The 2024-25 Abbotsford Canucks have been smashing team records all season long, but the club also carved up a slice of American Hockey League history following Saturday's (April 19) regular season finale.
The Canucks did not allow a single shorthanded goal in any of the 72 games this season, and they are believed to be the first team in league history to ever achieve that feat.
The last time the club allowed a shorthanded goal was against the Manitoba Moose on April 2, 2024.
Shorthanded goal for the Moose, Abbotsford has now allowed 11 SHG (second in the AHL)
鈥� Ben Lypka (@BenLypka)
The 2015-16 Albany Devils, the 2013-14 Oklahoma City Barons the 2013-14 San Antonio Rampage and the 2011-12 Barons all completed 76-game seasons and allowed just one shorthanded goal. In a pandemic-related shortened season, the 2020-21 Hershey Bears did allow zero shorthanded goals, but that was in just 39 games.
The News did reach out to AHL officials, who confirmed that no team has finished a full season by allowing zero shorthanded goals since at least the 1991-92 season. The AHL stated they are checking earlier records to confirm whether or not this has been done before 1991-92.
The 2013-14 Nashvile Predators are the only NHL team to ever complete a season with zero shorthanded goals allowed. Despite owning that record, the Predators failed to make the playoffs that season.
For the Canucks, the lack of shorthanded goals allowed is a stark contrast to 2023-24 when the team allowed 11 鈥� which was the fifth-most in the AHL. The team allowed four in 2022-23 and then 11 in the team's first season in 2021-22.
Abbotsford's power play finished 16th in the 32-team AHL and operated at 18.3 per cent at season's end. The Canucks' penalty kill ranked 17th and finished the season at 82.4 per cent.
The club set new team record for consecutive wins (13), most wins in a season (44) and goals for (241). The team's second place finish is also the highest team has ever placed at season's end.
Aside from new talent on the ice, a big reason for some of these improvements could be attributed to rookie head coach Manny Malhotra. The 18-year NHL-er was known for his all-around game, specifically his prowess in the face-off circle 鈥� which saw him finish his career at 56 per cent. Prior to accepting the job in Abbotsford on May 24, 2004, Malhotra was an assistant coach with the Vancouver Canucks and Toronto Maple Leafs.
Abbotsford next hosts the seventh-seeded Tucson Roadrunners in a best-of-three opening round series. Games go Wednesday (April 23), Thursday (April 24) and, if necessary, Saturday (Apri 26). All three have a face-off time of 7 p.m. inside the Abbotsford Centre.
