The Abbotsford Canucks recently faced off against the Manitoba Moose, splitting their midweek series. With a current record of 22-31-3-3, the Canucks have been treading water, going 5-5-0 in their last ten games. However, their playoff aspirations are dimming as they trail by 12 points for the final playoff spot in the Pacific Division, with just 13 games left to play.
In Game One, Manitoba's Thomas Milic was the star, delivering a stellar performance with 30 saves to secure his third shutout of the season. Despite Abbotsford outshooting the Moose 30-19, they couldn't find the back of the net. Jiri Patera, who has been solid for the Canucks, had an off night, conceding four goals on 19 shots.
Game Two saw a rejuvenated Canucks squad. They jumped to an early 2-0 lead in the first period and maintained control throughout.
It was also the debut of Austin Brimmer, a new NCAA free agent signing. While Brimmer didn't register a shot, his physical presence was felt right from his first shift.
Abbotsford opened the scoring late in the first period when Sawyer Mynio's shot rebounded to Nils Åman, who buried his fifth goal of the season. Åman has been on a tear, recording points in nine of his last 11 games, and he added an assist to his tally shortly after.
The Canucks capitalized on a Manitoba penalty when Danila Klimovich unleashed a precise snap shot, assisted by Jack Thompson. Klimovich wasn't done, adding another goal later in the game, bringing his career AHL total to 64 goals, just six shy of the franchise record.
Mason Shaw managed to score for Manitoba, but it wasn't enough to mount a comeback. Jimmy Schuldt's empty-netter sealed a 4-1 victory for Abbotsford.
Between the pipes, Ty Young continued his impressive form, stopping 22 of 23 shots. Since returning to the team, Young has been a wall, with a 3-0 record and an impressive save percentage.
Looking ahead, the Canucks will conclude their homestand with a two-game series against the Henderson Silver Knights. Henderson has been on a roll, boasting a 7-1-0-2 record in their last ten games and proving to be a high-scoring threat in the division.
This weekend's games will be the seventh and eighth meetings between these teams this season. While Abbotsford claimed victories in their initial encounters, Henderson has dominated the series since, outscoring the Canucks 23-10.
Abbotsford is also expected to introduce Bennett Schimek to the lineup. The former Arizona State captain had a standout senior year, contributing 43 points in 35 games.
The puck drops for Game One on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. PT, followed by Game Two on Sunday at 4:00 p.m. PT at Rogers Forum.