The Abbotsford Canucks committed a form of robbery against the Ontario Reign in California on Wednesday (Feb. 21).
Trailing 1-0 for the majority of the game, Abbotsford got a late goal from Sheldon Dries and then stole another point in the shootout to earn a 2-1 win.
Dries has tied the game up pic.twitter.com/Goc8ZzlN9R
— Ben Lypka (@BenLypka) February 22, 2024
The star of the game was Canucks goalie Nikita Tolopilo, who kept the club in the game throughout the first two periods especially and made 25 saves for the win.
Tolopilo has won three of his last four starts and his record now improves to 11-7 on the season. The Belarus product also has a sparkling goals against average of 2.75 and a save percentage of .907.
His last four games has seen him stop 103 of 111 shots, a save percentage of .927.
The shootout went to an extra shooter, with Abbotsford’s Tristen Nielsen and Linus Karlsson scoring and the Reign only beating Tolopilo once.
Nielsen is money, Reign player also scores pic.twitter.com/aePcrLQmaj
— Ben Lypka (@BenLypka) February 22, 2024
Karlsson scores and Ontario misses. Abbotsford wins 2-1 in the shootout pic.twitter.com/GtU8n9ermn
— Ben Lypka (@BenLypka) February 22, 2024
Another ongoing storyline in Abbotsford is the team’s putrid power play. The Canucks went zero for six on Wednesday and have not scored on the last 15 power play opportunities.
After a brief period of time being ranked 31st in the league for power play percentage, they have now dropped back down to 32nd and last in the AHL. They are 25 for 187 on the season, equal to 13.4 per cent.
REIGNED IN THE WIN 👑 pic.twitter.com/tVxjnSqvzH
— Abbotsford Canucks (@abbycanucks) February 22, 2024
The win was important for the Canucks, as they keep pace in the competitive Pacific Division. They remain in fifth place and have a record of 25-17-3-2.
The club remains on the road for games against the San Jose Barracuda on Friday (Feb. 23) and Saturday (Feb. 24). The next home game occurs on Tuesday (Feb. 27) when the Colorado Eagles come to town.