The Abbotsford Canucks posted the club’s biggest win against the Calgary Wranglers in team history and also did the impossible – bounce the reigning AHL most valuable player Dustin Wolf from the crease.
The Canucks exploded for three goals in the first period and added three more in the second to earn the 7-2 win in Calgary on Sunday (Nov. 26).
Wolf was yanked early in the second period after allowing a shorthanded breakaway goal to Abbotsford’s Marc Gatcomb. It’s the first time that Wolf has been pulled in an AHL game since the first game of last season (Oct. 16, 2022 vs. Coachella Valley Firebirds).
Nychuk beats Wolf early, 1-0 Abbotsford pic.twitter.com/GWrRBTS6tE
— Ben Lypka (@BenLypka) November 26, 2023
Abbotsford opened the scoring early when defenceman Chad Nychuk scored just 90 seconds into the game. Aidan McDonough made it 2-0 at 10:20 and Aatu Räty added a power play at 18:27.
The Canucks power play had gone eight games without a power play goal and before today’s game it had sunk to 31st in the 32-team AHL.Raty with a beauty goal and the power play slump is finally over, 3-0 Abbotsford pic.twitter.com/hjQnPzJ5dV
— Ben Lypka (@BenLypka) November 26, 2023
Gatcomb made it 4-0 at 1:36 of the second and Wolf got the hook. Tristen Nielsen beat Oscar Dansk at 5:19 of the second and Sheldon Dries made it 6-0 at 14:16 on the power play with his eighth goal on the season. Calgary’s Matt Coronato then broke Abbotsford goalie Nikita Tolopilo’s shutout bid at 15:58.
Gatcomb completely undresses Wolf. He has now been yanked as Abbotsford is up 4-0 pic.twitter.com/AwYgNSfyB0
— Ben Lypka (@BenLypka) November 26, 2023
The teams traded goals in the third, with Filip Johansson scoring his first-ever AHL goal at 9:44, while Calgary got a goal from Adam Klapka.
McDonough, Räty, Linus Karlsson, Vasily Podkolzin, Jack Studnicka and Jett Woo all had two-point nights. Dries and Studnicka led the Canucks with four shots on goal and Abbotsford outshot Calgary 32-31. Tolopilo made 29 saves for his fourth win on the season.
Really cheap shot by Gallant on Woo. Direct to the head. He should be suspended for that pic.twitter.com/EB0RU1D8GY
— Ben Lypka (@BenLypka) November 26, 2023
A scary incident occurred in the second period when Wranglers forward Alex Gallant viciously cross checked Woo in the face. The Canucks defenceman was on the ground for several moments and went straight to the dressing room. He did not return and Gallant was assessed a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct. It’s possible that he may receive a suspension for the attack.
The win comes off a 3-1 loss in Calgary on Saturday (Nov. 25).
Abbotsford’s lone goal came from Karlsson in the second period. The game was scoreless after one, with both teams potting goals in the second. The Wranglers made it 2-1 at 16:48 of the third and added an empty net goal.
Karlsson ties the game up pic.twitter.com/x3zY1f5x1Z
— Ben Lypka (@BenLypka) November 25, 2023
Abbotsford’s power play went zero for six on Saturday and they managed to outshoot Calgary 42-26 in the loss.
Abbotsford’s record now sits at 11-5-1-0 after the weekend and they sit in third place in the Pacific Division.
The Canucks now return home for games against the Laval Rocket on Friday (Dec. 1) and Saturday (Dec. 2). Saturday’s game is the annual Teddy Bear Toss game.
Coming home with 7⃣ goals and 2⃣ points pic.twitter.com/44mgwb4r1x
— Abbotsford Canucks (@abbycanucks) November 26, 2023