It’s Game-4 of the Calder Cup Final for the Abbotsford Canucks Thursday night, leading the best-of-seven series against the Charlotte Checkers two wins to one.
In a perfect world, they wrap thing up at home on Saturday night in Game-5, but of course, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. It’s one game, one period, one shift at a time.
In the 2-3-2 series format, as in two in Charlotte, three in Abbotsford, two back in Charlotte if necessary, the Canucks do indeed have the opportunity to eventually close this thing out on the weekend, following the 6-1 victory in Game-3 on Tuesday night.
In that match, the visiting Checkers had a 1-0 lead through the first 26-minutes before Abbotsford answered. Tied 1-1 after two periods, the Canucks took over, with Linus Karlsson and Arshdeep Bains both going on to have four point nights for Abby.
Where it matters most, in net, Arturs Silovs has been remarkable. Last season’s accidental Vancouver postseason goalie, who shined at times on the big stage, has been nothing but stellar at the AHL level. Over 21 games in the Calder Cup playoffs, he has a goals against average of 1.94 and a save percentage of .932.
That should get the job done.
At the other end, former Minnesota Wild and San Jose Sharks regular Kaapo Kähkönen hasn’t been too shabby either. Over 15 postseason games, he’s at 2.04 and .911 respectively.
Puck drop at the Abbotsford Centre is a little after 7 pm pacific.
