Time away from the Abbotsford Centre has been a good thing for the Abbotsford Canucks.
The club is in the midst of one of its longest road trips of the season and has already gone a perfect 3-0.
They opened the six-game swing with a 4-2 win over the Bakersfield Condors in California on Nov. 19 and then headed to Nevada for a pair of games against the Henderson Silver Knights on Friday (Nov. 22) and Saturday (Nov. 23).
Friday's game saw the Canucks explode offensively in a 7-1 rout. The seven goals are the most that Abbotsford has scored on the road since a 7-2 win over the Calgary Wranglers on Nov. 26, 2023.
Abbotsford had entered Friday's game averaging just 2.6 goals per game over the first month and a half of the season.
Tristen Nielsen, Ty Mueller, Chase Wouters, Ty Glover, John Stevens, Danila Klimovich and Kirill Kudryavtsev all tallied for Abbotsford in the win. The Canucks led 3-1 after one and scored another three in the second period to cruise to the win.
Klimovich and McWard take advantage of the space during a four-on-four and it's 6-1 Abbotsford. Klimovich has seven goals now on the season
鈥� Ben Lypka (@BenLypka)
Rookie goalie Ty Young, making his third straight start, stopped 29 saves for his second AHL win. It was also a great night for forward Nils 脜man, who had three points. Nielsen, Mueller, Stevens and Wouters all had two points.
The game also featured the returns of forward Jonathan Lekkerim盲ki and defenceman Mark Friedman. Lekkerim盲ki was sent back to Abbotsford after some time in Vancouver, while Friedman played his first game since suffering an injury on Oct. 29.
The strong play continued on Saturday, with the Canucks blanking Henderson 2-0.
Goalie Nikita Tolopilo recorded his first career AHL shutout in the win. Abbotsford got goals from Lekkerim盲ki and Nielsen in the win. Lekkerim盲ki now has six goals in nine AHL games this season.
Jonathan Lekkerim盲ki strips the puck and cashes in off a cheeky move to slide the puck through the five-hole.
鈥� Dave Hall (@davehall1289)
The team remains on the road for a rematch against the Condors in Bakersfield on Tuesday (Nov. 26). The trip continues with games against the San Jose Baracuda on Friday (Nov. 29) and Saturday (Nov. 30).
The Canucks return home to host the Colorado Eagles on Dec. 7.
