The biggest home crowd in Abbotsford Canucks history was given a memorable show on Friday (Oct. 28).
More than 6,500 fans packed the Abbotsford Centre, and while there have been fireworks all week for Diwali - there were even more offensive explosions on ice in a 7-3 Canucks win over the San Diego Gulls.
The goals came often and early for Abbotsford, with assistant captain John Stevens scoring just 1:57 into the game. Newly-acquired Kyle Rau made it 2-0 at 6:38 and Will Lockwood put the Canucks up 3-0 at 14:17. Rau added a second goal at 19:09 and the Canucks were up 4-0 to the delight of the 6,517 in attendance.
Puck officially dropped for season two at home for the @abbycanucks pic.twitter.com/Qjr2dfZmyG
— Ben Lypka (@BenLypka) October 29, 2022
Canucks forward Linus Karlsson and defenceman Christian Wolanin pushed the pace offensively and both recorded two assists in the opening frame. Karlsson, in particular, looked dangerous on almost every shift in the game.
WOW OH RAU 🤩
— Abbotsford Canucks (@abbycanucks) October 29, 2022
You couldn't ask for a prettier set up 👌 pic.twitter.com/VsqIgTLOjM
The Gulls fought back in the second period when Axel Andersson scored on Canucks starting goalie Collin Delia with a shot through traffic. However, that momentum was stifled when Lockwood scored his second of the game on a shorthanded breakaway. San Diego’s Austin Strand made it a 5-2 game after 40 minutes on another screened point shot.
Will Lockwood scores his second of the night
— Cody Severtson (@CodySevertson) October 29, 2022
this time on the PK and it's the most "AHL goal" I think I've ever seen#AbbyCanucks #Canucks pic.twitter.com/q1iSHYrNvb
San Diego’s Brayden Tracey scored a power play goal at 3:29 of the third to make it 5-3, but that’s when “the shift” happened.
Mother of god, Jett Woo. 👀 pic.twitter.com/wK703mTyAx
— 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀 Faber 🔥🎙 (@ChrisFaber39) October 29, 2022
Canucks defenceman Jett Woo absolutely clobbered Gulls forward Jacob Perrault and on the ensuing turnover Justin Dowling scored to put Abbotsford up 6-3. Karlsson added a spectacular power play goal at 13:50 to make it a 7-3 final.
Karlsson again with some great work on the PP makes it 7-3 @abbycanucks pic.twitter.com/KwXoseEXEi
— Ben Lypka (@BenLypka) October 29, 2022
Dowling and Karlsson led the Canucks with three points apiece, while Lockwood, Rau, Wyatt Kalnyuk and Wolanin all had multi-point games. Delia made 17 saves for his first win as a Canuck. Lockwood and Phil Di Giuseppe led the way with five shots apiece and Abbotsford outshot San Diego 30-20.
Brady Keeper, stitches on the dome and all, takes exception to a massive hit on Chase Wouters and immediately pummels San Diego's Josh Healey
— Cody Severtson (@CodySevertson) October 29, 2022
Some really impressive efforts from the AHL and NHL club tonight#AbbyCanucks #Canucks pic.twitter.com/AKCha43Z1x
The rookie Karlsson has been red-hot so far this season and already has eight points in five games. He said he was satisfied with his game overall today after what he said were challenges adjusting to the AHL early. This season marks his debut in North America after spending last year in the Swedish Hockey League and previous seasons in the Sweden-based HockeyAllSvenskan.
“It’s fast and it’s a good league,” he said, of his time so far in the AHL. “You don’t have much time with the puck. There are many good players out there and the rink is so much smaller in Sweden than here. You have to make quick plays here.”
The 22-year-old arrived with some hype and has so far lived up to his billing.
"It was amazing to play in front of this crowd. It was fun to be here and we're looking forward to tomorrow."
— Abbotsford Canucks (@abbycanucks) October 29, 2022
Linus Karlsson spoke to the media following Abbotsford's 7-3 victory pic.twitter.com/4g4xpWLqM1
Abbotsford head coach Jeremy Colliton had praise for the rookie forward.
“He’s a very smart player and obviously has a touch around the net,” he said. “He finds a way and wins a lot of battles to have the puck especially in the offensive zone. There’s obviously a lot there and he’s still getting used to the league and details of playing at the next level. It’s exciting that he’s had some success early to help with his confidence.”
Friday marked Colliton’s first game at the Abbotsford Centre and he stated that the energy provided his team some jump early.
“It was excellent and there was some great energy in the building,” he said. “It doesn’t hurt when you score seven goals, but it’s up to us. We have to handle it the right way - take one extra stride to make a check, back check, finish your checks. But for the most part it was a positive tonight.”
“It was excellent. Great energy in the building. You know it doesn’t hurt when you score seven goals, but it’s up to us to handle that in the right way.”
— Abbotsford Canucks (@abbycanucks) October 29, 2022
Jeremy Colliton spoke to the media following Abbotsford's 7-3 victory pic.twitter.com/taIEqhbCL6
Colliton said he liked the way his team started and didn’t allow the Gulls to regain the momentum in the second period.
“When a team has a really good start it’s just human nature to try and top it,” he said. “But you don’t need better, you need the same. We fell into that trap a bit in the second.”
He also had positive words for his defence, which has been cherry-picked by the parent team in Vancouver. He also confirmed that he intends to keep Woo as a defenceman and thought he had a solid game.
.@MayorHenryBraun with one his final acts as mayor of @City_Abbotsford - dropping the puck at this years home opener - pic.twitter.com/4GedLpHGXY
— Ben Lypka (@BenLypka) October 29, 2022
The game also featured the Canucks honouring outgoing Abbotsford mayor Henry Braun and the departing council members. Braun dropped the ceremonial first puck in what is likely his last official act as mayor.
The Canucks and Gulls meet on Saturday (Oct. 28) on Diwali Night. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m.
Fans hanging out meeting Wolanin, Di Giuseppe and Wouters post-game pic.twitter.com/2CXcWS2lnA
— Ben Lypka (@BenLypka) October 29, 2022
