The Vancouver Canucks haven’t had an AHL affiliate advance to the league final since the Utica Comets in 2015. Now they have two.
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The heat was on in Abbotsford.
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Not only did the mercury hit 31 degrees Celsius in the Fraser Valley on Sunday, and actually feel like 34, the temperature inside the Abbotsford Centre also hit fever pitch.
The Abbotsford Canucks held a 3-2 series lead over the Texas Stars in the AHL best-of-seven Western Conference final and were a victory away from advancing to the Calder Cup championship against the Charlotte Checkers.
The Canucks obviously didn’t want to be forced into a do-or-die showdown in Game 7 on Monday that could end their remarkable season, or shorten rest and prep time for the AHL final. So they took care of business.
Abbotsford rebounded from a 2-0 deficit and scored three third-period goals in a 4-2 decision to punch their ticket to the Calder Cup Finals against the Charlotte Checkers.
“It’s obviously a huge step for us as a group and organization,” said Abbotsford head coach Manny Malhotra. “I’m happy to see the guys get rewarded for the way they’re playing and what we’re trying to do here. The biggest takeaway for me was the fact of being down in the third period wasn’t a back-breaker.
“It galvanized our group in terms of wanting to push through and find a way. And with contributions throughout, I was able to roll four lines and get the most out of guys.”
The Checkers are the Florida Panthers’ affiliate and swept the Laval Rocket in the Eastern Conference final. They will host first two games of the AHL title series starting Friday in North Carolina, with the Canucks getting Games 3, 4 and 5 home dates, before the series reverts back to Charlotte.
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The Canucks were looking for a hero Sunday and found it in Max Sasson.
The veteran centre executed a deft deflection of an Akito Hirose point shot at 11:50 of the final frame to break a 2-2 deadlock for the biggest goal of his career. Arshdeep Bains then added an empty-netter with 35 seconds remaining to send the sold-out Abbotsford Centre crowd into a frenzy.
Sasson, 24, is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights and probably at the career crossroads. The parent Canucks have lauded his value as a versatile forward during NHL recalls and he had seven points (3-4) in 29 games this season to add to the 32 AHL points Abbotsford (13-19) in 32 games.
The undrafted and undaunted Birmingham, Mich. native grinded his way through three USHL hockey stops before getting noticed for his play with Western Michigan University. That’s when the Canucks came calling.
Meanwhile, Jujhar Khaira started the big rally by taking a sweet cross-ice feed from Sasson and picking the short-side blocker of Magnus Hellberg at 1:52 of the third period to draw Abby even at 2-2. It came after Bains got to the net and potted a rebound off a Christian Wolanin shot at 18:52 to narrow the deficit to 2-1 and swing momentum.
“It’s super special,” Surrey native Bains, 24, said of claiming the Western Conference title. “The fans were the loudest they’ve been all playoffs and they stuck to the end. It looked a little tough out there for the first two (periods) and then we were able to battle back.
“It felt really awesome. We just trusted the process and felt like we had good momentum going. Sometimes, we were a little unlucky with the bounces but eventually we got rewarded. The belief is pretty high right now. We’ve battled through a lot of series with the ups and downs and we’ve got one last series.
“We’re going to leave it on the line and see what we can do.”
Said Malhotra of two goals for Bains: “He has been playing well the whole series. A lot of things that don’t show up on the scoresheet, or aren’t really talked about, like blocked shots and being in the right place positionally, it’s rewarding for him. He’s an important part of our team.”
Like Sasson, Bains is an RFA with arbitration rights. He had his first NHL goal this season in 13 games with Vancouver and put up 43 points (11-32) in 50 regular-season games with Abbotsford. It’s why this journey means so much to being so close to a title.
Matej Blumel and Harrison Scott gave the Stars a 2-0 lead Sunday before the Canucks found their mojo. Arturs Silovs finished with 23 saves.
An affiliate of the parent Vancouver Canucks had not gone to the big AHL dance since 2015.
That’s when the Utica Comets, guided by head coach Travis Green, parlayed a 47-20-0-9 regular-season mark into post-season series wins over the Chicago Wolves, Oklahoma City Barons and Grand Rapids Griffins. They then fell to the Manchester Monarchs, affiliated with the Los Angeles Kings, in five games of the best-of-seven championship.
Those Comets were led in post-season scoring by Cal O’Reilly with 19 points (2-17) in 23 games and Sven Baetschi, who had 15 points (8-7) in 21 outings. In the regular season, 11 players struck for double digits in goals. Goaltender Jacob Markstrom was also stellar with a 22-7-2 mark, 1.88 GAA, .934 saves percentage and five shutouts.
If you aren’t able to watch the game in person, scroll down for the play-by-play updates from tonight’s game. Be sure to hit the refresh button for the latest update.
For the first time in this series, Malhotra staying with same lineup as Game 5, but with the odd line tweak. No winger Jonathan Lekkerimaki again. This goes beyond getting a rest and a reset. It’s non-performance based.
8:33:
Bains with the backhander empty-netter with 35 seconds remaining. Abby up 4-2 and heading to the Calder Cup. Massive period. Canucks finish with 40 shots, hold Stars to 25.
8:23:
🚨 MAX SASSON GIVES THE CANUCKS THE LEAD!@abbycanucks | @Canucks#AHL #CalderCup #ProudlyAbbotsford #Canucks pic.twitter.com/cAU7Oss7Ls
Sasson with the deft deflection of Hirose point shot at 11:50 for biggest goal of his career to give Abby 3-2 lead and move closer to punching ticket to Calder Cup final. Klimovich then follows with speed and backhand chance. Canucks’ best third period of series.
8:21:
Khaira nearly strikes again after taking drop pass as Canucks all over Stars on superlative shift.
8:10
Not sure what Manny said between periods, but Canucks are on fire. And so is the crowd. Klimovich latest to be denied from slot. Abby up 6-2 on shot clock.
8:06:
JUJHAR KHAIRA TIES IT!!@abbycanucks | @Canucks#AHL #CalderCup #ProudlyAbbotsford #Canucks pic.twitter.com/dX76DiuhRe
Khaira takes sweet cross-ice feed from Sasson and keeps momentum going by picking short-side blocker at 1:52 to draw Abby even at 2-2. Khaira’s third goal of postseason.
8:05:
Canucks are 1-4-2 in postseason when trailing after two periods. Obviously, need to change that trend and strong start as Sasson whips wrister on first shift. Klimovich and Mueller then have Grade A chances in slot.
End of period. Texas up 2-1 and Abby up 23-21 in shots.
7:42:
🚨 Arshdeep Bains gets one back for the Canucks!@abbycanucks | @Canucks#AHL #CalderCup #ProudlyAbbotsford #Canucks pic.twitter.com/ddsuEljKTv
Bains scores in consecutive games by getting to the net and potting rebound off Wolanin shot at 18:52 to narrow deficit to 2-1 and swing momentum. Hellberg was in that goaltending zone. Calm and collected. Abby needed bodies at net for screens, tips and rebounds and Bains did just that.
7:35:
Abby doing nice job of getting involved and joining the rush to cause odd-man rushes and confusion. Good way to get to Hellberg. Canucks need a goal before end of frame.
7:29:
Silovs caught looking the wrong way as Scott takes feed from behind net and scores his first AHL goal at 13:05 before Abby stopper can seal up the post. Texas up 2-0.
7:23:
Karlsson is stopped on wrap-around attempt and Sasson is then checked off puck heading to crease on sprawling play by defender.
7:15:
Blumel denied at side of net by Silovs, and then in transition, it’s Di Giuseppe with his third Grade A chance of the night on ensuring rush. Kilmovich then has stick slashed in high slot and and his shot flutters away.
7:12:
Texas with first four shots of the period and Canucks trying to stick with it and find the equalizer. Mueller then denied on backhander at side of net on feed by Bains and then on the rebound. Should be a boost for Abby to push pace more.
7:05:
Stars playing more direct and Becker’s one-touch deflection nearly finds net for two-goal cushion. Hellberg has also stopped 60 of 62 shots for Stars since getting the net. Matching Silovs save for save. Apparently, Landon Ferraro once scored on Hellberg.
7:04:
Stars did a good job of mounting momentum after Canucks got off to fast first-period start. Texas has taken the crowd of the game. Abby needs to be patient, but knows how tight these games are. Four decided by one goal, three went to OT.
End of opening period. Stars up 1-0 and shots are 10 apiece.
6:40:
Mass confusion. Red lights go on at both ends of ice. Blais goes bar down, but puck stay out. Abby stops playing, and in transition, it’s Blumel opening scoring with his seventh of playoffs at 18:35. No chance for Silovs, with the post-to-post stretch. Canucks respond with O-zone pressure to equal before end of frame.
When all is said and done, Texas leads 1-0

If you want fun hockey, the AHL Western Conference Finals DELIVERS.
📺: https://t.co/nsi0FWlibI#AHL #CalderCup https://t.co/4xNDNxdiqk
6:30:
Abby is playing with fire. Smith off for boarding and Stars have a lot of PP weapons, but Mueller responds with SH shot that goes over net. Smart feed by Mancini to start the play. Great read. Silovs follows up with stick and kick saves.
6:25:
Di Giuseppe gets his second great scoring chance of period on rebound and then draws tripping penalty by keep speed on zone entry. Karlsson then has PP opportunity at side of net. Ferraro suggesting Canucks play more direct to net on PP, something his dad would say.
6:23:
Abby looks to have early comfort factor. Up 6-3 in shots and rolling the lines. Controlling play in all zones.
6:15:
We’re back with live stream, just as Sasson heads to the box. Abby was up 4-1 on shot clock before the slash. Good PK pressure up ice and not allowing easy PP entries. Good kill.
6:11:
We have lost live streaming feed. Relying on PXP man Brandon Astle and analyst Landon Ferraro to bring it big time.
6:09:
Sasson heavy on the forecheck on first shift. Grade A chance for Di Giuseppe on doorstep.
• Abbotsford Canucks Recap: Texas beats Abby 2-1 in OT goal by B.C. boy Curtis McKenzie
• Abbotsford Canucks Recap: Danila Klimovich unlikely hero in double OT, Abby up 3-1 in conference final
• There’s a buzz around the Abbotsford Canucks like never before
bkuzma@postmedia.com
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