The Abbotsford Canucks score a thrilling 4-2 win over Tucson, fueled by late third-period goals and standout performances from Lekkerimaki and Bains.
Canucks Rally Late to Beat Tucson 4-2
The Abbotsford Canucks are back in form! After restocking their lineup, the team has grabbed points in four of their last five games. Friday night at Rogers Forum saw them light up the scoreboard in the third period, cruising past the Tucson Roadrunners 4-2.
Jonathan Lekkerimaki and Arshdeep Bains netted goals less than three minutes apart in the final frame, giving the Canucks a decisive edge.
Wouters Opens Scoring, Tucson Strikes Back
Captain Chase Wouters got Abbotsford off to a flying start, scoring just 3:15 into the first period. Tucson’s Austin Poganski answered swiftly, tying the game just over four minutes later.
Despite Tucson dominating the latter portion of the first—outshooting Abbotsford 19-9—Canucks goalie Nikita Tolopilo stood tall, keeping the score even at one after twenty minutes.
Power Play Drama and Second-Period Tension
Tucson maintained control early in the second, with Dmitri Simashev putting the Roadrunners ahead at 10:25. But Abbotsford’s power play struck at 15:05 when Mackenzie MacEachern deflected a Kirill Kudryavtsev shot, evening the score at two.
Tolopilo remained a brick wall, facing 12 shots in the second while allowing just one goal. The teams entered the third tied 2-2, leaving fans on the edge of their seats.
Lekkerimaki and Bains Seal the Win
The third period belonged to Abbotsford. Lekkerimaki, who now has goals in five consecutive games, and Bains scored to give the Canucks a comfortable lead. Bains, in his return, led all players with two points. Both Lekkerimaki and Nils Aman finished the night at +2, highlighting their impact.
Notable Debuts and Standout Performances
Forward Lukas Reichel made his Abbotsford debut but didn’t record a shot, finishing at -1. Meanwhile, defenceman Jett Woo made his home debut, adding seven penalty minutes, including a first-period fight with Tucson’s Ben McCartney.
Tolopilo stopped 33 shots to earn his third win of the season. Abbotsford went one for two on the power play and killed their lone penalty successfully.
Fans Gear Up for Saturday’s Christmas Game
Friday’s game drew 3,538 fans, who witnessed an exciting night of hockey. The teams face off again on Saturday at 2 p.m. for the ‘Christmas Game,’ featuring Santa Claus, live brass music, and festive socks for the first 1,500 attendees.
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