Despite coming into existence one year before them, the Abbotsford Canucks have always found it challenging to hang with the Coachella Valley Firebirds.
Coachella has won 12 of the 16 meetings between the two teams historically, they reached the Calder Cup Finals in their first two seasons, they hosted the AHL all-star game, they have a fancy new arena and they even have a mascot.
But something unusual happened on April 18 – the Canucks scored three goals in the third period bust apart a 1-1 tie to defeat the Firebirds 4-1 in the desert. It was the most lopsided win ever for Abbotsford against Coachella Valley and it could indicate a team that is ready to exorcise the demons that have haunted them since the Firebirds swooped into the AHL beginning in 2022-23.
Ready to fight the fire. 👊
— X - Abbotsford Canucks (@abbycanucks) April 30, 2025
Here's how the Abbotsford Canucks and the Coachella Valley Firebirds matched up in the 24.25 regular season. pic.x.com/iGnWFzQ4st
The best-of-five Pacific Division semifinal opens tonight (Thursday) at 7 p.m. inside the Acrisure Arena, with game two set for Saturday at 6 p.m. The series then shifts to the Abbotsford Centre for game three on Wednesday (May 7). Games four and five, if necessary, go Friday (May 9) and Sunday (May 11). Coachella did win the 2024-25 regular season series 3-1.
Abbotsford Canucks head coach Manny Malhotra said he's aware of the talent and experience on the Firebirds.
Things are heating up in the quest for the cup! 🔥
— X - Abbotsford Canucks (@abbycanucks) May 1, 2025
The Pacific Division Semifinals start tonight! #ProudlyAbbotsford pic.x.com/SDbaJYFYsB
"Obviously throughout the year they've played outstanding hockey," he said. "They've been to the finals a couple of years in a row, so they know how to play this time of season. Anybody that we're facing in the next round is there for a reason."
The Abbotsford Canucks have arguably learned how to play in late-April and May too. Abbotsford entered the playoffs on a 16-1-1 stretch to close out the season and won their last 10 games on the road. Abbotsford hasn't lost a road game since Feb. 28.
The Canucks eliminated the Tucson Roadrunners 2-1 in round one and that included a definitive 5-0 win in the do-or-die game three on April 26. Malhotra made some adjustments following a 4-1 loss in game two on April 24 and they all paid off. He stuck with goalie Arturs Silovs, who went on to record his first-ever AHL playoff shutout and forward Nathan Smith added some grit.
Canucks captain Chase Wouters stepped up in the elimination game, scoring a critical shorthanded goal to break open the game. He said the Canucks will have their hands full with the Firebirds.
"It's going to be a good series," he said. "They're a really good team and we're going to put our best foot forward and do everything we can to win. They're fast, they're big and they've been there – the last two years they have that experience."
Episode 10: Round 2 of the AHL Playoffs with Chase Wouters and Artūrs Šilovs 🔈
— Canucks Insider (@CanucksInsider) May 1, 2025
Chris Faber is joined by two @AbbyCanucks as they head into the next round of the Calder Cup Playoffs!
STREAM NOW | https://t.co/mifTcXoegt pic.x.com/mG8FnIgLGe
Abbotsford also got a big opening round series from Sammy Blais, who led the team with three goals and four points. Arshdeep Bains chipped in with four assists and both Linus Karlsson and Tristen Nielsen had two goals. Max Sasson led the Canucks with 13 shots in the series and was a consistent threat offensively against Tucson. The Canucks could also slot in Jonathan Lekkerimaki up front after he missed game three due to lingering effects from oral surgery.
Victor Mancini impressed defensively in round one, playing big minutes and pushing the pace offensively. He recorded seven shots against Tucson to lead all defenceman. The status of former Eddie Shore Award winner Christian Wolanin is also unknown after he missed game three due to an injury.
Time to get FIRED UP!!!!! 🔥
— Seattle Kraken (@SeattleKraken) May 1, 2025
Following a Round 1 sweep of the Calgary Wranglers, the @Firebirds continue their quest for the Calder Cup tonight against the Abbotsford Canucks in a best-of-five series → https://t.co/FKOLAdbb2n pic.x.com/iprOujPTsf
The Firebirds entered the playoffs as the fourth seed in the Pacific Division and dispatched the Calgary Wranglers in two games. Game one was a 4-3 triple overtime epic that was ended by forward Mitchell Stephens. Coachella wrapped up the series with a 2-0 shutout earned by goalie Nikke Kokko.
Stephens and Kokko are both players that Abbotsford will have to watch out for. Stephens led team with three goals against Calgary and Kokko finished with a .952 save percentage in round one. Forward Ben Meyers scored a team-high 52 points in the regular season, while Jani Nyman potted 28 goals. Ian McKinnon is another player who could get under Canucks' players skins, as he recorded 141 penalty minutes during the season (seventh highest in the AHL). A dark horse forward to watch is former WHL scoring champion Jagger Firkus, who is a former second round pick and had 36 points as a rookie.
Round 2 starts tonight 🔥 #FiredUp
— Coachella Valley Firebirds (@Firebirds) May 1, 2025
🎟️: https://t.co/fvJP3dAkJo
💻: https://t.co/FKkNzosMbC watch AHLTV Live on @FloHockey pic.x.com/zJk2VXqXNc
Coachella also has a solid defensive corps with talented and steady veterans like Nikolas Brouillard, Max Lajoie and Cale Fleury. In goal, Kokko had stellar regular season numbers and back-up Ales Stezka has also given Abbtosford headaches in the past. He's 3-0 all-time against the Canucks.
"They've had a great season," Firebirds head coach Derek Laxdal told media about the Canucks. "They've had stretches where they're undefeated and they've got depth – they're big, strong and have great goaltending. It's going to be a real challenge for us, but we know we're the underdog in this series."
Firebirds forward Brandon Biro, who scored one goal in round one and had 34 points in the regular season said his team is looking forward to the series.
"I think it's a great test for us," he told media. "If you ever want to win a Calder Cup you have to beat the best teams and it's exciting we get to play probably the hottest team down the stretch here in the second round. It's going to be a treat for us to see what we're made of."
The special teams battle, as always, could tell the tale of the series. Both teams were perfect on the penalty kill in round one, but the Firebirds failed to score in six opportunities with the man advantage. Abbotsford enters round two with a power that operated at 25 per cent in round one.
Continue visiting abbynews.com for ongoing coverage of the Calder Cup playoffs.
