Abbotsford displayed a home-ice advantage this weekend with a perfect 2-0 record in their homestand. Earlier today, the baby Canucks beat the Henderson Silver Knights 3-0 for their first shutout in franchise history and sweeping their two-game series. Vancouver Canucks 2019 6th round pick Arturs Silovs delivered a 26 save shutout. While Surrey native Nic Petan scored two goals, including the first of the game (also the game-winner) and the empty netter to seal the victory in an uneventful final frame.
WE WIN!!! Great night in net for Silovs with his first shutout AND our franchise's first shutout ever!!! 🙌🙌#AbbotsfordCanucks pic.twitter.com/VxJWyxhpoZ
— Abbotsford Canucks (@abbycanucks) October 25, 2021
The Abbotsford Centre was packed at 50% capacity due to COVID-19 restrictions, but it still provided an energetic atmosphere for the home team. The first period ended with 23 total shots, and the Silver Knights with a slight advantage with 12-11. But both goalies were perfect through 20 minutes. The Canucks finished the first 0/2 on the powerplay, but that goose egg wouldn’t last long while killing off their only penalty.
The second and most eventful period opened with a tripping penalty against Henderson. Petan capitalized on a rebound from Sheldon Rempal’s shot to bury his first goal in blue and green, with Justin Bailey getting the secondary assist. Which interestingly was the only non-unassisted goal of the game. Although it quickly looked like that lead might be lost when Ethan Keppen took a penalty just under 40 seconds later, the Canucks successfully killed it off. Then the powerplay struck again for the Canucks, this time an unassisted wrister off the rush by Sheldon Dries for his 50th career AHL goal and the 2-0 lead! The period ended with shots 14-10 for the Canucks and two more penalties for the Silver Knights that they killed off.
The third was a very quiet period, with each team ending with only four shots apiece, but the Canucks sealed the victory on Petan’s second goal of the game with the Henderson net empty. Silovs only getting challenged in the first 40 minutes of the game, coasting to a 26 save shutout. The Canucks next play on October 29th in another two-game home series against the Ontario Reign, who they split their two games each, taking a win in extra time.