VANCOUVER, BC – There’s something to be said about playing in your home barn. The Abbotsford Canucks, after starting on the road for the first three games of their existence, finally played their home opener against the Henderson Silver Knights on Friday at Abbotsford Centre, winning 3-2 in overtime.
With a capacity crowd on hand, the building was rocking before puck drop. Player introductions were had and some Canuck royalty also made an appearance. Raucous cheers greeted Henrik and Daniel Sedin as they took in the action live.
Puck is down in Abbotsford!#AbbotsfordCanucks pic.twitter.com/QMOG6Skfc7
— Abbotsford Canucks (@abbycanucks) October 23, 2021
Energized by the crowd, it was the Canucks that got off on the front foot. Though they took a penalty merely seconds in, the men in blue-and-green went on the offensive, peppering Logan Thompson with shots. Former Canuck and Silver Knight Sven Baertschi had himself a partial break, but was turned aside by Michael DiPietro.
The Canucks got themselves a powerplay later in the frame, but couldn’t get much going on it. Just a couple of moments later though, Justin Bailey made history for the Abbotsford Canucks, scoring a goal.
WHAT A MOMENT!
Justin Bailey's 100th career AHL goal and the first home goal in the history of the #AbbotsfordCanucks.@JamesCybulski on the call ?️ pic.twitter.com/DPtCUjSAdB
— Abbotsford Canucks (@abbycanucks) October 23, 2021
Merely a minute later, Pavel Dorofeyev capitalized on a turnover as he slotted the equalizer past DiPietro at the 5:29 mark of the first. All of a sudden, the game was all knotted up. The Canucks would generate late pressure but would head into the intermission all tied up, though they were outshooting the Silver Knights 12-9.
The second period saw the Canucks open with a flurry of chances and not bury a single one of them. The momentum swung between both teams as it became a heavy, energized battle. Both teams got into each other’s faces, finishing their checks and doing plenty after whistles. Feeding off the energy from the crowd, the Abbotsford Canucks were ramping up the intensity, getting better and better each moment. In Henderson and Abbotsford’s cases, their powerplays really couldn’t generate anything at all, and the period came to a close with neither team getting anything on the board despite many chances.
#HSKvsABB | Second period thoughts:
– Both teams' powerplay just flat out can't score
– Canucks PK has been excellent again
– Very undisciplined, but also picking up in intensity. Teams not getting along.
– Klimovich getting bumped off PP1, looked better on PP2
1/— Michael Liu (@FPHCanucks) October 23, 2021
– Canucks have been outchancing Henderson, outshooting them 22-19
– Need to be more decisive especially in the offensive zone
– Some dicey turnovers on the back end, possible rust issues?
– DiPietro solid, no worse for wear after being hit
We've got a good third period ahead!— Michael Liu (@FPHCanucks) October 23, 2021
With the game to play for, the third period was fast and entertaining. About four minutes in, Carson Focht had a glorious chance off a 3-on-2 rush, the Vancouver draft pick rifling a shot that beat Thompson, but not the pipe.
#HSKvsABB | Focht rings it off the bar! This close to giving the Canucks the lead again. 15:52 left in the game. #AbbotsfordCanucks #Canucks
— Michael Liu (@FPHCanucks) October 23, 2021
Disaster struck on an Abbotsford powerplay. Ben Jones turned on the jets to chase an errant pass, beating his man to the outside and rifling a short-handed goal past DiPietro. All of a sudden, the energy was sucked out of the Canucks.
#HSKvsABB | Oh goodness what a shot. Jones tallies a shorthanded goal from the right side boards to give the Silver Knights the lead. 2-1 with 14:07 to go. #AbbotsfordCanucks #Canucks
— Michael Liu (@FPHCanucks) October 23, 2021
A couple of rough sequences followed where the team looked tepid and lifeless, turning the puck over with passes that lacked purpose. The spark that reignited them was the sensational Danila Klimovich. All throughout the night the Belarusian was buzzing, and he was the one that drove through neutral ice. Getting the zone, he got in behind the net and centered to a wide-open John Stevens, who buried the one-timer to tie the game up at 2-2.
Klimovich with excellent work at 5v5 to gain the zone, fight for the loose puck and set up John Stevens for the game-tying goal!#AbbotsfordCanucks pic.twitter.com/9AfSKbj7i9
— Cody Severtson (@CodySevertson) October 23, 2021
Abbotsford ramped up the play towards the end of regulation, wanting to send the crowd home happy. It was the best period they had ever played together so far and were hungrier and faster than the Silver Knights. As the buzzer sounded on regulation, overtime would be needed to solve this contest.
And in overtime, the Canucks would get the fairy tale ending their home opener deserved. After controlling the possession and the pace, Justin Bailey would wrap up a two-point night by driving the play, dishing it off in front where Madison Bowey made no mistake.
WE WIN!!!
What a way to end a magical night! #AbbotsfordCanucks win 3-2 in overtime thanks to Madison Bowey.
A night we won’t soon forget. Thanks for the love Abby
?? pic.twitter.com/2PJoHZWgSk— Abbotsford Canucks (@abbycanucks) October 23, 2021
With this win, the Canucks push their record on the season to 2-1-1, winning their first-ever game at home. The loud cheers echoed long into the night as Abbotsford started a new chapter in British Columbian Hockey.
Takeaways
#HSKvsABB | Postgame thoughts:
– What a performance from the Canucks. Shots 36-24 as they played their best hockey of the season thus far
– Crowd clearly helped, loved to hear them in the stands
– Lots of energy between these two teams as the game wore on
1/— Michael Liu (@FPHCanucks) October 23, 2021
#HSKvsABB |
– Powerplay NEEDS to be better. A team simply cannot go 0-7 while giving up a short handed goal and expect to win
– Penalty kill solid
– Klimovich looking like the real deal early into his AHL career. Dynamic and dangerous
– Justin Bailey very impressive
2/— Michael Liu (@FPHCanucks) October 23, 2021
#HSKvsABB |
– Jett Woo very solid, noticeably more physical
– Juulsen was very up for the game tonight in front of his hometown
– Canucks really picked up their play late in the third and in overtime. Good to see.
That's going to be all from me! #AbbotsfordCanucks #Canucks— Michael Liu (@FPHCanucks) October 23, 2021
Abbotsford returns to action tomorrow as they take on the Silver Knights again at home. Puck drop slated for 4:00 PM.
