Abbotsford Canucks check-in: Three straight losses, game postponed

The Vancouver Canucks haven’t been playing games over the past few weeks but let’s check in on their AHL affiliate in Abbotsford.

Abbotsford started the year with a homestand against the Bakersfield Condors, who are the AHL affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers. The Canucks headed into those games with a 10-8-2 record.

Jack Rathbone has been out of the lineup dealing with an injury. Before the injury, he had one goal and five assists in six AHL games. He last played on December 4.

The homestand started with a 6-2 loss to the Condors on January 6. Madison Bowey and Sheldon Rempal got the only two goals for the Canucks. It was a rough game for Michael DiPietro as he let in six goals on 28 shots.

The following night, it was much a closer game. Abbotsford built up a 3-1 lead in the third period but ended up losing 4-3 in overtime. Spencer Martin got the start and he stopped 27 out of 31 Bakersfield shots. John Stevens, Justin Bailey and Noah Juulsen got the goals for the Canucks.

Bailey in particular impressed. He got the assist on Stevens’ shorthanded goal and blasted a slap shot for Abbotsford’s second of the game.

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Bailey currently is third on Abbotsford in goals with eight and is fifth in points with 14.

Vancouver’s 2021 second-round pick Danila Klimovich had a rough night. First, he ended up taking a puck to the face but fortunately, he was alright.

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He did not play a single shift in the third period and it was probably due to this poor backcheck late in the second which led to the Condors’ tying goal.

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“That was a coaching decision,” said Abbotsford head coach Trent Cull on Klimovich not getting a shift in the third per Canucks Army’s Chris Faber.

A couple of nights later, the Canucks were back in action against Bakersfield at the Abbotsford Centre. Unfortunately, Abbotsford got blanked 4-0. Arturs Silovs got the start and he stopped 27 out of 31 shots. The Condors’ Stuart Skinner stopped all 21 Canucks shots.

Before the game, several players entered COVID protocol and that included Will Lockwood, Jett Woo and Carson Focht. So Abbotsford played with a depleted lineup.

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“We are dealing with a lot of adversity,” said Cull after the game. ” I feel bad for the fans. Our guys are trying their best and some new guys are getting an opportunity, but I don’t mean to make excuses. I feel bad for our home fans. We want to show you more, but unfortunately, we are just trying to deal with our situation.”

Klimovich also celebrated his 19th birthday on Sunday and Cull was impressed by the Belarusian this time around.

“I thought he played really well tonight, actually,” said Cull per Faber.

The Canucks were supposed to close out their homestand against the Condors on Monday night but it was announced in the morning that the game was postponed.

Up next is a three-game road trip for the AHL Canucks. They go to San Diego to take on the Gulls on January 14 and 15 and then take on the Ontario Reign on January 17. The Canucks return home to take on the Gulls on January 22 and 23.