That’s one way to kick a four-game losing skid…
The Abbotsford Canucks’ offence exploded for the two-point conversion on Saturday night at the Scotiabank Saddledome, with contributions coming from throughout the lineup.
This offensive outburst came just a night after the Canucks were held to just two goals in a frustrating 3-2 loss. The win was crucial for Abbotsford, as they snapped a four-game losing streak and closed out their five-game road trip on a high note.
The Wranglers made things interesting in the final period, but Danila Klimovich secured the bag with a pair of goals to close things out.
Let’s take a closer look at how the Canucks pulled off the impressive victory.
Starting lineup
Karlsson – Sasson – Lekkerimäki
Nielsen – Räty – Smith
Blais – MuellerKlimovich
Glover – Wouters – Kambeitz
Arntsen – McWard
Wolanin – Woo
Hirose – Kudryavtsev
First period: Goal-fest
The Canucks had much of their momentum stunted in game one due to six penalties, mainly in the second period.
They picked up where they left, taking a penalty just minutes into the opening period, with Cole McWard getting the gate for a weak interference call.
But they killed five of those opportunities, and that consistency also carried over. They flawlessly turned the power play away, with just one shot on target conceded.
High-grade chances were slim early on, but Ty Young, a Calgary native, inserted himself into the game with a beautiful sliding stop to keep things scoreless.
And that save proved significant, as the Canucks opened the game just moments later.
Abbotsford goal – 1-0 – Cole McWard from Aatu Räty
Directly off the offensive zone face-off, McWard wasted no time to wire home the snapshot.
With five on the season, he has officially made a new career high in goals, after already setting a new top in points.
But the lead wouldn’t last long.
Shortly after the McWard tally, Jett Woo took another early penalty, where the Wranglers would make count.
Calgary goal – 1-1 – Parker Bell from Yan Kuznetsov and Kyler Kupka
Stapled in front, Parker Bell deflected the Yan Kuznetsov point shot, putting it through the legs of Young.
It’s a shame, too, as the netminder had to make several strong saves throughout the early stages of the penalty kill.
But the opening period was a bit wild, and the Canucks took just one minute to respond to retake the lead.
Abbotsford goal – 2-1 – Akito Hirose from Sammy Blais and Ty Mueller
Thanks to a strong forecheck and board battle from Ty Mueller, the puck found its way to Sammy Blais. He showed good vision to find Akito Hirose on the opposite side before he went shelve on Devin Cooley for his second of the year.
And they continued to press.
After Christian Wolanin got clipped with a high stick, the Canucks went to work on a double minor powerplay. In the initial minutes, the top line made things count.
Abbotsford goal – 3-1 – Aatu Räty from Kirill Kudryavtsev and Sammy Blais
Sammy Blais and Kirill Kudryavtsev played hot potato before the Russian defender blasted the one-timer.
In the slot, Aatu Räty got a stick on the puck, redirecting it past Cooley up high.
Jonathan Lekkerimäki, who arguably had his best game of the season on Friday, was much quieter in this opening period—except for this pretty stretch pass, springing Max Sasson a clear break.
Jockeying for body position on the defender, Sasson went upstairs to ring one off the crossbar.
It was an eventful opening period as both teams got on the board while generating double-digit shots.
But it was advantage Abbotsford, who went down the tunnel sporting a two-goal lead.
Shots: ABB 12, CGY 10
Score: ABB 3, CGY 1
Second period: Breaking the game loose
The Wranglers didn’t take long to find a goal in the second. And unfortunately, it came courtesy of the one player Canucks fans did not want to see.
Calgary goal – 3-2 – Rory Kerins from Hunter Brzustewicz and Martin Frk
Gaining the puck in the neutral zone, Hunter Brzustewicz plowed up the ice, split the Abby defence and sent over the beautiful backdoor feed to Rory Kerins.
Credit where credit is due, folks.
The insurance was restored a little later, though.
Abbotsford goal – 4-2 – Chase Wouters from Ty Glover
Blocking the keep attempt in the defensive zone, Ty Glover turned on the jets up the ice to break for a two-on-one with the captain.
Waiting out the defender, Glover found Chase Wouters with the cross, who went up high for his sixth goal of the season.
That goal chased out Cooley, with Friday night’s third star, Waltteri Ignatjew, entering the game.
And it wasn’t the greatest introduction.
His team immediately took a double minor, putting the Canucks on their second four minute powerplay of the evening.
They only needed the first half, as the top line capitalized early.
Abbotsford goal – 5-2 – Sammy Blais from Christian Wolanin and Jonathan Lekkerimäki
Sammy Blais showed tremendous patience, finding the short side top corner To beat Ignatjew clean on the first shot faced.
That gave Blais three points in the game.
They made the second stretch count, too.
Abbotsford goal – 6-2 – Chase Wouters (unassisted)
With the second unit on at the back half of the advantage, the puck squirted out to the slot. With everyone battling in the corner, Chase Wouters was left alone to rifle the shot past the netminder for his second goal of the evening and period.
The Canucks held the Wranglers to just six shots on target. Meanwhile, they took their opponents for another three to carry a convincing lead for the third period.
Shots: ABB 26, CGY 16
Score: ABB 6, CGY 2
Third period: The Klim Reaper strikes again (twice)
If you’ve followed hockey closely, you know no lead is safe, and Calgary showed us why.
Calgary goal – 6-3 – Rory Kerins from Jeremie Poirier and Martin Frk
Sporting some fancy footwork, Jeremie Poirier sent a backhand toward Young. Getting a stick on the puck along the way was Rory Kerins, who redirected the puck up and over the netminder for his second goal of the evening.
Just seconds later, they backed that goal up with another.
Calgary goal – 6-4 – Dryden Hunt from Martin Frk and Jeremie Poirier
Dryden Hunt collected the puck off the cross ice feed, with the Wranglers entering the speed with speed. He corralled the puck at the face-off dot and sent a laser to the far side, above Young’s shoulder.
In fact, the shot was so good that it sparked a five-minute stoppage to determine whether it actually touched the back bar or not.
It did.
Fret not; Danila Klimovich eased the tension.
Abbotsford goal – 7-4 – Danila Klimovich from Cole McWard
Intercepting the pass in the Defensive zone, the Belurrisan hustled up the wing, before firing a patted Klimovich snap for his 17th goal of the season.
That’s goals in back-to-back games fr the young sharpshooter.
Abbotsford goal – 7-4 – Danila Klimovich (unassisted)
And then, with the Calgary net empty, he worked hard and stripped NHL veteran Tyson Barrie at the blueline. Winning the puck, he went long to deposit it into the empty net.
Giving up the touchdown and two-point conversion is always frustrating for any team.
Calgary showed that frustration as Parker Bell attempted to lure Linus Karlsson to drop his gloves to save at least a little face on the night.
That wasn’t the only rough stuff to end the night, either.
After a dominant 3-2 loss the night before, the Canucks took things personally and knocked the Wranglers around in game two. It was a points night, with 11 skaters collecting points and five notching multipoint games.
Final shots: ABB 34, CGY 29
Final score: ABB 8, CGY 4
Final thoughts
This was a statement win for Abbotsford. After a frustrating 3-2 loss the previous night, they came out with a vengeance and dominated the Wranglers. Unlike Friday, where Jonathan Lekkerimäki provided most of the offence, they were clicking and firing on all cylinders, with contributions from throughout the lineup.
It was a much-needed victory to boost morale and get back on track.
What’s next?
The Canucks return home for a lovely two week, six game home stand. It all starts on Friday, March 7th, when the Canucks host the San Jose Barracuda for a two game series. The puck drops at 7:00 pm PT at the Abbotsford Centre.
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