There was a bit of a feeling of deja vu early into Thursday's (May 1) game one of the Pacific Division semifinal between the Coachella Valley Firebirds and the Abbotsford Canucks.
The Firebirds beat Canucks goalie Arturs Silovs on their very first shot just 96 seconds into the game and for some it felt like 12 of the other 16 times these two teams have met over the past three seasons when the Firebirds skated away with a win.
First shot on Silovs is a goal
鈥� Ben Lypka (@BenLypka)
But the Canucks scored three times in a span of just over seven minutes and that flurry of offence, combined with spectacular defensive play and goaltending in the final 40 minutes, led to a 3-1 Canucks win in the series opener.
The Canucks forechecking turned the tide of the game and the momentum swing began when Linus Karlsson crushed Firebirds defenceman Max Lajoie down low, retrieved the puck and set up a streaking Jett Woo at 9:26 of the first. Woo beat Coachella Valley goalie Nikke Kokko for his first career AHL playoff goal.
This all starts with a big hit by Karlsson and he then finds Woo in slot, tie game
鈥� Ben Lypka (@BenLypka)
Only 65 seconds later it was Ty Mueller who jumped on a botched play by Kokko down low and then set up Danila Klimovich for his first-ever AHL playoff goal. The Canucks added some insurance when veteran Phil Di Giuseppe dished to fellow veteran Guillaume Brisebois who beat Kokko at 16:45.
Bad giveaway by Kokko and Klimovich makes it 2-1
鈥� Ben Lypka (@BenLypka)
PDG to Brisebois and it's now 3-1 Canucks
鈥� Ben Lypka (@BenLypka)
Those three goals proved to be enough and Silovs shut the door in the final two periods. Abbotsford also managed to limit the Coachella's offensive opportunities and played a perfect road game by slowing the game down and controlling the pace of play.
After allowing a goal on the first shot he faced, Silovs stopped the next 29 shots he faced for the win. Coachella out shot Abbotsford 30-28 in the game, but Abbotsford wasn't pushing the pace as intensely on the offensive end after the first period when they out shot the Firebirds 14-8.
STARTING THE SERIES OUT HOT 馃敟
鈥� X - Abbotsford Canucks (@abbycanucks)
Klimovich led all Canucks with four shots on goal, while Max Sasson, Brisebois and Woo all recorded three shots.
The road warrior Canucks have won 11 straight on the road dating back to the regular season and have not lost a game away from the Abbotsford Centre since Feb. 28.
Defenceman Christian Wolanin and forward Jonathan Lekkerimaki were the notable scratches and it marks the second straight playoff game that the pair were not dressed.
The vibes at The Canadian Brewhouse are 10/10! 馃帀
鈥� X - Abbotsford Canucks (@abbycanucks)
Special teams were not a big factor on Thursday, as both teams went 0/2 with the man advantage.
This marks the first time that Abbotsford has ever had a 1-0 lead in the Pacific Division semifinal, as they were swept by the Ontario Reign in 2024 and only won game three against the Calgary Wranglers in 2023.
Game two of the series is set for Saturday (May 3) at 6 p.m. The series then shifts to Abbotsford for game three on Wednesday (May 7) at 7 p.m. Games four and five, if necesary, go Friday (May 9) and Sunday (May 11),
Continue visiting for ongoing coverage of the Abbtosford Canucks' journey in the Calder Cup playoffs.
