Tag: Abbotsford Canucks

The San Jose Sharks Sasha Chemelvski who scored the game winning goal in the shootout against the Abbotsford Canucks on Sun Nov 14, 2021 (file photo by nhl.com)

On the Barracuda podcast with Marko:

#1 The San Jose Barracuda (4-4-1-0) just edged the Abbotsford Canucks (4-4-2-0) 3-2 in a shootout win when the Barracuda’s Sasha Chemelvski scored on Canucks goaltender Michael DiPietro.

#2 Chmelevski scored the game winning goal in the shootout stanza it had to be something special to get the game winner.

#3 Marko to give you an idea how close this contest was the Barracuda and Canucks didn’t score a goal in the overtime stanza and no one was giving in in this tight contest.

#4 The Barracuda were coming off a 7-1 blow out the previous night Friday as the Barracuda goalie Alexi Melnichuk started and gave up four goals and Zachary Emond later came in and gave up three goals on five shots he faced in six minutes. Last night in game 2 of the series the Barracuda had Alexi Melnichuk in net who faced 22 shots and allowed two goals.

#5 Marko, the Barracuda return back to SAP Center on Wed Nov 17th to host the Bakersfield Condors (6-4-1-1) who are in third in the Pacific Division. The Cuda would like to continue with a second straight win tell us how you see this match up on Wednesday night.

Join Marko for the San Jose Barracuda podcasts each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

The Abbotsford Canucks right winger Damila Klimovich (46) puts one on net against the San Jose Barracuda goaltender Alexi Melnichuk (1) who makes a save on Sun Nov 14, 2021 in Abbotsford BC (photo by the Abbotsford Canucks)

by Marko Ukalovic

ABBOTSFORD, British Colombia—Sasha Chemlevski scored the lone goal in the shootout as the San Jose Barracuda beat the Abbotsford Canucks 3-2 on Sunday afternoon at Abbotsford Centre.

San Jose split the two-game series with their newest Pacific Division rival in the first ever series between the two squads. The Vancouver Canucks moved its AHL team from Utica, New York to the border town 45 miles south of Vancouver.

A scoreless first period saw the Barracuda out shoot the Canucks 10-5 in the opening frame. Both goalies were on their game early on as both Alexei Melnichuk and Michael Dipierto were perfect.

Abbotsford (4-4-2-1) drew first blood early in the second period. Will Lockwood knocked Artemi Kniazev off the puck off from behind the net. Lockwood centered the puck out in front to Chase Wouters who buried the puck past Melnichuk for his first career AHL goal at the 3:35 mark.

San Jose (4-4-1-0) answered back just over a minute later. Zachary Gallant skated out to the point from behind the net and he sent a shot on net that pinballed off of DiPierto over to Evan Weinger who punched home the puck in the crease for his second goal of the season at the 4:52 mark.

Weinger has two goals in his past three games.

Abbotsford regained the lead late in the middle frame. Cameron Shilling sent a shot in on net from the left point that Melnichuk wasn’t able to handle and a crashing Jaris Lukosevicius cleaned up the rebound for his second goal of the season at the 15:38 mark.

The Barracuda scored the equalizer in early in the third period. Ryan Merkley found Noah Gregor with a pass at center ice. Gregor skated into the Canucks zone and fired a rolling puck top-shelf past DiPierto for his co-team lead fourth goal of the season at the 7:47 mark.

With the goal, Gregor has a career high six-game point streak for the ‘Cuda.

San Jose had the ice tilted in their favor in the third period as they out shot Abbotsford 12-1.

Not many scoring chances were generated in the overtime period as there were only a combined four shots on goal.

Melnichuk finished the game 20 saves on 22 shots to earn his third victory of the season. DiPierto made 37 saves on 39 shots in the losing effort.

Each goaltender was brilliant in the shootout as nine straight shooters failed to score until Chmelevski’s heroics ended the game.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished 0-for-4 on the power play. Abbotsford was 0-for-6.

The Stars of the Game were: 1) Gregor 2) DiPierto 3) Wouters.

UP NEXT: The Barracuda return home to start a three-game homestand on Wednesday 11/17 as they host the Bakersfield Condors at 7:00pm at SAP Center.

It was quite an introduction for the San Jose Barracuda meeting the Abbotsford Canucks for the first time on Fri Nov 12, 2021 at Abbotsford Centre as goaltender Alexi Melnichuk was later pulled for Zachary Emond (35) (photo by sjbarracuda.com)

by Marko Ukalovic

ABBOTSFORD, British Colombia—The Abbotsford Canucks had their way with the San Jose Barracuda in a 7-1 victory on Friday evening at Abbotsford Centre in the first ever meeting between the two clubs.

The Vancouver Canucks moved their AHL team from Utica, New York to Abbotsford, British Colombia for the 2021-22 season. Abbotsford is right on the Canadian-US border, south of Vancouver.

Abbotsford took control of the game with three unanswered goals in the first period.

Sheldon Rampal opened the scoring with a power play goal just under two minutes into the first period. Nic Petan and Phil Di Giuseppe set up Rampal’s second goal of the season at the 1:57 mark.

It didn’t take long for the Canucks to double its lead. 64 seconds later Jet Woo scored his first goal of the season at the 3:01 mark. Di Giuseppe earned his second point in three minutes with his primary assist on Woo’s goal.

Abbotsford (4-4-2-0) scored their third unanswered goal of the period exactly three minutes later when Woo set up Will Lockwood who beat ‘Cuda goalie Alexei Melnichuk with a shot for his first goal of the season at the 6:01 mark.

San Jose (3-4-1-0) scored its only goal of the game on the power play late in the opening frame on the power play. Jayden Halbgewachs set up Scott Reedy who beat Canuck’s goalie Michael DiPierto with a shot for his fourth goal of the season at the 18:13 mark.

Abottsford scored the lone goal of the second period with its second power play goal late in the second period. Woo set up Vincent Arseneau who put the puck past Melnichuk for his first goal of the season at the 18:23 mark.

Despite outshooting the Canucks 10-6 in the middle frame, the Barracuda were down three goals entering the third period.

The Canucks made the game a laugher in the third period with three more goals to seal the game.

Zachary Emond replaced Melnichuk to start the third period. Melnichuk finished 17 saves on 21 shots as ‘Cuda head coach Roy Sommer looked to change things up in the final frame.

Sheldon Dries, who finished with four points in the game, scored an unassisted goal at the 1:08 mark for his sixth goal of the season.

Just over four minutes later, Rampal scored his second goal of the contest and third of the season at the 5:13 mark.

Adam Brubacher closed out the scoring for Abbotsford with his first goal of the season at the 14:40 mark.

Di Giuseppe finished with four assists on the night and Woo had a three-point night with one goal and two assists.

Di Pierto finished the evening stopping 28 of the 29 shots he faced to earn his fourth victory of the season. Emond made two saves on five shots in mop up duty for the ‘Cuda.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished 1-for-9 on the power play. Abbotsford was 2-for-4.

UP NEXT: San Jose concludes its two-game series with Abbotsford on Sunday 11/14 at 4:00pm at Abbotsford Centre.