LOVELAND, Colo. – On Wednesday night, the Colorado Eagles faced off against the Abbotsford Canucks for the first time ever in postseason play. The Eagles clinched home-ice advantage on Sunday after a 6-3 victory over the Ontario Reign. This means all three games in the best-of-three first round take place at Blue Arena in Loveland.
FIRST PERIOD
Interviewing Colorado head coach Aaron Schneekloth on Sunday evening, Front Range Hockey asked for one word he would use to describe Abbotsford’s gameplay. Schneekloth’s response? Quickness. Under Abbotsford head coach Jeremy Colliton, the Canucks always have the need for speed in their gameplay. It definitely played a factor in Abbotsford’s scoring on Wednesday, both in skating and puck movement.
The Canucks gained the Eagles zone early in the first. A series of quick passes between four Abbotsford skaters led to forward Arshdeep Bains gathering the puck with his skate before a desperation reach and tap in past a returning Ivan Prosvetov. After the Eagles scored early goals in all three periods during the season finale, the role was reversed against the Canucks. The Bains tally clocked in at 1:56 of the opening frame.
Colorado responded in kind on a mid-period power play. Forward Callahan Burke received a pass in-stride at center ice before dodging an Abbotsford defender and advancing. His subsequent snap shot from the right wing faceoff circle went over the right shoulder of Canucks netminder Zach Sawchenko at 11:50 to tie the game at one a side.
SECOND PERIOD
It took a little bit of time into period two, but Abbotsford answered back. After an extended offensive attack in Colorado’s zone, forward Sheldon Dries slipped into the Eagles’ slot unguarded. A teammate’s pass from behind the goal line — and a quick rip of a shot — made it 2-1 Canucks at 7:13 of the second.
Again, Colorado engaged in call and response on the scoresheet. As forward Tanner Kero intercepted the puck behind Abbotsford’s goal line, he quickly backhanded a shot on net. Fellow forward Ivan Ivan was net front to gain the rebound, smacking the puck past Sawchenko and in at 13:23 of period number two.
Before the end of the second, the Canucks would return the scoring favor. With time winding down after an Eagles power play, Abbotsford broke out for a 3-on-1 rush in Colorado’s end. Defenseman Keaton Middleton was the only Eagles player back until defender Sam Malinski darted in and laid out to defend a pass in front. A centering pass ended up deflecting off Malinski and in. The Canucks gained the lead back to make it 3-2 at 19:33 of the middle regulation frame.
THIRD PERIOD
The last 20 minutes of game play consisted of Colorado scratching and clawing to get the equalizer. However, Abbotsford clamped down, allowing only eight shots on goal for the entire third stanza. Pulling Prosvetov for an extra skater also did not help, as Canucks centerman Linus Karlsson scored an empty-net goal at 19:34 of the third. The 4-2 lead would be the final, with Abbotsford taking Game 1 and a 1-0 series lead.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
Game 2 between Abbotsford and Colorado takes place at 7:05pm MDT / 8:05pm PDT on Friday night. Being a best-of-three series, the Eagles will need to earn wins in both Game 2 and a hypothetical Game 3 on Sunday to advance to round two. Puck drop would be 3:05pm MDT / 4:05pm PDT should Game 3 be needed.