The Abbotsford Canucks bounced back after a dismal night in the desert on Friday (Dec. 15) to take down the Tucson Roadrunners 6-2 on Saturday (Dec. 16) and also snap a four-game losing streak.
It was Teddy Bear Toss night in Tucson on Saturday and the Canucks ruined the mood when Linus Karlsson scored just 46 seconds into the game. Cole McWard added another at 10:19 to make it 2-0.
Linus Karlsson scores after a great set-up by Wouters, 1-0 Abbotsford. Karlsson with his fifth this season pic.twitter.com/SXJKvSFh5B
— Ben Lypka (@BenLypka) December 17, 2023
Cole McWard makes it 2-0 Abbotsford pic.twitter.com/1kf4ldH69j
— Ben Lypka (@BenLypka) December 17, 2023
Tucson’s Nathan Smith caused the fur to fly when he made it a 2-1 game at 13:50 and fans got the chance to cover the ice in stuffed animals. Abbotsford outshot Tucson 8-6 in the first period and led 2-1 after one.
Bad misplay by Wolanin leads to the Teddy Bear goal pic.twitter.com/5ipZvprGVl
— Ben Lypka (@BenLypka) December 17, 2023
Roadrunners forward John Leonard tied the game at 2:31 of the second when he beat Canucks goalie Nikita Tolopilo. But Karlsson put the Canucks up for good at 17:09 of the second. Shots were 8-7 Tucson in the second.
Karlsson with his second, excellent set up by Bains pic.twitter.com/vCYdXpi7Z8
— Ben Lypka (@BenLypka) December 17, 2023
The teams were trading chances early in the third, but both Tolopilo and Tucson goalie Matt Villalta made some key saves. However, a costly turnover by Tucson turned into a goal by Aidan McDonough at 12:58 of the third and that broke the game open for Abbotsford. John Stevens scored just 15 seconds later and Sheldon Dries added an empty net goal.
Turrrrible giveaway by Tucson and McDonough makes it 4-2 pic.twitter.com/cxZPWBvMCU
— Ben Lypka (@BenLypka) December 17, 2023
The win ends a four-game slide for Abbotsford, who had lost three games to Coachella Valley and then lost 5-0 to Tucson on Friday. That stretch of losses is the team’s biggest losing streak this season.
Tolopilo was solid for the Canucks, making 17 saves but Abbotsford managed to limit a lot of dangerous chances for Tucson. The Belarusian goalie now has six this season and has won four of his last five starts.
Karlsson, Dries and captain Chase Wouters all had two-point nights for Abbotsford, while Arshdeep Bains led the team with four shots on goal. A scary moment occurred in the third period when Karlsson collided with a Tucson player. He appeared shook up and it’s believed he did not return to the ice.
Karlsson collided with a Tucson player and might be hurt pic.twitter.com/ZnUJLmKuhs
— Ben Lypka (@BenLypka) December 17, 2023
Saturday also marked the Abbotsford debut for defenceman Nick Cicek. He played a regular shift with Matt Irwin and seemed to fit in well in the role. He recorded one shot on goal and was a +3. He also received a 10-minute misconduct for continuing an altercation in the third period and headed to the dressing room early.
Flying home with the W pic.twitter.com/qCscqeSMba
— Abbotsford Canucks (@abbycanucks) December 17, 2023
The win comes off a dreadful 5-0 loss to the Roadrunners on Friday. Trailing 1-0 after one, Abbotsford allowed two shorthanded goals in 53 seconds early in the second period and never recovered from that. It marked the first time this season that the Canucks had been blanked.
Abbotsford’s record now sits at 14-8-2-0 and after the losing streak they have fallen to sixth in the Pacific Division.
The club next returns home for games against the Ontario Reign on Wednesday (Dec. 20) and Thursday (Dec. 21). Following those games they are off until Dec. 28.