Nikita Tolopilo was set up perfectly to play the hero role for the Abbotsford Canucks in Saturday's (May 3) game two against the Coachella Valley Firebirds.
Called on in the second period to replace Arturs Silovs (who let in three goals on eight shots), the Belarusian took over a game that saw the Canucks trail 3-0 and the team in front of him refused to give up.
The team's veterans stepped up and it started when Phil Di Giuseppe got the Canucks on the board just 2:55 into the second. Nate Smith scored just 82 seconds after that and suddenly it was a 3-2 game.
Jujhar Khaira completed the comeback at 6:17 of the third and he added the go-ahead goal at 13:18 to silence the Firebirds crowd. Coachella's Ben Meyers then beat Tolopilo at 15:58 to send the game to overtime.
The Belarusian goalie was solid through two periods and made 18 saves, but all of that goodwill may have been erased in the extra frame.
Tolopilo coughs up the puck, what a massive mistake. Game over and there will be a game four on Friday in Abbotsford. Game three is Wednesday
香蕉视频直播� Ben Lypka (@BenLypka)
The Firebirds dumped the puck into Abbotsford's zone 4:40 into overtime and Tolopilo left his crease to retrieve it. There was a moment of indecision as he saw a Coachella player approach and that was all the Firebirds needed. Meyers stole the puck, found Jacob Melanson in front and just like that the series is tied 1-1.
A mistake like that in overtime could swing a series and it's now going to lead to a debate about which goalie starts game three for Abbotsford. Making the loss sting even more is that forward Aatu Raty and defenceman Jett Woo both got injured in game two. Add those injuries to defenceman Christian Wolanin and forward Jonathan Lekkerimaki and the all of a sudden the grind of the playoffs is hitting Abbotsford hard.
Khaira again, this line is on fire
香蕉视频直播� Ben Lypka (@BenLypka)
Lost in the major flub by Tolopilo was an amazing effort by Khaira, who had a three-point night and also dropped the gloves with Firebirds enforcrer Ian McKinnon in the first period after he injured Woo. Khaira's Gordie Howe hat trick is believed to be the first-ever by an Abbotsford Canucks player in the playoffs.
Canucks head coach Manny Malhotra didn't just yank Silovs after falling behind 3-0, he also shuffled the lines and his moves got his club back into the game. The line of Khaira, Smith and Blais combined for seven points and fuelled the comeback.
Khaira, Smith and Blais dominate down low and it's 3-2 on Smith's goal
香蕉视频直播� Ben Lypka (@BenLypka)
Abbotsford was out shot 31-30 in the game and special team were again not a factor with just three total power plays awarded. Abbotsford went 0/2 and the Firebirds went 0/1.
The Canucks opened the series with a 3-1 win over the Firebirds on Thursday (May 1).
While it's the veterans excelling, the numbers for several of Abbotsford's young players throughout the playoffs so far are getting concerning. Arshdeep Bains, Aatu Raty, Max Sasson and Ty Mueller have combined for just one goal in five playoff games. Lekkermaki was also held pointless in his two games against Tucson. Only forward Sammy Blais is averaging more than one point a game.
Despite the heartbreaking overtime loss, the Canucks do escape California with a split and now the series shifts to the Abbotsford Centre. Game three is set for Wednesday (May 7) and game four goes Friday (May 9). Both games begin at 7 p.m. Game five, if necessary, is set for Sunday (May 11).
Final from overtime.
香蕉视频直播� X - Abbotsford Canucks (@abbycanucks)
