The Abbotsford Canucks have exorcised the demons from the 2021-22 playoffs on Friday (April 21), returning the favour to the Bakersfield Condors and eliminating them the same way they dashed Abbotsford鈥檚 hopes last season 鈥� with a 2-0 sweep.
The series win marks the first-ever for the two-year old franchise and they accomplished the sweep with wins from two different goalies. Canucks head coach Jeremy Colliton went with Arturs Silovs 鈥� voted the team鈥檚 most valuable player by fans 鈥� on Friday despite Spencer Martin earning a shutout in game on Wednesday.
鈥淚 think the whole team has been really good, we鈥檒l enjoy this win.鈥�
鈥� X - Abbotsford Canucks (@abbycanucks)
Nils H枚glander addressed the media following Abbotsford鈥檚 4-2 victory over Bakersfield on Friday.
Silovs was solid and made 26 saves for his first career American Hockey League playoff win. While the decision to run two goalies may have been a little unusual to fans, Silovs stated that both goalies knew what the playing schedule would be before the playoffs began. The plan was always Martin to play game one and Silovs game two.
He said he has no issues with the way head coach Jeremy Colliton has chosen to deploy his goalies.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 a good thing for us,鈥� he said of the rotating. 鈥淵ou always want to have quality goaltending every single match. Every single win matters 鈥� so if we鈥檙e winning 鈥� why not right?鈥�
Welcome to the jungle. Puck drop for game two vs . Packed house at
鈥� Ben Lypka (@BenLypka)
What was believed to be a sell-out crowd was buzzing early and frothing at the mouth for a goal in the first period. The Canucks had four power plays in the first period and outshot the Condors 16-5, but Bakersfield goalie Calvin Pickard kept the puck out of the net.
Jack makes it鉁岋笍goals in鉁岋笍games
鈥� X - Abbotsford Canucks (@abbycanucks)
Defenceman Jack Rathbone then broke the game open at 2:06 of the second period after a nice set-up from Justin Dowling. Rathbone has been one of Abbotsford鈥檚 better players in the postseason and has two goals in two games. Abbotsford got more offence from the backend when Brady Keeper fired home a shot from a backdoor feed from Nils H枚glander at 13:16. That goal sent the Abbotsford Centre crowd into a frenzy, but that was somewhat short lived.
Brady Keeper from mid air 馃く
鈥� X - Abbotsford Canucks (@abbycanucks)
James Hamblin scored the first goal of the series for the Condors at 18:26 of the second and it was a 2-1 game after 40 minutes.
The Condors came out flying early in the third and Raphael Lavoie tied the game up at 3:30. A hush fell over the crowd but the intensity was ramped back up when H枚glander scored his second of the playoffs at 7:36 on the power play after a great effort by Tristen Nielsen to feed him the pick. H枚glander was the best player for Abbotsford in the series and he recorded four points in two games. His line with Max Sasson and Kyle Rau was dominant in both games.
NILS H脰GLANDER GIVES US THE LEAD IN THE THIRD PERIOD 馃お
鈥� X - Abbotsford Canucks (@abbycanucks)
Silovs shut the door from that point on and John Stevens added an empty net goal at 19:05 to seal the deal. The series win marks the first time a Vancouver Canucks AHL affiliate has won a playoff round since the 2014-15 season.
Abbotsford outshot Bakersfield 33-28 and went one for seven on the power play. The Canucks killed two of three shorthanded opportunities.
鈥淚t was a hard fought battle, we knew they would be a desperate team.鈥�
鈥� X - Abbotsford Canucks (@abbycanucks)
Jeremy Colliton addressed the media following Abbotsford鈥檚 4-2 victory over Bakersfield on Friday.
Colliton gave credit to the Condors for putting up a strong effort.
鈥淚t was a hard fought battle,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e knew they were going to be a desperate team and they were playing for their season. To get all those power plays was a blessing but it鈥檚 also a curse too because we had some chances and didn鈥檛 score 鈥� that messes up your rhythm.鈥�
A great and hard fought series until the very end, well played 馃
鈥� X - Abbotsford Canucks (@abbycanucks)
He praised the play of H枚glander and his linemates.
鈥淭hey鈥檝e been excellent and we rolled that line because they were generating momentum and drawing penalties and chances,鈥� he said. 鈥淣ils was a big catalyst, he was winning so many puck battles. I can鈥檛 remember a puck management issue in two games.鈥�
Colliton stated that while he was impressed with H枚glander鈥檚 line, he needs other forwards to step up moving forward. He also said he is confident in either Silovs or Martin between the pipes.
鈥淗e [Silovs] was very good,鈥� he said. 鈥淗e gave us what we expected and I thought he was super solid. We have two excellent goaltenders and I think they鈥檙e pushing each other to play at the highest level. It鈥檚 great competition. I鈥檓 sure both guys would prefer to just take the ball and run with it but it鈥檚 what鈥檚 best for the team 鈥� that is how we make our decisions.鈥�
The newest addition to the puck rack 馃ぉ
鈥� X - Abbotsford Canucks (@abbycanucks)
The Canucks opponent in round two will be determined on Sunday (April 23) night after the result of game three of the Coachella Valley Firebirds vs. Tucson Roadrunners game.
If the Firebirds win, Abbotsford will take on the Calgary Wranglers in round two. If the Roadrunners win, Abbotsford will match up against the Colorado Eagles. The Canucks will begin series on the road no matter which team wins.
Stay locked on for ongoing coverage of the Abbotsford Canucks playoff journey.
