Video: Canucks prospect Klimovich breaks long goalless drought, leaves game after taking an elbow to the face

Vancouver Canucks prospect Danila Klimovich had an eventful outing with the Abbotsford Canucks on Wednesday.

The 18-year-old winger scored his first American Hockey League goal in nearly two months during the second period of Wednesday’s game against the San Diego Gulls.

With Abbotsford already leading 2–0, Klimovich picked off a Gulls clearing attempt in the slot and immediately fired a shot past goaltender @Olle Eriksson Ek for his third goal of the season. Canucks forward John Stevens helped force the turnover and received credit for the lone assist on Klimovich’s goal.

Klimovich started his AHL career with goals in each of his first two games. He netted his first North American professional goal during Abbotsford’s season-opening 5–3 loss to Bakersfield on Oct. 16 before opening the scoring in the Canucks’ 3–2 shootout win over Ontario the following night.

After that, Klimovich went 15 games without scoring another goal, although he did add four assists over that span. Wednesday’s contest was Klimovich’s first multi-point AHL game: he picked up the primary helper on Sheldon Rempal’s power-play goal in the first period.

Unfortunately, Klimovich’s outing was cut short late in the third period when he took Greg Pateryn’s elbow right to his face. After staggering momentarily, Klimovich fell to the ice in pain and subsequently left the game. He did not return.

It remains to be seen whether Klimovich will be in the lineup when the Canucks take on the Henderson Silver Knights on Saturday afternoon. The rookie now has three goals and eight points in 17 AHL games this season.

With the win on Wednesday, the Canucks improved to 9–8–3 to kick off their inaugural campaign.