Abbotsford Canucks close off nefarious November with win

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The Abbotsford Canucks shut the frustrating chapter of November with an unfamiliar feeling for this season – victory.

The Canucks offence exploded with a 5-2 win over the Tucson Roadrunners on Saturday (Nov. 29) to close the month on a positive note.

Abbotsford won just two of 12 games in November and Saturday marked just the team’s second regulation win on the season.

Early on it looked like Saturday might be following the familiar script for the season, as Noel Nordh put the Roadrunners up 1-0 at 8:07 of the first. However, Abbotsford answered back at 19:41 when Joseph LaBate scored his team-leading sixth of the season on the power play.

Canucks starting goalie Jiri Patera came up with some big saves in the first to keep it 1-1 after one and made 10 saves in the first.

Dino Kambeitz gave the Canucks a 2-1 lead when he scored his first on the season at 12:17 of the second. Rookie Vilmer Alirksson also recorded his first career AHL assist on that goal. Abbotsford controlled play for the majority of the middle frame and out shot Tucson 11-8 in the second.

The third period saw the Canucks turn on the offence even more, with Danila Klimovich scoring his first goal this season at 5:52. Klimovich led the Canucks in goals last season with 25 and had been mired in a goalless slump in 2025-26. He has recorded 36 shots before finally scoring this season.

Nils Aman made it 4-1 Abbotsford at 10:10 of the third and that was also his first goal this season. Klimovich then scored again after blasting a one-timer from the point on the power play and it was suddenly 5-1 Abbotsford at 14:27. Tucson added late goal to reach the 5-2 final.

The Canucks out shot Tucson 28-26 in the win and both Aman and Klimovich had a team-high four shots on goal. Aman and Klimovich both had two point nights in the win and Patera made 24 saves to collect his second win.

The five goals is the most Abbotsford has scored this season, as the previous high mark was four on Oct. 11 and Nov. 12.

Saturday’s win comes off a 4-1 loss to the Roadrunners in Tucson on Friday (Nov. 28). Roadrunners goalie Matthew Vilalta made 30 saves to backstop his team to the win and Abbotsford’s lone goal came from Jonathan Lekkerimaki. The Vancouver Canucks called up Lekkerimaki following Friday’s game.

Abbotsford goalie Aku Koskenvuo made 20 saves in the loss, but the penalty kill hurt the Canucks as they allowed two power play goals to the Roadrunners.

The club’s record now moves to 4-13-1-2 after this weekend and they sit in 10th place in the Pacific Division.

The club finally returns home to take on the Calgary Wranglers on Tuesday (Dec. 2). It marks the first-ever game under the Rogers Forum name. Calgary and Abbotsford meet again on Wednesday (Dec. 3). The team’s annual Teddy Bear Toss is set for Saturday (Dec. 6) when they host the Coachella Valley Firebirds.

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