One power play goal in four games against the American Hockey League鈥檚 top team in the regular season just wasn鈥檛 enough, as the Abbotsford Canucks painfully realized on Friday (May 5) inside a sold-out Abbotsford Centre.
Abbotsford鈥檚 power play went one for 18 (5.5 per cent) in the Pacific Division semifinal and despite those numbers were in every single game against the Calgary Wranglers. Abbotsford lost three one-goal games in the series, with the club鈥檚 season coming to an end with a 3-2 loss on Friday night.
The teams each had nine goal in even strength play over the four games, but the Wranglers three power play goals in the series 鈥� including Cole Schwindt鈥檚 first period marker on Friday 鈥� proved to be the difference.
Nils H枚glander is NICE with it 馃憣
鈥� Abbotsford Canucks (@abbycanucks)
The AC was rocking early and the fans exploded when Nils H枚glander scored his third of the playoffs at 2:18. Schwidnt then tied the game up at 12:51. Abbotsford controlled the first period, especially the first five minutes and outshot Calgary 12-8.
Tristen Nielsen from the tightest of angles 馃搻
鈥� Abbotsford Canucks (@abbycanucks)
The second period was mired in several penalties and the flow of the game came to a standstill. Abbotsford took three penalties and Calgary took four in the middle frame, but Tristen Nielsen scored the lone goal after a nifty passing play from Christian Wolanin and Zach Giuttari. Shots were 7-6 Abbotsford in the second.
The third period saw some controversy as the Canucks were assessed an icing call when it appeared as though Abbotsford forward Marc Gatcomb beat the Wranglers player to the puck. Icing is not reviewable in the AHL and the official stood by his call.
That's an atrocious icing call. Good lord.
鈥� Cody Severtson (@CodySevertson)
On the ensuing offensive zone face-off, Ilya Solovyov fired a puck from the point past Canucks starting goalie Spencer Martin to tie the game at 8:29.
About four minutes later Adam Klapka pounced on a rebound and gave Calgary the lead. A bench minor for too many men with 65 seconds left in the game then buried any chance Abbotsford had to come back. The Wranglers had the 10-6 shots edge in the third.
The handshake, full credit to Calgary for the win
鈥� Ben Lypka (@BenLypka)
THAT鈥橲 IT THAT鈥橲 ALL WE鈥橰E HEADED TO ROUND 3
鈥� y- Calgary Wranglers (@AHLWranglers)
Canucks head coach Jeremy Colliton admitted that special teams were a big factor in the series.
"Anytime you lose in the playoffs it's tough... it's tough not to be proud of them and how hard they competed."
鈥� Abbotsford Canucks (@abbycanucks)
Jeremy Colliton addressed the media following Abbotsford's 3-2 loss to Calgary on Friday night.
鈥淥bviously the power play, they got one and we didn鈥檛,鈥� he said of the difference in the series. 鈥淚 thought five-on-five we were excellent most of the game. There wasn鈥檛 much in this series 鈥� it was tight all the way. We were in a great position today after two. We鈥檙e disappointed anytime you lose in the playoffs, I thought we gave this team [Calgary] all they could handle. It鈥檚 tough not to be proud of them and they rose to the challenge in the playoffs.鈥�
Despite the loss, Colliton said he believes several young players took major steps and gained valuable experience this season.
鈥淟ots of positives as far as young players showing they can play at this level,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e counted on them in big minutes and that鈥檚 important. But I don鈥檛 think anyone should be satisfied.鈥�
One player who debuted in these playoffs was defenceman Filip Johansson. Colliton said he saw some promise in the Swedish prospect who may see more time in Abbotsford next season.
鈥淚t was baptism by fire,鈥� he said, of Johansson joining the team in the playoffs. 鈥淏ut I thought he looked more and more comfortable as he went on and hopefully these games help him start on the right foot come fall.鈥�
Defenceman Noah Juulsen, sporting a fresh large cut on his head, said he believes Abbotsford proved to be a challenge for Calgary.
"I thought we played them hard all year... as a group it's amazing what we've accomplished this year."
鈥� Abbotsford Canucks (@abbycanucks)
Noah Juulsen addressed the media following Abbotsford's 3-2 loss to Calgary on Friday night.
鈥淚 thought we played them hard all year and I鈥檓 sure that was a test for them,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 think, as a group, it was amazing what we accomplished this year. The work we put in and the bonds and friendships we made were crazy. Everyone bought in this year.鈥�
The Yale Secondary product spent time in Vancouver and Abbotsford this season and said he ranks this season as one of his best personally. He also said the support his hometown has given himself and the team was inspiring.
鈥淚鈥檝e been here when the [Abbotsford] Heat were here and the fan base was around 2,500 to 3,000 a night,鈥� he reflected. 鈥淣ow to go into game four in a sold-out barn in the playoffs 鈥� there is no better feeling. The fans are hardworking people who show up every night and bring the same energy to each game.鈥�
"They were all one shot games... we gave them a good run."
鈥� Abbotsford Canucks (@abbycanucks)
Chase Wouters addressed the media following Abbotsford's 3-2 loss to Calgary on Friday night.
Canucks captain Chase Wouters was emotional following the game and said he hopes this is a learning experience for the young players on the team.
鈥淭hey were all one-shot games,鈥� he said, of the close scores in all four games. 鈥淚t was a hard fought series and we need to build those habits like how to win. We had leads in games and we let that slip. We鈥檙e going to build from this and look forward to next year.鈥�
He praised the play of the Wranglers and said he hopes this series is a building block for the Canucks.
鈥淭his is probably the best experience we can have,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e went up against the team that won the regular season and we put up a good fight. They鈥檙e a really good team and you can鈥檛 take that away from them.鈥�
Wouters also praised the positive impact that Colliton has had on their group.
Wranglers head coach Mitch Love said his team stepped up in the third period.
鈥淧roud of the guys.鈥�
鈥� y- Calgary Wranglers (@AHLWranglers)
Head coach Mitch Love spoke to the media after the series win on Friday in Abbotsford.
鈥淚鈥檓 proud of our guys in this series,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 a hard team to play against, very quality team over there.鈥�
He complimented the play of goalie Dustin Wolf, who he said weathered a storm from Abbotsford in the first period and said it was nice to see Klapka get rewarded.
Wolf said it was a fun atmosphere to play in, despite some of the chants Abbotsford fans directed to him.
鈥淎 lot of excitement鈥� the boys are happy.鈥�
鈥� y- Calgary Wranglers (@AHLWranglers)
Dustin Wolf addressed the media after his 23 save performance in Game 4.
鈥淵ou鈥檙e hated in buildings like this,鈥� he said, with a smile. 鈥淭o prove that we鈥檙e the better team and that we deserve to move on, it鈥檚 rewarding. It feels nice.鈥�
The Wranglers now take on the Coachella Valley Firebirds in the Pacific Division final. The Firebirds eliminated the Colorado Eagles in five games to advance.
