into a red-hot goaltender, who had won four of his last five games. Tonight, he played the part.

Despite taking a late power play, Bakersfield would take that quick lead into the dressing room.

The middle frame didn’t deliver instant gratification, like the opening seconds did.

In fact, it took either team three minutes to pick up any sort of real opponent.

Aside from a bit of back and forth neutral zone play and a few low grade shots from the Canucks, the initial minutes were relatively uneventful.

But they were trying.

Klimovich was doing what he could, walking through the entire team, only to catch the top of Brochu’s shoulder.

The game was quiet until the final minute, which offered some excitement. Stretching his arm on the breakaway, James Hamblin forced Silovs to make his best save of the evening with the glove.

With the puck sent the other way, Tristen Nielsen got the step on the Condors defender, breaking out of his own. He was hauled down with no call.

The Abbotsford Canucks enjoyed another vast shot advantage, outshooting their opponents by a 11-3 margin, but Could not solve the Condors netminder.

Action lagged early, but the physicality didn’t—Chase Wouters leveled a Condor with a blueline hit, sparking a spirited tilt from ex-Canuck Alex Kannok Leipert.

Then, finally, perseverance paid off.

Navigating their fourth powerplay, Kirill Kudryavtsev dropped the puck to a streaking Tristen Nielsen, who sliced through the defense and went upstairs with a backhand on their 31st shot.

The Canucks kept rolling.

Arshdeep Bains did a terrific job along the boards, battling for the win before finding Phil Di Giuseppe in the slot.

The grizzled vet snapped the puck over the far shoulder to give his team their first lead of the match.

Bakersfield’s first shot came at 4:21 left, too late—the Canucks dominated 36-13, and Silovs locked it down.

Despite a late-period push, that goal would hold as the game winner. Thanks to a 2-1 lead in which they dominated the Condors by a 36-13 shot margin, the Abbotsford Canucks set a franchise record with their 10th straight victory.

Although they did win the game in regulation, the Tucson Roadrunners did win their match, eliminating the Canucks’ ability to clinch a playoff spot.

Arturs Silovs shook off a 15-second wake-up call, finishing with 12 saves. Tristen Nielsen and Phil Di Giuseppe delivered when it counted, and the Canucks outshot Bakersfield by a mile. The playoff berth waits, but this record-breaking night belongs to Abbotsford.

The Abbotsford travel down to San Diego overnight, as they have a date with the Gulls on Wednesday night. The puck drops at 7:00 pm PT at the Pechanga Arena.