Abbotsford Canucks winger Danila Klimovich (#18) looks to shoot the puck past San Jose Barracuda forward Tanner Kaspick (#41) during the Canucks 3-2 win over the Barracuda at Abbotsford Centre on Saturday JAN 3, 2024. (Abbotsford Canucks)

by Marko Ukalovic

The San Jose Barracuda headed into the All-Star break on a losing note.

The Abbotsford Canucks scored three unanswered goals in the second period to overcome a two-goal deficit in 3-2 victory over its Pacific Division rival on Saturday evening at the Abbotsford Centre.

Abbotsford head into the break winning two of its last three games. San Jose headed into the break losing two of its past three games.

San Jose (14-22-7-0) drew first blood in the early in the first period with an even strength goal. Thomas Bordeleau’s wrist’s shot was redirected past Canucks goalie Nikita Tolopilo by Ethan Cardwell for his 13th goal of the season at the 4:55 mark.

The Barracuda doubled its lead near the halfway mark of the second period with a power play goal. Kyle Rau set up Cole Cassels from behind the net with a pass out to the slot and Cassels blasted a one timer past Tolopilo for his sixth goal of the season at the 9:15 mark.

Abbotsford (23-14-3-2) began their comeback with a 5-on-3 power play goal just over three minutes later. Linus Karlsson picked up a puck along the boards. The Swedish right winger skated in and fired a rocket past ‘Cuda goalie Georgi Romanov for his 10th goal of the season at the 12:52 mark.

The Canucks scored the equalizer late in the middle frame when former ‘Cuda defenseman Nick Cicek burned his ex-team. Arshdeep Bains found Cicek while falling down on the ice with a pass and Cicek beat Romanov with a wrist shot for his third goal of the season at the 18:32 mark.

Abbotsford made San Jose for its undisciplined play with its second power play goal with 12 seconds left in the period. Max Sasson scored a tic-tac-toe goal with a wrist shot from the slot for his 13th goal of the season.

San Jose failed to score the equalizer late in the third period as they ended the game short-handed when Ethan Frisch went to the sinbin for interference.

Tolopilo finished the game stopping 24 of the 26 shots he faced to earn the victory. Romanov made 19 saves on 22 shots in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished 1-for-3 on the power play. Abbotsford went 2-for-6.

The Three Stars of the Game: 1) Karlsson 2) Sasson 3) Cicek.

UP NEXT: San Jose hosts the AHL All-Star Classic at Tech CU Arena on Sunday 2/4 with the Skills Competition and Monday 2/5 with the All-Star Game.