We know what you’re thinking, folks…
Why does it feel that the Abbotsford Canucks play the Calgary Wranglers every night?
The reality is that in a divisional-driven league, these rivals play each other 14 times per season. Yes, 14.
This weekend, they play the final stretch of those games.
And these games mean a ton.
The Wranglers are on the hunt to punch a ticket to the postseason with a win. Meanwhile the Canucks are on a mission for that elusive first-round bye into the semifinal match – handed to the first placed team in the Pacific Division.
Unfortunately, the Canucks did not get the start they were looking for, posting just one shot through the first 14 minutes of play. From there, the game was a seesaw battle, with goals being exchanged throughout.
Eventually, the Wranglers got the final strike, scoring one additional goal in the shootout to snap the incredible winning streak at 13 games.
Here’s how it all went down.
Starting lineup
Jonathan Lekkerimäki returned to the Abbotsford lineup. Unfortunately, both Arshdeep Bains and Ty Mueller were absent.
Blais – Wouters – Lekkerimäki
Di Giuseppe – Smith – Klimovich
Glover – Walker – Kambeitz
Nielsen – Khaira
Wolanin – Woo
Brisebois – McWard
Hirose – Kudryavtsev
Felton
Silovs
First period: Slow start, good finish
Despite a Touch of offensive zone pressure, the Abbotsford Canucks failed to generate much of anything through the first five minutes, with just one shot through the first 14 minutes.
The best chances came at the other end. Arturs Silovs was tested early, forcing a couple of strong saves.
Even Better, they were handed a mid-period penalty shot.
Sprung all alone, Frk broke out all alone against Silovs. Looking to make the simple poke check, Silovs let go of his stick – or tossed it? –, sending the AHL’s hardest shot on the penalty shot.
Calgary goal – 1-0 – Martin Frk (penalty shot)
Showing confidence, Frk outlasted Silovs and made no mistake on the far side to open the scoring.
To make matters worse, the Canucks two consecutive penalties immediately following the goal.
Working the two-man advantage, the Wranglers made them pay.
Calgary goal – 2-0 – Martin Frk from Rory Kerins and Sam Morton
Working the halfwall, the Wranglers beat out the pressure, where Rory Kerins sent the puck back to the point, sliding through the sticks of two Canuck Skaters.
Corralling the puck, Frk loaded and snapped the low shot past Silovs for his second goal of the period.
The Canucks finally received some life, grabbing a powerplay of their own just before the final five minutes.
And they made the most of that opportunity.
Abbotsford goal – 2-1 – Christian Wolanin from Jujhar Khaira and Tristen Nielsen
Collecting the puck up high, Christian Wolanin showed some good patience, walking through the slot before rifling the puck shortside to cut the deficit in half.
What’s great about having Jonathan Lekkerimäki in the lineup, aside from the goal-scoring threat? That simple threat forces the team to respect that pass and had the netminder cheating for that drop pass the entire time, leaving Wolanin with that room to the short side.
Who needs shots, anyway? The Canucks score on just five shots to head down the tunnel, down by a goal after twenty minutes of play.
Shots: ABB 5, CGY 11 | Score: ABB 1, CGY 2
Second period: Best second period team, anyone?
The Canucks are the best team in the American League when it comes to second period goal differential, and they were showcasing why that is early on.
It took them just one minute to find four shots, just one shy of their first period totals.
But the Wranglers responded with a weird one.
Calgary goal – 3-1 – Rory Kerins from Ty Tullio and Jeremie Poirier
Ty Tullio took the hot pass off the skate at the blue line before firing a shot blocked by an Abby forward.
With the puck fluttering in the air, Rory Kerins swung at it, directing it toward Silvos. Although he got the quick blocker on the shot, the puck jumped into the air to handcuff the netminder.
Things got relatively quiet midway through the frame. But Danila Klimovich nearly cashed in after a big sliding save by Silovs.
Jumping up for the quick odd-man rush. Keeping the puck himself, the sharpshooter rang the puck hard off the post.
But we mentioned that the Canucks were one of the best second period teams. And with two minutes to go, they got to work.
Finally, they were rewarded after the third line (technically, the fourth line) had worked hard on the forecheck all period long.
Abbotsford goal – 3-2 – Cooper Walker from Guillaume Brisebois and Ty Glover
With some dirty work down low, the Canucks threw some pucks on net before it pounced out to Cooper Walker. He went to the far side through traffic to cut the lead to one goal.
Then Danila Klimovich went to work.
Abbotsford goal – 3-3 – Danila Klimovich from Christian Wolanin
Entering the zone, Klimovih held the puck and cut across the blueline. Using his momentum, he went around the flatfoot defender before bringing the puck to his forehand to tuck Home his team leading 24th goal of the season.
The Abbotsford Canucks have been on a well documented heater, and their incredible resilience when doen in games is one primary reason why.
With two goals in less than one minute, the game was all knotted at three goals apiece.
Shots: ABB 17, CGY 16 | Score: ABB 3, CGY 3
Third period: Back and fourth
It was a bit of a sleepy start for both clubs, as each searched hard to gain that early edge.
But it was the Wranglers who struck first.
Calgary goal – 4-3 – Martin Frk from Hunter Brzustewicz and William Stromgren
Streaking down his strong side, Martin Frk held the puck and fired the shot cleanly past Silovs’ glove to regain their lead for his third goal of the contest.
He was Frk-ing good in this game.
But it didn’t last long.
Abbotsford goal– 4-4 – Nate Smith from Akito Hirose and Sammy Blais
Just over a minute later, Sammy Blais made the wise regroup before he dropped the puck to Akito Hirose, who slid the puck through to Nate Smith.
Despite having Jonathan Lekkerimäki next to him, Smith elected to shoot. He chose right, snapping the puck past Waltteri Ignatjew to even the score once again.
Resilience.
The fourth period was at it again, providing tons of energy, and the team nearly collected its first lead of the game.
With Ty Glover driving hard, Christian Felton sent the pass toward the backdoor, but the puck just hopped the stick, as he glared at the heavens.
Neither team could find the go-ahead goal, and the game needed extra time at four goals apiece.
Shots: ABB 27, CGY 18 | Score: ABB 4, CGY 4
Overtime: No goals
Despite a thrilling back and forth affair, with several blocked shots from the Abbotsford Canucks, neither team could find the golden goal.
It was shootout time.
Shootout
Attempt 1: Tristen Nielsen
No goal
Attempt 1: Rory Kerins
No goal
Attempt 2: Sammy Blais
No goal
Attempt 2: Martin Frk
Goal
Attempt 3: Jonathan Lekkerimäki
Goal
Attempt 4: Williams Stromgren
Goal
Final thoughts
The Abbotsford Canucks pick up a point, but that doesn’t extend a point streak. Despite
A valiant effort to come back and keep the train running, but they couldn’t finish the job.
The historic run ends at 13 games.
What’s next?
For the 14th time this season, these teams will square off Saturday evening for the back half of their weekend doubleheader. The puck drops at 7:00 p.m. PT at the Abbotsford Centre for Fan Appreciation Night.
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