Abbotsford Canucks sweep the Coachella Valley Firebirds on home opening weekend
October 18 was game 2 of 2 for the Abbotsford Canucks against the Coachella Valley Firebirds as part of the home opening weekend. Abbotsford was coming off a 7-3 victory from the game before, and a franchise record setting period, where 6 goals were scored. They looked to take the win and secure the sweep.
Nikita Tolopilo secured his 50th AHL win in net in last night's game, but it was Ty Young making his first appearance on home ice this season.
The first period was heavily dominated by Abbotsford, as they kept possession of the puck and played incredibly on offence. This dominant game play led to three consecutive Abbotsford goals.
Trey Fox-Wolansky opened the scoring at 1:57 in the first, with an assist from Kole Lind. This was Fix-Wolansky’s first goal of the season and first as an Abbotsford Canuck. This was Lind’s 200th career assist.
Jacob Quillan scored at 8:29, assisted by Sawyer Mynio and Bennett Schimek. This was Quillan’s first goal of the season and first as an Abbotsford Canuck. He now has two points in two games as a Canuck.
Coachella Valley took two back-to-back delay of game penalties for putting the puck over the glass, which led to a 5-on-3 situation.
Fix-Wolansky capitalized on the power play scoring his second goal of the night at 12:51. Mynio and Braeden Cootes assisted. Cootes’ now has 6 points in 6 games.
Despite a strong first period, Coachella Valley came out and dominated much of the second. Where Abbotsford looked strong in the first they began to slip in certain defensive areas which led to them looking a little chaotic on the plays.
Tim Rego took a holding penalty at 4:02 in the second, which led to Jani Nyman scoring on the power play to get Coachella Valley on the board.
Coachella Valley’s Julius Miettinen got the game within one at 8:45 in the second. But Abbotsford was able to keep it there for the remainder of the period.
Abbotsford had a number of chances in the second to widen the gap again, however, they could not get the puck in the net. Though they tried for the rebounds, much of the action in front of the net felt disorganized and lacked structure in the set up of shots.
The third period felt a little more even in game play, Abbotsford was able to settle down their game play and keep possession for a few minutes at the beginning of the third which led to opening the scoring.
Riley Patterson scored at 2:42 in the third to open the goal differential a little more. The goal was assisted by Vilmer Alriksson and Tim Rego.
However, Coachella Valley would fight back and Lleyton Roed would put the game back within one.
The game momentum began to swing back into Coachella Valley’s favour as they started to play much of the game down in the Abbotsford zone.
Mynio took a goaltender interference penalty at 13:31, which had the fans quite upset, especially when Jani Nyman was able to tie the game on the Coachella Valley power play.
Despite two power play goals for Coachella Valley, the Abbotsford penalty kill has greatly improved since last season. They look a lot more calm and put together on the defence when down a man. They also do not seem to fold as easily under the pressure when a goal is scored. Instead there is a shift to keep pushing and trying to get themselves back in a better position.
The game went into overtime and despite the extra time neither teams were able to capitalize on the 3-on-3. This led to a shootout. Breaden Cootes, Ben Berard and Trey Fix-Wolansky would be the shot takers. Cootes came close to sinking a shot, but it hit the post. Berard and Fix-Wolansky were successful on their shots. Fix-Wolansky’s goal would be the game winner. Which set him up for 2 goals and a shootout winner.
When asked about the game Fix-Wolansky stated; “I thought it was alright. Probably could have been a little better. I mean, anytime you got a three-goal lead, you never want to give it up, but the most important thing is that we got out of that one with two points, so that’s what really matters.”
The Abbotsford Canucks are back in action on October 24, at 5 pm at Rogers Forum where they face off against the Calgary Wranglers.
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