Playoff MVP Arturs Silovs shuts the door with 28 saves, leading playoff scorer Linus Karlsson snaps 2-2 deadlock to secure Calder Cup title
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Amid the sweat and strain in steamy Charlotte, N.C., where it’s 35 degrees Celsius or 95 Fahrenheit, the Abbotsford Canucks knew one Game 6 shot on a sloppy and suspect Bojangles Coliseum ice surface Monday could cap their remarkable season.
It would secure the Calder Cup championship, the first for an AHL affiliate of the parent NHL Canucks, and avoid being dragged into Game 7 on Wednesday against the Checkers. They shoot pucks from any angle at any time and with a 199-126 series advantage, including 54, 42, and 40-shot efforts, it had the Canucks on alert to force the forechecking issue and not play on their heels.
After all, three series games had required overtime, including a pair of double-overtimes, and it could come down to somebody playing hero when it matters most. Abbotsford hadn’t lost two-straight games in the post-season and it’s been more than two months since they lost two in a row.
On Monday, the Canucks once again showed their resiliency to rebound from a 2-0 deficit in the first period on goals by Sammy Blais, Danila Klimovich and the winner by Linus Karlsson for a 3-2 victory to claim the league title. And true to Abbotsford’s pedigree, these Canucks gutted another one out when it mattered the most.
EARNED IT! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/RGbmiXyq1z
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The grizzled veteran Blais and the mercurial Klimovich drew the Canucks even and then AHL leading scorer Karlsson delivered the dagger in the second period. He was left open on the back door and converted a perfect cross-ice feed from linemate Arshdeep Bains at 17:19.
Arturs Silovs then did what he has done so often in the post-season. He turned aside 28 shots and was named playoff most valuable player. He took a 2.01 goals-against average an .931 saves percentage into the night and then slammed the door on the Checkers, especially when they pressed late for the equalizer.
Klimovich, who had been in and out of the lineup, played double-overtime hero in Game 1, and scored the biggest goal of his career Monday. He jammed home a loose puck off a mosh pit in the Checkers crease in the second period to draw Abbotsford even 2-2. It came after Blais whipped a power-play wrist shot from the face-off circle late in the opening period.
However, the telling blow was more likely to be landed by the Canucks’ top line, or the day could be saved by the guy between the pipes. They all delivered.
Karlsson, Bains and Max Sasson have combined for 64 points (26-38) through these playoffs. Karlsson led playoff scoring with 26 points (14-12), Bains was second with 24 points (7-17), and Sasson eighth with 14 points (5-9). Sasson led in shots with 77, while Karlsson had 66 and Bains 43.
As for Silovs, he had 51, 28 and 32-save wins in earlier series wins and his five playoff shutouts were one shy of the league record. Former Canucks goaltender Mika Noronen established the mark by backstopping the Rochester Americans to the 2000 Calder Cup title.
CONGRATULATIONS, @AbbyCanucks! 🏆
CALDER CUP CHAMPIONS! pic.twitter.com/O506YsPS4x
THIRD PERIOD:
Game over. Canucks claim first Calder Cup championship. Checkers won shot battle at 30-20.
6:32:
Checkers pull goalie with three minutes remaining and immediately test Arturs Silovs with a pair of net forays.
6:28:
Arturs Silovs gets the top of his stick on hot slot shot by John Leonard that was destined for the top corner.
6:24:
Checkers shooting pucks from any angle to surprise Arturs Silovs and maybe slip one by the Abby stopper. There’s 5:45 left in third period. When does Charlotte pull goalie?
6:15:
Abby is 10 minutes away from claiming the Calder Cup. Expect a big push from Checkers. Three series games have needed OT. Canucks ice the puck on two-straight shifts.
6:11:
Charlotte defenceman Matt Kiersted gone to box for holding at 6:28. Getting the feeling a goal here might just put this one away. Opportunity knocking here big time.
WE WERE ALWAYS PLAYING CHESS! ♟️ pic.twitter.com/5o1JiXIukb
6:05:
Danila Klimovich with the needless hooking minor at 4:01 with Abby nursing a 3-2 lead. Canucks penalty kill air tight, doing what it has done all through the playoffs.
6:00:
Two chances for Max Sasson to open period at 4-on-4. Gets original shot away from slot and got to his rebound from a sharp angle in effort for the insurance goal.
SECOND PERIOD
End of period. Abby up 3-2. Checkers lead in shots 19-13.
5:40:
Arturs Silovs with the big deny in dying seconds of period as Checkers are filed on re-direct at top of the crease.
5:37:
Tristen Nielsen with the cross-checking minor in crease at 17:53 as Checkers storm back to try and even the game.
5:35:
Great shift pressure by Abby, Checkers can’t clear, and Linus Karlsson left open at back door to deposit sweet cross-ice feed by Arshdeep Bains at 17:19 to give Canucks their first lead of game at 3-2.
LINUS KARLSSON DOES IT AGAIN! 🇸🇪🔥
His postseason-best 14th goal gives Abbotsford their first lead of Game 6! Plus, check out that dish from Arshdeep Bains… 😮💨@abbycanucks | @Canucks | @CanucksArmy #AHL #CalderCup #ProudlyAbbotsford #Canucks pic.twitter.com/2JNIpfbLnM
5:30:
Defenceman Matt Kiersted moves into high slot, takes corner feed, and tests Arturs Silovs at 14:49. He’s above crease to deny chance and good down-low coverage in case of rebound. Abby being outshot 17-9.
5:26:
Hot one-timer from point by Matt Kiersted at 12:42 and Arturs Silovs out high at top of crease to take away openings. Silovs could be the difference tonight. Tie game. Looks sharp. No chance on two goals that beat him.
5:22:
Manny Malhotra won’t like his captain taking a needless slashing penalty at 10:21 in 2-2 game. Arturs Silovs faced to make a couple of tough saves down low before the kill is completed.
5:15:
Max Sasson with the offensive-zone holding infraction at 7:04. No need to take that minor in tight game. Discipline crucial. Forces Arturs Silovs to make glove save off Michael Benning, who has a Grade A rip.
5:08:
TIE GAME! Danila Klimovich scores a big one on the rebound for Abbotsford. We got another classic on our hands here in Charlotte!@abbycanucks | @Canucks | @CanucksArmy #AHL #CalderCup #ProudlyAbbotsford #Canucks pic.twitter.com/AH5jYP8cBG
Must have heard me on Canucks bench. Abby comes right back and gets to the next. Mosh pit develops and it’s Danila Klimovich jamming home a loose puck off wild scramble at 3:44 to make it 2-2.
5:06:
Quiet night for the big line. Max Sasson with one shot, nothing for Linus Karlsson or Arshdeep Bains through 23:08 when Abby badly needs to even this one up. As they say, score not indicative of the play.
FIRST PERIOD
Period ends. Checkers lead 2-1 and up 12-6 in shots.
Sammy Blais fires an absolute rocket to the top corner to cut the lead to one late in the first period! #Canucks pic.twitter.com/PAqqQKSYtI
4:38:
Trevor Carrick with the swat of puck behind his net and it clears glass for delay-of-game minor. Abby with much-needed power play to gain some momentum and quickly responds. Sammy Blais snaps wrister from top of circle to top shelf at 17:38 to narrow deficit to 2-1.
4:28:
Max Sasson with rare offensive chance at side of the net from sharp angle. Abby then caught up ice and Checkers respond with 3-on-1 rush and give-and-go at top of slot has Jack Devine pulling trigger at 13:14. Arturs Silovs had little chance trying to go post to post in time to negate chance. Checkers up 2-0. Charlotte up 11-4 on shot clock.
🔥 This kid is on fire! 🔥
Jack Devine makes it 2-0 Charlotte with Powell and Okuliar connecting on the odd-man break. Devine has points in every game since he got back into the lineup.@CheckersHockey | @FlaPanthers | @LO_FLAPanthers#AHL #CalderCup #CheckersHockey #TimeToHunt pic.twitter.com/8jxbhf7Crw
4:25:
Rasmus Asplund and Jett Woo to the box with slashing and cross-checking minors respectively at 11:51.
4:16:
Desperation is working for the Checkers. Carrying the play and up 6-2 on shot clock through 5:30.
4:11:
Checkers keep it coming and it pays off with John Leonard taking feed at top of circle and whipping a wrist shot to the short side and open scoring at 2:49.
The Charlotte Checkers open the scoring. pic.twitter.com/KsTDnk31Dt
4:24:
Six straight minutes without a whistle and Canucks continue to have trouble exiting their zone and making passes at pace. Only three shots through 11:30.
4:10:
Good O-zone rotation by Checkers and Michael Benning pinches down to test Arturs Silovs.
4:08:
Abby comes right back and does what it does best. Forecheck. Force turnover. Results in a jam-job chance at top of crease.
4:06:
As expected, Checkers push pace on opening shift. Force Canucks to ice the puck. And Abby ices the puck again. Some early nerves. Big night. Huge night.
Abby #Canucks lines.
The Abby Canucks get another crack at a Calder Cup at the Bojangles Coliseum.
Bains – Sasson ‐ Karlsson
Di Giuseppe – Mueller – Lekkerimäki
Blais – Khaira– Smith
Nielsen – Wouters – Klimovich
Hirose – Mancini
Wolanin – Woo
Brisebois – Kudryavtsev
Silovs
Checkers captain Zac Dalpe is out for warm-up. He has been out of action since Dec. 18.
Here’s how we’ll look for Game 6! pic.twitter.com/RqtEECaVi1
3:39:
It’s Silovs vs Kahkonen in net for Game 6 as warmup is underway from Bojangles…Abby is going with the same roster that they iced in game 5, while Charlotte swaps makes 1 change at forward…Broadcast gets going at 3:45pm
Read more about the Abbotsford Canucks:
• Abbotsford Canucks: Resilience is name of game in heat of Calder Cup chase
• Abbotsford Canucks Recap: Charlotte wins 4-3 in OT, series goes back to North Carolina for Game 6
• Canucks: Bains and Karlsson’s Big AHL performances must carry into NHL success
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