The Abbotsford Canucks split a midweek series with the visiting Manitoba Moose earlier this week. Abbotsford now sits at 5-5-0 over its last ten games but continues to struggle in the Pacific Division standings (22-31-3-3).

With just 13 games remaining on the schedule, the Canucks find themselves 12 points behind seventh place and the final playoff spot in the division. While a late push is always possible, the reality is that Abbotsford’s postseason hopes are fading quickly.

Game One belonged to the visitors. New Westminster native Thomas Milic put the Moose on his back, stopping all 30 shots he faced to record his third shutout of the season.

Despite the loss, Abbotsford controlled much of the play, outshooting Manitoba 30-19. All but four players registered at least one shot on goal. For the first time in weeks, however, Jiri Patera came back down to earth, allowing four goals on just 19 shots.

Game Two on Wednesday night told a different story.

The Canucks jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period and never looked back. The game also marked the debut of newly signed NCAA free agent Austin Brimmer.

The 6-foot-4, 223-pound winger didn’t record a shot in limited ice time as an extra forward, but his physical, energetic style was noticeable immediately. Brimmer set the tone seconds into his first shift and carried that presence throughout the evening.

Abbotsford opened the scoring with just under five minutes remaining in the first period. Sawyer Mynio fired a one-timer from the point that struck Arshdeep Bains in front. The puck bounced out to the circles, where Nils Åman quickly pounced and buried his fifth goal of the season.

The marker continued Åman’s strong stretch, as he has now recorded at least one point in nine of his last 11 games. He added an assist shortly after.

Moments later, Manitoba took a penalty, and Danila Klimovich made them pay. Taking a pass from Jack Thompson, Klimovich ripped a perfectly placed snap shot short side for the first of his two goals on the night. The assist gave Thompson his sixth point in just four games with Abbotsford.

The Moose cut the deficit in half midway through the second period when Mason Shaw found the back of the net, but that would be as close as they would come.

Klimovich added insurance later in the game from the doorstep. After pinching in from the blue line, Cole Clayton drew a defender before spotting Klimovich alone in front. The winger wasted little time burying his second of the night.

The goal was Klimovich’s 64th career AHL tally, leaving him just six goals shy of Linus Karlsson for the franchise record. Jimmy Schuldt sealed the win with a long-range empty-net goal to cap a 4-1 victory.

Ty Young was solid once again between the pipes, stopping 22 of 23 shots. Although his early-season numbers will weigh down his overall stat line, Young has been excellent since returning to Abbotsford. In three games, he has stopped 81 of 84 shots, posting a perfect 3-0 record that includes his first AHL shutout.

The Canucks will wrap up their six-game homestand this weekend with a two-game series against the Henderson Silver Knights.

Henderson enters the weekend hot, sporting a 7-1-0-2 record over its last ten games and ranking among the higher-scoring teams in the Pacific Division.

This will mark the seventh and eighth meetings between the clubs this season. While Abbotsford won the first two games of the series on opening weekend, Henderson has largely controlled the matchup since, outscoring the Canucks 23-10 for a 4–1-1 record.

After welcoming Austin Brimmer to the lineup earlier this week, Abbotsford is also expected to dress newcomer Bennett Schimek this weekend. The 22-year-old is coming off a strong senior season with Arizona State, where he finished second on the team in scoring with 43 points (13 goals, 30 assists) in 35 games while serving as captain.

Game One is set for Saturday at 7:00 p.m. PT at Rogers Forum, with Game Two scheduled as a Sunday matinee at 4:00 p.m. PT.