May 7, 2025 - Abbotsford Centre – Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada- The Abbotsford Canucks are set to host Pacific Northwest rivals, the Coachella Valley Firebirds, in a pivotal Game 3 of Round 2 in the AHL's Calder Cup Playoffs. Abbotsford is chasing its first Division Final appearance since relocating in 2021, while the Firebirds — led by Head Coach Derek Laxdal — are gunning for a third consecutive trip to the Calder Cup Final.
Projected Lines For Tonight!
FIREBIRDS STARTING LINEUP
1st Period:
Scoreless after 8 minutes of play. Firebirds kill a power play after Ville Ottavainen is called for slashing. Ottavainen was drafted by the Seattle Kraken in 2021, Round: 4 (#99).
Penalty called on Vancouver’s Victor Mancini for cross checking on Logan Morrison resulting in several shots on Artūrs Šilovs, but no goal. Firebirds are 0-2 on PP approaching the 9 minute mark.
Firebirds are showing great physicality and leading with 8 shots on goal. Vancouver get their first shot and first goal by Nate Smith, his second goal of the playoffs.
A late goal by Vancouver’s Kirill Kudryavtsev stuns Firebirds’ Nikke Kokko giving the Canucks a 2-0 lead with 23 seconds late on the clock. This is Kudryavtsev’s first career playoff goal.
At the end of the first Coachella has 12 shots on goal, Abbotsford 5.
2nd Period:
Canucks turned up the pressure on Kokko coming off the first intermission break. Cole McWard gets a little too aggressive with Jacob Melanson resulting in a holding penalty giving the Firebirds the chance at a power play goal. The ‘Birds tally 2 shots, but no points.
Kokko, making his fifth start of the season, looked a bit shaky at first, but settled in during the middle frame. With 6:38 to go it’s still scoreless with Canucks not connecting to the back of the net. 17-13 Firebirds- with shots on goal.
Ville Ottavainen picked up his second penalty of the night for high-sticking, but the Firebirds held off the Canucks.
Tempers flare between Nate Smith and Ryan Winterton who get in a scuffle behind Vancouver’s net, but no penalties called on either player. With time running out the Firebirds pepper Silovs who stood firm in the crease. The period ends 2-0 Vancouver.
3rd Period:
Ryan Winterton scores his second goal of the series at 16:36 putting one the board for the Firebirds.
Kokko briefly loses his stick amid heavy traffic, but holds firm until a glove save stops play.
Some pushing and shoving as both teams feel the pressure to score in this crucial Game 3.
Tye Mueller makes a break down center ice, but his play is broken up by Kokko and Luke Henman who is charged with hooking creating the power play for Vancouver with 4:49 left on the clock.
The Firebirds are struggling to connect under relentless pressure from the Canucks. A miscommunication sees Kokko race to the bench for the extra attacker, but the Canucks pounce on the mistake and bury the empty-net goal by Phillip DiGiuseppe.
A late rush by the Firebirds yields nothing as the Canucks defeat the Firebirds 3-1 and take the lead in the series. The Canucks are one win away from heading to the finals to face the Colorado Eagles.
Final shots on goal : CV 26 / ABB 23
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Games Remaining (Best-of-Five Series):
- Friday, May 9: CV at Abbotsford (7:00 p.m. PT)
- *Sunday, May 11 (if necessary): CV at Abbotsford (7:00 p.m. PT)
Puck Drop: 7PM PST
Broadcast Info: FloHockey.tv, Stanza
Series Recap & Milestones — Firebirds:
- This is the first-ever postseason meeting between Coachella Valley and Abbotsford.
- The Firebirds (the AHL affiliate of the Seattle Kraken) took the first three regular-season matchups, while the Canucks won the finale.
- John Hayden was a standout in the team's Calgary series, logging heavy minutes, scoring twice, and leading with grit.
- Former Cup-winner Mitchell Stephens added three goals, including the Game 2 winner.
- Rookie goaltender Nikke Kokko starred with 36 saves in Game 1 and a 23-save shutout in Game 2 — his first of the season.
Players to Watch — Firebirds:
- Jani Nyman ranks 4th in power-play goals (9 in 58 games played).
- Ty Nelson ranks 5th in total shots with 147 (in 72 games played).
Series Recap & Milestones — Canucks:
- Abbotsford, the AHL affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks, finished second in both the Pacific Division and Western Conference with 92 points.
- The Canucks scored 241 goals (4th in the AHL) and allowed 204 (10th in the league).
- Arshdeep Bains led the team with 43 AHL points and also appeared in 13 NHL games.
- Sammy Blais added 40 points in 51 games and scored in every game of the Tucson series, netting three goals.
- Right winger Danila Klimovich completed his fourth season in Abbotsford as the team’s leading goal scorer (25). At just 22, he already has 89 career AHL points.
- In goal, Arturs Silovs posted a 14–5–1 record with a 2.41 GAA in 21 AHL games, along with 10 NHL appearances (2–6–1) with Vancouver.
Players to Watch — Canucks:
- Christian Wolanin ranks 15th among the AHL's top 20 defensemen with 40 points in 58 games (4G/36A).
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