Abbotsford Canucks dominate game 3 in the third

ABBOTSFORD CANUCKS/ X

June 17, 2025 marked game 3 of the Calder Cup finals between the Abbotsford Canucks and the Charlotte Checkers. Both teams secured a win in Charlotte, and looked to take the series lead in Abbotsford. 

Tensions and physicality remained high at the start of game 3 with heavy hits from both sides. 

Charlotte’s Oliver Okuliar opened the scoring at 8:22 in the first. However, Abbotsford continued to battle hard, driving the puck into the opposing zone. 

Gameplay and puck control was significantly better on home ice than it had been on the road. 

Akito Hirose took the first penalty of the night at 16:10 for high-sticking, giving Charlotte the man advantage. Abbotsford successfully killed the penalty, keeping the game within 1. 

The first period would end 1-0 for Charlotte. 

The second period remained evenly matched with both teams battling hard in the opposing zones. 

Charlotte’s Rasmus Asplund took their first penalty at 5:38 for hooking, giving Abbotsford the man advantage. Sammy Blais took advantage of the power play and scored the tying goal at 6:43. 

Abbotsford’s Max Sasson and Charlotte’s Justine Sourdif took penalties at 9:18 for roughing and roughing removing the opponents helmet. 

This put the game to 4-on-4 for 2 minutes. Both teams looked to break the tie however were unsuccessful, putting the game back to 5-on-5. 

Blais took a double minor penalty for roughing at 13:07, while Tristen Nielsen took a roughing penalty. Charlotte’s Sourdif also took a double minor penalty at 13:07 for roughing. 

This put Charlotte on the man advantage. Abbotsford successfully killed the penalty, keeping the game tied. 

The second period ended tied 1-1. 

The third period, much like the first 2, began with tensions high. Both teams looked for the tie breaking goal. 

Linus Karlsson would get the tie breaking goal, scoring Abbotsfords second of the night at 3:58 in the third. 

Charlotte’s Wilmer Skoog and John Leonard and Abbotsford’s Christian Wolanin and Max Sasson took penalties at 6:16 for roughing. The game remained 5-on-5. 

Tensions ran high as Abbotsford looked to widen the score, while Charlotte looked for the tying goal. 

Charlotte’s Okuliar took a penalty at 11:27 for roughing, giving Abbotsford the man advantage. 

Arshdeep Bains capitalized on the man down, scoring Abbotsford’s third goal of the night at 11:43. 

Moments later at 13:19, Phillip Di Giuseppe scored, making the game 4-1 for Abbotsford. The goal was assisted by Artūrs Šilovs. 

At 13:19 Abbotsford’s Jujhar Khaira and Charlotte’s Riley Bezeau took 10 minute misconducts 

Seconds later Akito Hirose took a penalty at 13:43 for slashing, giving Charlotte the man advantage. 

At the same time as Hirose’s penalty Nate Smith and Charlotte’s MacKenzie Entwistle took 10 minute misconducts as well. 

During the Charlotte power play they pulled their goalie for the extra attacker, making the game 6-on-4. Abbotsford successfully killed the penalty. 

Charlotte pulled their goalies at 16:56 for the extra attacker, however, Arshdeep Bains would score on the empty net at 17:10. 

Mere seconds later at 17:34 Tristen Nielsen would score Abbotsford’s sixth goal of the night. 

The game ended 6-1 for Abbotsford, giving them the series lead 2-1. Game 4 will take place at Abbotsford Centre on Thursday June 19, 2025.