For the second straight game, goalie Spencer Martin and forward Nils Höglander were big difference makers for the Abbotsford Canucks as they escaped Ontario with a 3-2 win on Wednesday (March 1).
Martin made 30 saves and Höglander scored twice in the victory.
Höglander opened the scoring at 13:07 of the first, receiving a perfect pass from Marc Gatcomb and then beating Ontario Reign goalie Cal Petersen with a deke.
Hoglander dekes out Reign goalie, that's his ninth.
— Ben Lypka (@BenLypka)
Abbotsford outshot Ontario 10-8 in the opening frame.
The second period was all Ontario, as they outshot Abbotsford 13-5 and scored twice.
Reign tie the game up on the power play
— Ben Lypka (@BenLypka)
Alan Quine connected on the power play at 5:26 and Samuel Helenius gave the Reign the lead at 17:17. Penalty issues also troubled the Canucks as they were assessed three minors in the second.
Höglander tied the game up at 7:13 of the third after stealing the puck in the Canucks zone, breaking free, drawing a penalty and still managing to deke out Petersen. The Swedish product now has 10 goals this season with Abbotsford.
Hoglander steals the puck, draws a penalty on the breakaway and still scores. His second on the night and 10th in the AHL
— Ben Lypka (@BenLypka)
Höglander then set up Jack Rathbone for the game winning goal at 10:47. Rathbone had served a minor penalty moments before he fired a rocket from the point.
Rathbone with a laser puts the Canucks up 3-2
— Ben Lypka (@BenLypka)
Höglander and Klimovich led the Canucks with three shots apiece. Martin has now won two straight in the AHL and his save percentage improved to .901 with the victory.
A cheeky little Wednesday night W 😎
— Abbotsford Canucks (@abbycanucks)
Abbotsford is now in sole possession of third place in the Pacific Division and have a record of 31-19-2-2.
The Canucks now travel to Nevada to take on the Henderson Silver Knights tomorrow (Thursday) and Saturday (March 4). The next home game occurs on March 7 when the Manitoba Moose come to the Abbotsford Centre.