The Pacific Division playoff crunch has seen the Abbotsford Canucks fall to sixth after a split in California on the weekend.
With just six points separating second from seventh, Abbotsford’s 2-1 loss to the Ontario Reign on Sunday (March 3) allowed the Reign to leapfrog the Canucks.
Ontario, the Calgary Wranglers and the Canucks all have 62 points and occupy spots four through six after Sunday.
Canucks goalie Arturs Silovs allowed a backbreaking goal from centre ice to erase a 1-1 tie late in the third period of Sunday’s game and Abbotsford was unable to earn any points.
FIRST AHL GOAL AND GAME WINNING GOAL FOR LUKE ROWE!!! #ReignTrain | #ABBvsONT pic.twitter.com/6Hk56g47pW
— Ontario Reign (@ontarioreign) March 4, 2024
Silovs did make 33 saves in the loss. Sheldon Dries tore open a scoreless game at 11:38 of the second and that goal stood until Franceso Pinelli tied it up at 9:46 of the third. Luke Rowe’s long distance slap shot won the game at 17:35.
The loss comes off a 4-2 win over the Bakersfield Condors on Saturday (March 2).
The Canucks exploded for four goals in the second period to earn the victory. Dries, Karlsson, Nick Cicek and Chad Nychuk all tallied for Abbotsford. Karlsson had a three-point night and the much-maligned Abbotsford power play connected twice.
Karlsson somehow found himself all alone and ties the game up with a power play goal pic.twitter.com/hpur8esdP2
— Ben Lypka (@BenLypka) March 3, 2024
The club also got another strong performance from goalie Nikita Tolopilo, who made 33 saves for the win. The Belarus product has won four of his last five and has been excellent in the 2024 calendar year for Abbotsford.
The Canucks have a rematch against the Reign on Wednesday (March 6) and then remain on the road for two more games against the Henderson Silver Knights on Friday (March 8) and Saturday (March 9).
The team returns home for games against the Condors on March 12 and 13.
Battle Back Wednesday. pic.twitter.com/j2lExOM7KH
— Abbotsford Canucks (@abbycanucks) March 4, 2024