Abbotsford Canucks Live: Arturs Silovs slamming door shut, it’s 3-2 Abby after two in Game 6

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One shot to win it all.

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Amid the sweat and strain in steamy Charlotte, N.C., where it’s 35 degrees Celsius or 95 Fahrenheit, the Abbotsford Canucks know one Game 6 shot on a sloppy and suspect Bojangles Coliseum ice surface could cap their remarkable season.

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It would secure the Calder Cup championship, the first for an AHL affiliate of the parent NHL Canucks, and avoid being dragged into Game 7 on Wednesday against the Checkers. They shoot pucks from any angle at any time and a 199-126 series advantage, including 54, 42, and 40-shot efforts, have the Canucks on alert to force the forechecking issue and not play on their heels.

Three series games have required overtime, including a pair of double-overtimes, and it could come down to somebody playing hero when it matters most. Abbotsford hasn’t lost two-straight games in the post-season and it’s been more than two months since they lost two in a row.

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Mercurial Abbotsford winger Danila Klimovich, who had been in and out of the lineup, played double-overtime hero in Game 1. He also scored in double overtime against the Texas Stars in the Western Conference final. They might name a street after him in Abbotsford if he strikes tonight, should there be an extra session.

Klimovich warmed up by jamming home a loose puck off a mosh pit in the Checkers crease in the second period to draw Abbotsford even 2-2.

However, the telling blow is more likely to be landed by the Canucks’ top line, or the day could be saved by the guy between the pipes.

Linus Karlsson, Arshdeep Bains and Max Sasson have combined for 61 points (25-36) through these playoffs. Karlsson leads playoff scoring with 25 points (13-12), Bains is second with 22 points (7-15), and Sasson eighth with 14 points (5-9). Sasson leads in shots with 72, while Karlsson has 64 and Bains 42.

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Then again, the struggling Jonathan Lekkerimaki scored twice in Game 4, so who knows would could play Game 6 hero? Might even be burly Sammy Blais. He whipped a power-play wrist shot from the face-off circle late in the opening period Monday to narrow the Checkers’ lead to 2-1.

As for Silovs, he has 51, 28 and 32-save wins in the series and his five playoff shutouts are one shy of the league record. Former Canucks goaltender Mika Noronen established the mark by backstopping the Rochester Americans to the 2000 Calder Cup title.

If you aren’t able to watch the game in person, scroll down for the play-by-play updates from tonight’s game. Be sure to hit the refresh button for the latest update.

THIRD PERIOD:

6:24:

Checkers shooting pucks from any angle to surprise Arturs Silovs and maybe slip one by the Abby stopper. There’s 5:45 left in third period. When does Charlotte pull goalie?

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6:15:

Abby is 10 minutes away from claiming the Calder Cup. Expect a big push from Checkers. Three series games have needed OT. Canucks ice the puck on two-straight shifts.

6:11:

Charlotte defenceman Matt Kiersted gone to box for holding at 6:28. Getting the feeling a goal here might just put this one away.

Opportunity knocking here big time.

6:05:

Danila Klimovich with the needless hooking minor at 4:01 with Abby nursing a 3-2 lead. Canucks penalty kill air tight, doing what it has done all through the playoffs.

6:00:

Two chances for Max Sasson to open period at 4-on-4. Gets original shot away from slot and got to his rebound from a sharp angle in effort for the insurance goal.

SECOND PERIOD

End of period. Abby up 3-2. Checkers lead in shots 19-13.

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5:40:

Arturs Silovs with the big deny in dying seconds of period as Checkers are filed on re-direct at top of the crease.

5:37:

Tristen Nielsen with the cross-checking minor in crease at 17:53 as Checkers storm back to try and even the game.

5:35:

Great shift pressure by Abby, Checkers can’t clear, and Linus Karlsson left open at back door to deposit sweet cross-ice feed by Arshdeep Bains at 17:19 to give Canucks their first lead of game at 3-2.

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5:30:

Defenceman Matt Kiersted moves into high slot, takes corner feed, and tests Arturs Silovs at 14:49. He’s above crease to deny chance and good down-low coverage in case of rebound. Abby being outshot 17-9.

5:26:

Hot one-timer from point by Matt Kiersted at 12:42 and Arturs Silovs out high at top of crease to take away openings. Silovs could be the difference tonight. Tie game. Looks sharp. No chance on two goals that beat him.

5:22:

Manny Malhotra won’t like his captain taking a needless slashing penalty at 10:21 in 2-2 game. Arturs Silovs faced to make a couple of tough saves down low before the kill is completed.

5:15:

Max Sasson with the offensive-zone holding infraction at 7:04. No need to take that minor in tight game. Discipline crucial. Forces Arturs Silovs to make glove save off Michael Benning, who has a Grade A rip.

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5:08:

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Must have heard me on Canucks bench. Abby comes right back and gets to the next. Mosh pit develops and it’s Danila Klimovich jamming home a loose puck off wild scramble at 3:44 to make it 2-2.

5:06:

Quiet night for the big line. Max Sasson with one shot, nothing for Linus Karlsson or Arshdeep Bains through 23:08 when Abby badly needs to even this one up. As they say, score not indicative of the play.

FIRST PERIOD

Period ends. Checkers lead 2-1 and up 12-6 in shots.

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4:38:

Trevor Carrick with the swat of puck behind his net and it clears glass for delay-of-game minor. Abby with much-needed power play to gain some momentum and quickly responds. Sammy Blais snaps wrister from top of circle to top shelf at 17:38 to narrow deficit to 2-1.

4:28:

Max Sasson with rare offensive chance at side of the net from sharp angle. Abby then caught up ice and Checkers respond with 3-on-1 rush and give-and-go at top of slot has Jack Devine pulling trigger at 13:14. Arturs Silovs had little chance trying to go post to post in time to negate chance. Checkers up 2-0. Charlotte up 11-4 on shot clock.

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4:25:

Rasmus Asplund and Jett Woo to the box with slashing and cross-checking minors respectively at 11:51.

4:16:

Desperation is working for the Checkers. Carrying the play and up 6-2 on shot clock through 5:30.

4:11:

Checkers keep it coming and it pays off with John Leonard taking feed at top of circle and whipping a wrist shot to the short side and open scoring at 2:49.

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4:24:

Six straight minutes without a whistle and Canucks continue to have trouble exiting their zone and making passes at pace. Only three shots through 11:30.

4:10:

Good O-zone rotation by Checkers and Michael Benning pinches down to test Arturs Silovs.

4:08:

Abby comes right back and does what it does best. Forecheck. Force turnover. Results in a jam-job chance at top of crease.

4:06:

As expected, Checkers push pace on opening shift. Force Canucks to ice the puck. And Abby ices the puck again. Some early nerves. Big night. Huge night.

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3:39:

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Read more about the Abbotsford Canucks:

• Abbotsford Canucks: Resilience is name of game in heat of Calder Cup chase
• Abbotsford Canucks Recap: Charlotte wins 4-3 in OT, series goes back to North Carolina for Game 6
• Canucks: Bains and Karlsson’s Big AHL performances must carry into NHL success

bkuzma@postmedia.com

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