Just like that, the Abbotsford Canucks are one win away from securing their first Calder Cup in franchise history. Carrying a 2–1 series lead into Game 4, Abbotsford scored early to take a 3–2 win against the Charlotte Checkers. Jonathan Lekkerimäki found the back of the net twice tonight, while Arshdeep Bains also had a tally for the AHL Canucks. Artūrs Šilovs had another solid night in net, making 32 saves on 34 shots against. 

Lekkerimäki played in his second game of the series tonight, making a big impact by scoring the opening goal just over a minute into the first period. He and Ty Mueller combined for a golden 2-on-1 chance complete with a slick pass from the latter to capitalize on the net corner left empty by Kaapo Kähkönen. Lekkerimäki wasn’t quite done yet, however, as he tore up the ice to get a partial break and score his second of the night during the third period. He finished the game with four shots. 

The game was scrappy early on, with big hits leveling players on both teams within the first minute. Jett Woo and Oliver Okuliar were both called for roughing less than five minutes in after a tussle broke out following multiple massive stops by Šilovs. Michael Benning took a four-minute penalty for high-sticking to put Abbotsford on the power play, but despite controlling for the majority, they were unable to capitalize on the advantage. Still, the AHL Canucks’ play was noticeably different from the beginning of the series, similar to how it was during Game 3.  

“The first two games they carried play as far as that, setting the tempo,” Abbotsford head coach Manny Malhotra said postgame. “So I like the start of our game, just establishing our forecheck and making plays early and when we had opportunities to capitalize, we did.” 

“I thought the last couple of games we’ve kind of played a full 60 minutes,” Captain Chase Wouters said of the team’s home-ice effort. “It’s big for our group to be able to roll everyone and playing in front of a crowd like that’s pretty special.” 

Abbotsford’s penalty kill has been a story throughout the Calder Cup Playoffs, with tonight being no different. The AHL Canucks took three penalties in the first period and killed them all, with Šilovs making every stop needed. Even so, in their fourth penalty of the game in the third period, Abbotsford surrendered their first home-ice power play goal, ending a streak of 36. This came after Šilovs made a slew of saves while sitting down and fighting traffic around the crease. Abbotsford finished the game with three of four penalties killed off. 

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While both teams exchanged chances in the second period, it was Bains who increased the AHL Canucks’ lead by faking out Checkers defenceman Matt Kiersted and firing the puck past Kähkönen. This was definitely one of the prettier goals scored this postseason, as Bains put his puck-handling skills, weaving the puck like a thread on the ice. 

With the win, Abbotsford is now a single victory away from securing their first Calder Cup in franchise history. Moreover, they have a chance to do so in their final home game of the season, happening on Saturday, June 21. Even so, the AHL Canucks insist that they are focusing on keeping things rolling rather than what a Saturday win could mean. 

“Tomorrow’s a new day. We gotta flip the page. They’re a really good team over there,” Wouters said of moving forward. “It’s going to be a tall task for the next game, so we gotta enjoy this right now, but there’s a lot of work left to do.” 

Scoring Summary: 

1st Period: 

1:15 - ABB: Jonathan Lekkerimäki (2) from Ty Mueller and Christian Wolanin 

2nd Period: 

11:30 - ABB: Arshdeep Bains (6) from Max Sasson and Linus Karlsson 

3rd Period: 

3:47 - ABB: Jonathan Lekkerimäki (3) from Sammy Blais and Ty Mueller 

8:34 - CLT: Kyle Criscuolo (2) from Jack Devine and Eamon Powell 

19:34 - CLT: Jack Devine (1) from Justin Sourdif and John Leonard 

Game 5: Saturday, June 21 @ Abbotsford Centre, 6:00 pm PT 

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