The Abbotsford Canucks kicked off December on a positive note, with a pair of decisive wins over the Colorado Eagles inside the Abbotsford Centre on Saturday (Dec. 7) and Sunday (Dec. 8).
Saturday was the first-ever Rock 'n' Roll Night for the Canucks and they grooved over Colorado with a 6-1 win.
Forward Linus Karlsson returned after a lengthy absence due to injury and scored just 12 seconds into the game. Karlsson hadn't played since Oct. 18 and his return was almost as satisfying as a Slash guitar solo.
COME ON FEEL THE NOISE 馃挜
鈥� Abbotsford Canucks (@abbycanucks)
Karlsson wasted no time getting back to it!
Jonathan Lekkerim盲ki made it 2-0 Canucks just 90 seconds later and Arshdeep Bains put Abbotsford up 3-0 just seven minutes. The pair hit the Eagles with their best shot, made the fans twist and shout and it was more than a feeling at the AC. The Eagles got one past goalie Ty Young at 17:18 to make it 3-1 after one.
HERE HE GOES AGAIN SCORING GOALLLSSS 馃幎
鈥� Abbotsford Canucks (@abbycanucks)
Forward Dino Kambeitz added his fourth in the middle frame, while Karlsson and Lekkerim盲ki scored again in the third to reach the 6-1 final. The performances of Karlsson and Lekkerim盲ki were arguably the greatest showings by a Swede at a rock and roll night since Europe released the hit single "The Final Countdown" in 1986.
Lekk's just get another one 馃し
鈥� Abbotsford Canucks (@abbycanucks)
Abbotsford's penalty kill was a perfect eight for eight on Saturday and they out shot Colorado 29-25. Karlsson led the team with six shots on goal, while Lekkerim盲ki recorded five. Both Bains and Lekkerim盲ki had three points, while Karlsson, Ty Mueller and Christian Wolanin had two. Lekkerim盲ki, Mueller, Wolanin and Cole McWard all finished at a +3.
Young made 24 saves for his third career AHL win. He's won three of his last four starts.
The game featured a special appearance of the Abbotsford Centre's guitar hall of fame, which displays several autographed guitars and merchandise of some of the top bands to play at the AC including KISS, ZZ Top, Blink 182 and Our Lady Peace. It was available to view in section 101. One lucky fan also received a special autographed Abbotsford Canucks guitar.
Reported attendance on Saturday was 3,730.
Sunday wasn't rock and roll night, but the Canucks still made sweet music in a 5-2 win.
Abbotsford got ahead early again, with Wolanin (1:20) and Nils Aman (2:54) giving the Canucks a 2-0 lead less than three minutes in. Colorado cut the lead to one with a goal at 16:42.
Wolly put the puck through the Blank Space 馃幆
鈥� Abbotsford Canucks (@abbycanucks)
The game then turned into the Lekkerim盲ki, as the rookie scored goals in the second and third period to put the Canucks up. Nate Smith also added a goal in the third, with the Eagles adding a late marker.
Lekkerim盲ki now has 10 goals and 14 points in 14 AHL games this season. He's second in the AHL for goals by a rookie and he also leads Abbotsford in both goals and points. The game also featured the return of goalie Arturs Silovs, who made 16 saves for his second AHL win this season. It's possible that Silovs will see more time in Abbotsford with Vancouver starter Thatcher Demko expected to return soon.
Lekki knows about scoring goals all too well!
鈥� Abbotsford Canucks (@abbycanucks)
Reported attendance on Sunday was 3,542.
The Canucks now sit third in the Pacific Division at 12-10-0-1. The team next hosts the Manitoba Moose on Saturday (Dec. 13) and Sunday (Dec. 14). Saturday is the team's annual Teddy Bear Toss game, while Sunday the club will be giving away Manny Malhotra bobbleheads to the first 2,000 fans in a special promotion.
