Abbotsford Canucks Live: Game 6 win will advance Abby to Calder Cup final

National Post

5 hours ago

The heat is on in Abbotsford.
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Not only was the mercury expected to climb to 30 degrees Celsius in the Fraser Valley on Sunday, and actually feel like 34, the temperature inside the Abbotsford Centre will also rise.
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The Abbotsford Canucks hold a 3-2 series lead over the Texas Stars in the AHL best-of-seven Western Conference final and are a victory away from advancing to the Calder Cup championship against the Charlotte Checkers.
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Game 6 before a raucous sold-out Abbotsford audience goes at 6 p.m., and if a seventh game is necessary, it's slated for Monday at 7 p.m. in the valley. The Canucks obviously don't want to be forced into a do-or-die showdown in Game 7 that could end their remarkable season, or shorten rest and prep time for the AHL final.
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The Checkers are the Florida Panthers' affiliate and swept the Laval Rocket in the Eastern Conference final. They will host first two games of the AHL title series starting Friday in North Carolina, with the west winner getting Game 3, 4 and 5 home dates, before the series reverts back to Charlotte.
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As for tonight, the Canucks will look for a hero.
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Maybe somebody snaps a tight game in the third period, or becomes the latest overtime star. Four series games have been decided by one goal and three required overtime. Stars captain Curtis McKenzie of Golden, B.C., delivered the extra-session dagger Friday in Texas in a 2-1 triumph to force Game 6.
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You'd like to think Canucks winger Linus Karlsson is going to have a say in the Game 6 outcome. He has two goals in the series by getting to the net, has been a prime playmaker, and is tied for the post-season lead with nine goals. His 17 points are third among playoff scorers and he's second in shots with 49.
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Maybe Arturs Silovs stretches his post-season shutout string to six. That would be fitting to equal the AHL record established by former Canucks goaltender Mika Noronen, who backstopped the Rochester Americans to the league crown in 2000.
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Noronen played just four NHL games for Vancouver after being acquired at the 2006 NHL trade deadline. In his first appearance, he was bombed in a 5-0 loss to the Nashville Predators. Noronen then signed in Russia as opposed to serving as backup to workhorse Roberto Luongo.