The Abbotsford Canucks started their semifinal series off on the right foot, as they defeated the Coachella Valley Firebirds 3-1 in Game 1. Jett Woo and Guillaume Brisebois found the back of the net, while Danila Klimovich's first of the post-season served as the winner. As for Artūrs Šilovs, he had an impressive night, stopping 29 of the 30 shots he faced. 

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Despite a nightmare start, which involved being scored on in the first minutes, the AHL Canucks were able to control the game for the majority of the night. They rebounded for the early tally with three of their own in the first, and were able to keep pressing throughout the game. Then in the third, Abbotsford deployed a more defensive style, which clogged up the middle of the ice and forced the Firebirds to take shots from distance. 

One impressive part of this game was the Canucks ability to stay disciplined. There were some questionable plays and hits in the game that went uncalled, but instead of reacting, Abbotsford stayed focused on the task at hand and was able to pick up the win. The good news is it appears no Canucks players sustained injuries, which means they should have a full lineup for Game 2. 

Going back to Šilovs, he looked decisive in net. While there were some nervous moments, he controlled the play well and didn't give up many rebounds in scoring positions. With just one goal allowed in his last two games, it appears that Šilovs is going to be a significant difference-maker in this series. 

Lastly, Abbotsford did a great job of getting in Nikke Kokko's crease and making the Seattle Kraken's prospects' night a difficult one. All three goals scored by the Canucks were from in tight, with two being generated from passes that came from behind the net. If Abbotsford can keep winning these net-front battles in the offensive zone, they should have plenty of success in this series. 

In the end, the Canucks were the better team, and have now put themselves in a great position. Abbotsford continually created chances and were able to match the physical play of Coachella Valley. If the Canucks can produce a similar performance in Game 2, they could be headed home with a chance to sweep their semifinal series. 

Scoring Summary:

1st Period:

CV: 1:36- Ryan Winterton (1) from Brandon Biro and Ryan Jones
ABB: 9:26- Jett Woo (2) from Linus Karlsson
ABB: 10:31- Danila Klimovich (1) from Ty Mueller
ABB: 16:45- Guillaume Brisebois (1) from Phillip Di Giuseppe

2nd Period:

No Scoring

3rd Period:

No Scoring 

Game 2: at Acrisure Arena: Saturday, May 3 @ 6:00 pm PT

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