Heading into Wednesday’s (Jan. 17) game, the only thing colder than the weather outside was the Abbotsford Canucks power play.
The club entered the evening without a power play in 2024, not scoring on the last 28 opportunities and having last scored a goal with the man advantage on Dec. 21.
That's the first power play goal since Dec. 21 for Abbotsford. They hadn't scored in 28 straight opportunities pic.twitter.com/hVJ7ZWmVVV
— Ben Lypka (@BenLypka) January 18, 2024
That devastating drought finally ended on Wednesday in the Canucks 2-1 win when Linus Karlsson finally lit the lamp, but not before the Reign scored moments before while shorthanded.
Just 76 seconds after that power play goal tied the game at one, Abbotsford’s Max Sasson scored what would eventually be the game winner. Sasson received a great breakout pass from Aidan McDonough, streaked in on the Ontario goalie Jacob Ingham and recorded his 11th on the season.
Sasson with a clutch goal. Great play by McDonough to advance the puck pic.twitter.com/PDnyB1DAm3
— Ben Lypka (@BenLypka) January 18, 2024
Those 11 goals now rank him tied for seventh in the AHL in rookie goals and two of those have been game winners. The Reign did believe they scored another goal in the third period, but after a review it was determined to not be a goal.
All three goals were scored in the third period, with both Ingham and Abbotsford starter Nikita Tolopilo pitching shutouts after 40 minutes. Tolopilo made 30 saves for his ninth win on the season. He has won seven of his last nine starts.
Tolopilo keeps the puck out somehow pic.twitter.com/Ni47AP8DJC
— Ben Lypka (@BenLypka) January 18, 2024
Both the Canucks and Reign fired 31 shots on goal, with Abbotsford’s Vasily Podkolzin and Cole McWard leading the Canucks with five shots on goal.
Harsh winter weather left the Abbotsford Centre with a lot of empty seats on Wednesday and also caused travel issues for some Canucks employees – including the scheduled anthem singer. The club played a video for the American anthem and then invited Reign assistant equipment manager Alex Ryan to sing the Canadian anthem. He also sang the Canadian anthem for the Reign-Canucks game in Ontario on March 1, 2023.
Shout out to @ontarioreign assistant equipment manager Alex Ryan for stepping up and singing the Canadian anthem (scheduled singer couldn't make it) pic.twitter.com/05jvOf6a9r
— Ben Lypka (@BenLypka) January 18, 2024
Known Canadian, and Reign Assitant Equipment Manager @acryan95 is back on the Mic for tonight's rendition of O Canada IN Canada#ReignTrain | #ONTvsABB https://t.co/f5FlJzVvpc pic.twitter.com/lapmdbFe8z
— Ontario Reign (@ontarioreign) January 18, 2024
Abbotsford’s record now improves to 20-12-2-1 and they remain in fifth place in the Pacific Division. The win comes off a 4-3 loss to the Reign on Tuesday (Jan. 16) that saw the Canucks fall behind 3-0, then tie the game up at three before allowing a fourth goal in the third. Canucks goal scorers on Tuesday were: Christian Wolanin, Karlsson and McDonough.
BRAVED THE SNOW, CONQUERED THE REIGN 🌧️ pic.twitter.com/0wvzuwlgns
— Abbotsford Canucks (@abbycanucks) January 18, 2024
The club remains home for games against the San Diego Gulls on Saturday (Jan. 20) and Sunday (Jan. 21). Saturday’s game is being promoted as Country Night.