At 2:05 pm PT on May 26, the Abbotsford Canucks have the chance to advance to the 2025 Calder Cup Playoff Conference Finals. They’ll have one more chance to do so after dropping Game 4 3–1 on Friday night against the Colorado Eagles. Here are some things Abbotsford will need to consider in order to win Game 5.
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Click On The Power Play
Throughout Abbotsford’s playoff run this year, the power play has been one part that remains inconsistent. These struggles were prominent even during their first-round matchup against the Tucson Roadrunners. As it stands, Abbotsford is fourth among all active Calder Cup Playoff teams in power play percentage with 20%. In their series against Colorado, they have scored twice in 10 opportunities, but have not scored a power play goal in their past five chances. While this is not a bad number on average, they have also been given the most power play opportunities of all teams still playing — due to the fact that they have played at least three more games than the rest of the teams. Taking advantage of special team opportunities is important during playoff time, especially when Abbotsford’s penalty kill has been so hot.
Stay Disciplined
Sammy Blais has arguably been one of the best performers of the AHL Canucks’ playoff run. He currently leads his team in points with three goals and eight assists. With that being said, he has also been the most undisciplined — particularly during this series. Blais currently has 50 penalty minutes in 11 games, which leads all players participating in the 2025 Calder Cup Playoffs. He has been given three 10-minute misconducts this series and was kicked out of the team’s 5–3 Game 2 loss. The importance of staying disciplined shone last night, after Danila Klimovich’s roughing penalty helped Colorado extend their lead to 3–0. While Abbotsford’s penalty kill has been scorching hot in the playoffs, surrendering their first power play goal after 30 penalties taken, the team can’t continue being undisciplined while hoping to win. A stretch of penalties taken in Game 5 could make or break the series for them.
Start Šilovs
Artūrs Šilovs has started every single game for Abbotsford in this year’s playoffs. Though he has faced his fair share of difficult games, particularly Game 2s, he remains one of the top remaining goaltenders in the playoffs. As well as his current 1.89 GAA and .928 SV%, Šilovs has a track record of coming up big for his team when they need it most. Despite playing arond a game and a half more than the next goaltender, Abbotsford should trust their goaltender regardless of whether he has been the busiest in the playoffs or not. After all, he’s gotten them this far already.
2025 Calder Cup Division Final Preview: 1) Colorado Eagles Versus 2) Abbotsford Canucks
Last week, the Abbotsford Canucks did something they’d never done in franchise history — clinched a spot in the Calder Cup Division Finals. They <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/vancouver-canucks/latest-news/takeaways-from-the-abbotsford-canucks-second-round-series-against-the-coachella-valley-firebirds">defeated</a> the Coachella Valley Firebirds in four games to send themselves to the final eight of the 2025 Calder Cup Playoffs. Tonight, May 16, is the first game of their third-round series in which they’ll take on the conference-leading Colorado Eagles.
Play Their Game
This is the first time Abbotsford has ever been in this particular situation — a Division Final elimination game. They faced elimination in Game 3 against Tucson, but have also encountered this scenario in past seasons. Prior to this season, the AHL Canucks had yet to play in a Division Final, let alone in an elimination game during it. Expectedly, the pressure is on. To help secure a win, Abbotsford will need to push any nerves about the outcome to the side and play the game the way they know they can.
Game 5 will take place on Monday, May 26 at 2:05 pm PT.
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