Thanks to a Danila Klimovich double-overtime goal, the Abbotsford Canucks skated away with a 4-3 victory in Game 1 of the 2025 Calder Cup Finals. The win was a team effort, as Abbotsford was able to halt the Charlotte Checkers eight-game win steak. While there were many impressive performances, here are three standouts from Game 1.
Artūrs Šilovs
Like he has all post-season, Artūrs Šilovs stepped up massively. He stopped 51 of the 54 shots he faced, which included all 23 the Checkers fired at him during overtime. Whether it was breakaways or scrambles in front of the crease, Šilovs found a way to keep the puck out of his net for the majority of the night.
The most encouraging part about Šilovs' performance is that he didn't allow the late goal in the first period to define his night. Allowing a goal from distance with one second remaining in a period can derail a goaltender, but that was not the case for Šilovs, as he stopped 27 of 28 the rest of the way. With performance like the one on Friday night, it is easy to see why Šilovs is the front-runner for Calder Cup Playoffs MVP.
Max Sasson
Max Sasson was arguably the Canucks most impactful forward in Game 1. He scored on the power play in the first, recorded the primary assist on the game-winner and finished the night with five shots on goal. Now with points in four straight games, Sasson is showing why he deserves a long look at the NHL level next season.
Abbotsford Canucks Take Game 1 Of The 2025 Calder Cup Finals In a 4–3 Double-Overtime Win Against The Charlotte Checkers
The <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/vancouver-canucks/latest-news/the-abbotsford-canucks-road-to-the-2025-calder-cup-final">Abbotsford Canucks</a>’ Calder Cup Finals matchup against the Charlotte Checkers has officially begun, with the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/ahl">AHL</a> Canucks winning 4–3 in double-overtime in Game 1 tonight. Max Sasson opened the scoring in the series on the power play, with Nate Smith, Ty Mueller, and Danila Klimovich finding the back of the net as well. Artūrs Šilovs started his 19th consecutive game of the Calder Cup Playoffs, stopping an astounding 51 of 54 shots against.
While Sasson's offensive performance was impressive, his work in the defensive zone really stuck out. He helped Abbotsford go five for five on the penalty kill and came up with some key draws throughout the game. Despite this only being his second year at the pro level, Sasson is proving to be a leader on the ice and someone that Manny Malhotra can rely upon in every situation.
Sammy Blais
Games like Friday are why the Canucks brought in Sammy Blais this season. He was a wrecking ball once again, while also having an offensive impact with two primary assists. Blais also had three shots, which included the first one of the series for either team.
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As the series goes on, Blais' experience is going to become more and more important. He has a Stanley Cup ring and understands what needs to be done in order to become a champion. Overall, Blais stepped up in Game 1, with his performance having a significant impact on the Canucks taking a 1-0 series lead.
2025 Calder Cup Final Schedule:
Game 1: Abbotsford 4, Charlotte 3 (2OT)
Game 2: Sunday, June 15 @ Charlotte, 1:00 pm PT
Game 3: Tuesday, June 17 @ Abbotsford, 7:00 pm PT
Game 4: Thursday, June 19 @ Abbotsford, 7:00 pm PT
*Game 5: Saturday, June 21 @ Abbotsford, 6:00 pm PT
*Game 6: Monday, June 23 @ Charlotte, 4:00 pm PT
*Game 7: Wednesday, June 25 @ Charlotte, 4:00 pm PT
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