A Historic Series for the Abbotsford Canucks

Credit: @abbycanucks/x

May 7, 2025 marked game 3 in a best of 5 series for the Abbotsford Canucks against the Coachella Valley Firebirds. Both teams entered the game with 1 win each.

Abbotsford secured the first win of the series down in Coachella Valley, with a 3-1 victory. Goals were scored by Jett Woo, Danila Klimovich, and Guillaume Brisebois. 

Game 2 remained intense, however, Abbotsford fell behind in the first where Coachella would end the first with 3 goals. The second period started with a goalie switch from Artūrs Šilovs to Nikita Tolopilo. 

Abbotsford looked like an entirely different team, with Phillip Di Giuseppe and Nate Smith scoring a goal each.

Jett Woo and Aatu Räty would exit the game in the third period, and would not return to the game.

Jujhar Khaira scored back to back goals to put Abbotsford in the lead for the first time in the game. However, Coachella was able to secure a late goal, pushing the game to overtime. 

Both teams battled hard, however, an unfortunate play behind the Abbotsford net would leave it open, giving Coachella the opportunity to score the winning goal. Ending the game 5-4 for Coachella. 

Game 3 Šilovs would start in net again.This game would mark captain Chase Wouters twentieth playoff game. 

The game started with heavy hits from both teams and great goaltending by Šilovs, stopping multiple shots from the start. 

Phillip Di Giuseppe took Abbotsford’s first penalty of the game at the 3 minute mark for holding. Putting Coachella on the man advantage. 

Abbotsford was able to successfully kill their first penalty. Minutes later a fight broke out in front of the Abbotsford net. 

Coachella would take their first penalties of the game for slashing, and unsportsmanlike conduct. Sammy Blais would take a penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Both teams killed their penalties, keeping the game scoreless through the opening half of the first period. 

Victor Mancini took a penalty for cross checking. Giving Coachella their third man advantage of the game. Abbotsford would go 3 for 3 on the penalty kill in the first 10 minutes of play. 

Abbotsford’s Nate Smith opened the scoring with 4:55 in the first. This would be his second goal of the playoffs. 

Kirill Kudryavtsev scored with 23 seconds left in the first, this was his first goal of the playoffs. The period would end 2-0 for Abbotsford. 

Cole McWard took Abbotsford’s fourth penalty of the night and first in the second for holding. Putting Coachella back on the power play, however, they were unable to capitalize on it. 

Coachella took their first individual penalty of the night for high-sticking. Putting Abbotsford on the man advantage for the first time this game. Coachella would successfully kill the penalty. 

No goals would be scored in the second keeping the score 2-0 for Abbotsford going into the final period. 

Abbotsford was close to a third goal in the beginning of the third, but Coachella’s goalie made an incredible save, keeping the game 2-0. 

At 3:24 into the third period Coachella scored their first goal of the night, putting the game within 1. 

Coachella took a penalty for hooking with 4:29 remaining in the third. Giving Abbotsford the man advantage. Coachella managed to kill the penalty keeping them 3 for 3 on the penalty kill. 

Coachella pulled their goalie to try and tie the game in the final minutes of the game. Phillip Di Giuseppe scored on the empty net with 1 minute remaining in the third. Making the game 3-1 for Abbotsford. 

The game ended with an Abbotsford victory. This was Šilovs fifth playoff win as the starting goalie. 

Both teams looked to secure the win in game 4. Abbotsford hoped to win and move on to the third round for the first time in franchise history. While Coachella hoped to win and push for a game 5. 

The game started strong with both teams playing solid defence and offence. Coachella took the first penalty of the game for interference at 8:49. This put Abbotsford on the man advantage. 

Max Sasson secured the first goal of the game on the power play at 9:53. This would be his second power play goal of the playoffs and fourth overall. 

Chase Wouters would take Abbotsford’s first penalty of the night for high-sticking. Giving Coachella the man advantage. Abbotsford was successful on the penalty kill. 

Linus Karlsson took a delayed penalty at the end of the first for tripping. The first period would end 1-0 for Abbotsford. 

Both teams started the second on the penalty kill. With Sammy Blais taking a penalty at the end of the first for cross checking, on top of Karlssons tripping. While Coachella took their penalty for roughing at the end of the first.

Both teams were able to kill off their penalties successfully, keeping the game 1-0.

Coachella would take their third penalty of the game for roughing, while Jujhar Khaira would take the Abbotsford penalty for roughing, putting the game 4-on-4. 

Both teams killed their penalties again, however, Coachella came close to tying the game with a crossbar hit. 

The game's physicality began to pick up halfway through the second, as both teams battled for the puck, driving it into the opposing ends. 

Much like game 3 neither team was able to score in the second, leaving the game 1-0 for Abbotsford going into the third. 

Khaira would take his second penalty of the night for tripping. Putting Coachella on the man advantage with 10:58 left in the third. 

Abbotsford successfully killed their fifth penalty of the night. Coachella would take their fourth penalty of the night for tripping, giving Abbotsford the man advantage with 8:31 remaining. Coachella was successful on their final penalty kill of the night. 

Coachella pulled their goalie with 2:38 remaining for the extra attacker, hoping to get the equalizing goal. 

With 1:31 remaining in the third Linus Karlsson scored on the empty net. This would be his third of the playoffs. 

This goal increased the pressure for the remaining minute and a half, as both teams continued to battle hard. 

Coachella kept their goalie pulled for the remaining minute of play with hopes the extra attacker could bring a goal. Abbotsford continued to fight hard and kept the final score 2-0. 

This win advances Abbotsford to the third round of the playoffs. This is the furthest that Abbotsford has made it in the playoffs in franchise history. Continuing to add on to their historic season. 

Round 3 will begin on May 16, 2025 at Abbotsford Centre with the Abbotsford Canucks facing off against the Colorado Eagles.