The Abbotsford Canucks kicked off their postseason in thrilling fashion, edging out the Tucson Roadrunners 4-3 in Game 1 of their best-of-three series on April 24, 2025. The game, held at the Abbotsford Centre, showcased a fierce battle as both teams vied for an early advantage in the Calder Cup playoffs.
Tristen Nielsen opened the scoring for the Canucks at 9:45 of the first period, but Tucson quickly responded with a goal from Hunter Drew at 18:22, leveling the score at 1-1. The first period ended with both teams tied, but the Canucks surged ahead in the second. Sammy Blais netted two goals, while Linus Karlsson added another, pushing Abbotsford to a commanding 4-1 lead late in the second.
However, the Roadrunners weren’t ready to back down. Just when it seemed the Canucks had the game under control, Tucson struck back with a shorthanded goal from Travis Barron at 18:05 of the second period, cutting the deficit to 4-2. Barron, who had a standout performance, finished the game with three points (one goal, two assists) and played a crucial role in keeping Tucson's hopes alive.
As the third period unfolded, the tension escalated. Tucson continued to apply pressure, and at 7:29, Artem Duda scored, narrowing the gap to 4-3. The Roadrunners were on the verge of forcing overtime when a dramatic moment occurred. With just 35 seconds remaining, the Canucks' net was dislodged, leading to a penalty shot for Tucson. Arturs Silovs, the Canucks’ goaltender, faced the pressure head-on and made a crucial save against Max Szuber, preserving Abbotsford's lead and securing the win.
Silovs reflected on the pivotal moment, stating, "The ref sees what he sees. He saw movement and he made the call for me. It was important for me to make that save; I was really mentally prepared for that." This wasn't the first time Silovs had faced a penalty shot due to a similar infraction; he had been called for dislodging the net in a previous game against the San Jose Barracuda in 2023.
Despite the win, Canucks head coach Manny Malhotra expressed concerns about his team’s performance. "It was a lot of settling into the game," he noted. "They did exactly what we thought they would do, in terms of their intensity and the way they finish all their hits. The way we handled some of that pressure needs to be better and a little cleaner to get us out of the zone quicker." He praised Silovs for his composure, especially during the penalty shot, but acknowledged that the team could improve moving forward.
Sammy Blais, a seasoned playoff veteran, echoed Malhotra’s sentiments. "Playoffs is always more fun," Blais said, emphasizing the excitement of postseason play. "When I was coming to the rink today, I could feel it in my body that it was going to be a fun one. It’s way more exciting to play in these types of games, and I just try to bring my experience for the guys and kind of lead the way a little bit." Blais also commented on the team’s tendency to ease off after building a lead, stating, "We went up 4-1 and I think we changed a little bit the way we played. But in playoffs, it doesn’t really matter because we got the win at the end of the day. Tomorrow is a big one and we know they are going to be coming at us hard."
Meanwhile, Linus Karlsson, who contributed a goal, acknowledged that the team needs to refocus for their next matchup. "I think we lost our plan a little bit," he said. "We didn’t get the momentum we wanted, and that is something we need to look at for tomorrow. I didn’t play my best game out there today, so I’m going to reload and do better tomorrow."
The Canucks capitalized on their power play opportunities, going 2 for 6, while Tucson's offense was hampered by penalties, including a five-minute major assessed to captain Austin Poganski for boarding Akito Hirose in the second period. The Roadrunners outshot the Canucks 24-23, with Max Sasson leading Tucson with four shots on goal.
As the series progresses, the stakes heighten for both teams. The Canucks will aim to secure their spot in the next round with a win in Game 2, set for April 25, 2025, at 7 p.m. PT at the Abbotsford Centre. A victory would eliminate Tucson, while a win for the Roadrunners would force a decisive Game 3 on April 26.
Fans are eagerly anticipating the next clash, with the Canucks looking to build on their momentum while Tucson seeks to rebound from a narrow defeat. The atmosphere in Abbotsford is sure to be electric as both teams battle for playoff supremacy.
