Abbotsford Canucks fighting through the growing pains

JEN FIELD/GATG

On October 26, Abbotsford Canucks faced off in their second home game of the season against the Ontario Reign, after a 5-2 loss the game prior Abbotsford was looking to make a comeback. 

Ty Mueller and Tom Willander returned to the lineup, while Jiří Patera took his third start in net. Derek Daschke made his Abbotsford Canucks debut on the blue line. 

Abbotsford has been playing with a man-up mentality similar to last season, this team is continuing to learn and grow as the season progresses. With many of the players moving between the AHL and NHL it's a learning curve for many. 

The first period started with high energy from the crowd. Abbotsford played off that energy driving the puck towards the net. 

Vilmer Alriksson opened the scoring 11:14 in the first period. This would be Alriksson’s first goal of the season and first AHL career goal. It was assisted by Tom Willander and Jimmy Schuldt.  

A number of fanned shots and turn overs from both teams would keep the game with a lower score.  

Ontario’s Cole Guttman scored at 15:35 in the first to tie the game 1-1. Abbotsford came close to gaining the lead, but the shot would hit the crossbar. 

Both teams battled hard to break the tie, but it would be Ontario’s Taylor Ward who scored their second goal of the night with 1:35 left on the clock to end the period 2-1. 

The period ended with a fight leading to Abbotsford’s Dino Kambeitz and Ontario’s Kenny Connors taking penalties for roughing. 

The second period would start 4-on-4. Neither team scored, keeping the game 2-1 for Ontario. 

Ontario pulled their goalie for an extra attacker, but Abbotsford’s Schuldt would take the first man down penalty of the night for hooking at 3:26. 

Through a tricky play in front of the Abbotsford net, Ontario’s Samuel Bolduc capitalized on the power play giving them a 3-1 lead at 5:11.

Abbotsford’s Chase Wouters and Ontario’s Joe Hicketts took penalties at 8:30 for roughing, putting the game 4-on-4. 

Ontario’s Otto Salin would take a penalty for interference at 9:45, putting the game to 3-on-4. Putting Abbotsford on the man advantage. 

Abbotsford had a number of chances to score, but could not get the puck into the net, keeping the game 3-1 after the power play. 

Ontario’s Francesco Pinelli scored their fourth of the night at 12:34, putting the game 4-1.

Abbotsford’s Wouters and Ontario’s Jack Millar would take 5 minute penalties for fighting at 14:16. 

The period would end 4-1 in favour of Ontario. 

Abbotsford started the third period with high energy, battling hard and setting up shots on net. Sawyer Mynio used that momentum to open the scoring at 2:41 in the third. 

This would be Mynio’s first goal of the season and first AHL goal. He was assisted by Wouters and Kambeitz. This put the game 4-2. 

Physicality continued to pick up in the third with a number of scuffles behind the Ontario net. 

Danila Klimovich would take the first penalty in the third at 7:19 for hooking. Giving Ontario the man advantage, Abbotsford was successful on the penalty kill. 

Abbotsford pulled their goalie for the extra attacker with just over 2 minutes left in the game. Ontario would score on the empty net with 28 seconds remaining. Making it 5-2 to end the game. 

Though it was not the outcome fans or the team wanted, it was a night of firsts for the rookies Alriksson and Mynio with their first AHL goals. 

Abbotsford plays their next game at home on Tuesday October 28, against the Calgary Wranglers at 7 pm, PST.