The Abbotsford Canucks returned from their three-game California road trip with tans, a bit of leftover American currency, and a two-game losing skid. It was an unfortunate turn for a team that had finally begun to find its footing after putting together its first three-game winning streak of the season.

That momentum didn’t get any help on Tuesday night, as Abbotsford welcomed the Eastern Conference–leading Laval Rocket to town. On paper, it was a tough assignment. On the ice, however, it played out much closer than expected. The Canucks never held a lead, but they refused to go away, clawing back time and again behind a productive power play and a group that stayed competitive throughout.

It ultimately came down to a costly mistake with just 13 seconds remaining. Until then, Abbotsford had gone toe-to-toe with the league’s best, turning what could have been a routine result into a frustrating, hard-fought 4–3 loss.

This game kicked off with an immediate penalty, as Canucks’ Dino Kambeitz was called for an early tripping call.

Yet, it was the home team who saw the sequence’s best chance. Thanks to some quick pressure at their own blueline, captain Chase Wouters was sent on a clear-cut breakaway. Fresh off a Montreal Canadiens reassignment, Jacob Fowler was up to the test for his first stop of the evening.

And just as the initial penalty expired, it was the Canucks’ turn to go to the man-advantage. Neither side was successful in their push.

Although no goals were scored, the line of Jonathan Lekkerimäki, Ty Mueller and Ben Berard was firing on all cylinders. Midway through the period, they nearly opened the scoring. First, it was Nikolai Knyzhov who rang a floating shot off the post. Off that rebound, Lekkerimäki was left all on his own in the slot before getting the puck high over the net.

It was just before the five-minute mark when the visiting Rocket got one, courtesy of the American League’s second-best scorer.

After a fueled clearing attempt, Sean Farrell sent a slick saucer pass over to Lauren Dauphin, who showed incredible patience to outwait Nikita Tolopilo.

It was a period where Abbotsford was unfortunate to come out of it down by a goal. The line of Lekkerimäki, Mueller, and Berard carried the momentum, nearly cashing in on many of their attempts.

The middle frame began with another early power play, with the Canucks enjoying the early chance. They didn’t capitalize on the initial chance, but were given a second chance shortly after. There, the captain went to work.

Klimovich showed some nice patience, wrapping around the net to find Berard, who made a nice move to get the puck to the net. Although Fowler got the leg on it, the puck kicked out to Wouters, who pounced on the rebound to get his team on the board.

Midway through the period, Laval got the perfect chance to break the 1-1 stalemate. Breaking out all on, a late Victor Mancini got his hands on Lauren Dauphin. As you probably guessed from the play, the referee pointed to the centre circle for the penalty shot.

But Tolopilo stuck with the league’s second-best scorer, throwing out the paddle to put an end to the chance.

But it wouldn’t take long for him to seek revenge.

While hemmed into his own zone, Captain Chase Wouters committed one hockey ultimate sin: a pizza in his own zone.

Rather than go hard up the glass, Wouters turned and provided Dauphin with a gift before he sent the finishing touches over to Sean Farrell.

But a second Laval penalty further troubled the Canucks, allowing them to crawl back into the game. While on their third man advantage, Danila Klimovich showed off his trigger hand.

Thanks to some fine work down low, Wouters found Jimmy Schuldt alone at the point. He put the puck on a tee for the sharpshooter, who blasted his fifth of the season through Jacob Fowler.

The third period was all Laval out of the gate, and it was the visiting team who broke the seal.

Collecting the puck at the point was Alex Belzille, who fired an innocent shot toward the net. Streaking toward the puck from the middle was Sean Farell, who got a stick on it to change its course ever so slightly. With two players barreling into Tolpilo, the puck slowly found its way through the crease. Notably angry with the play, Abbotsford contested the play before it was deemed a good goal.

That goal held until the third, after the Rocket put themselves into more penalty trouble.

Breaking up the ice, Ty Mueller and Lukas Reichel played give-and-go before a streaking Lekkerimäki finished off the perfect centring pass from Reichel.

Up to this point, all three Abby goals had come from the man advantage.

But it mattered not. The Laval Rocket iced the game with 13 seconds left off a stinky giveaway from Victor Mancini.

With bodies being pinned behind the net, Mancini collected the puck. Attempting to find Danila Klimovich, he fanned on the pass and had it directly to Florian Xhekaj. Tolopilo did what he could to fend off the open chance, but Xhekaj stuck with the puck, sending the eventual game-winner to the top shelf.

Ouch.

Although it ended in a 4–3 loss, the Abbotsford Canucks delivered a competitive, hard-fought effort against one of the league’s top teams. They never held a lead, but they refused to let the game slip away, responding each time and ensuring Laval never stretched the margin beyond a single goal. The power play carried them offensively, accounting for all three goals and keeping them within striking distance throughout the night.

Of course, it wasn’t a flawless performance. A handful of defensive miscues proved costly, particularly late, but the forward group largely held up its end of the bargain. Chase Wouters and Danila Klimovich — the game’s second star — were effective in key moments, and Abbotsford’s willingness to push back against an elite opponent was evident.

Still, moral victories only go so far. After riding their first three-game winning streak of the season, the Canucks now find themselves on a three-game slide, searching once again for consistency as the schedule rolls on.

These two will rematch for game two on Wednesday. The puck drops at 7:00 PM PT at Rogers Forum.