Tonight was fun…#AbbotsfordCanucks pic.twitter.com/1rKIzvvTLK
— X – Abbotsford Canucks (@abbycanucks) October 23, 2021
The Abbotsford Canucks won their first-ever home game, with a thrilling 3-2 win in overtime on Friday night against the Henderson Silver Knights (Vegas Golden Knights affiliate). The team freshly relocated to the Fraser Valley after eight seasons in Utica, NY. Which was something that Canucks fans had been calling for for years. The Abbotsford Centre filled to 50% capacity due to COVID-19 protocols but will soon be upgraded to 100% on the 26th. Anyways, it was rocking for the team’s first home game, which gave the Canucks some extra energy.
Scoring opened in the first period on Justin Bailey’s 100th career AHL goal, on a beautiful bank pass from Surrey native Noah Juulsen. The goal was a historic one since it was the first-ever home goal by the Abbotsford Canucks. Bailey deking and scoring then crashing into the post, quickly jumped up and celebrated hard with the crowd erupting. However, the lead was quickly lost, and the game was tied at one heading into the third period.
Henderson took the lead in the third until Vancouver Canucks 2021 2nd round pick Danila Klimovich set up John Stevens to tie up the game for his third point in four games. Klimovich, who’s in his first season in North America after playing all his hockey in Belarus, has looked quite good so far especially considering lots of scouting reports said he was very raw in terms of in-game instincts. But, so far, it seems like he’s fitting in and understanding head coach Trent Cull’s system.
Heading into overtime, the game’s story and much of the Baby Canucks’ season so far was penalties, mainly how many of them they are taking. Taking eight penalties throughout the game, which generally would hurt a team a lot, but they have a good penalty kill, and Henderson took eight as well.
Delta’s own Nic Petan and Bailey helped set up Madison Bowey for the OT winner at the 2:44 mark, giving the Canucks their first-ever home win! The Canucks take on the Silver Knights on Sunday, October 24th at 4 pm in Abbotsford.