Abbotsford Canucks vs Tucson Roadrunners Preview
TV: ahltv.com
RADIO: abbotsford.canucks.com
MATCH-UP INFO
The Abbotsford Canucks (15-15-3-1) enter Thursday’s game 6th in the Pacific Division with 34 points. Tucson (14-19-2-1) is currently in 7th place in the Pacific with 31 points.
Monday marks the third of four meetings between the Canucks and Roadrunners this season: Nov. 26 (4-1 L), Nov. 27 (5-4 L), Feb. 7 (home), and Feb. 9 (home).
Monday will mark the switch from Abby wearing their white jerseys at home to their green jerseys. To honour the occasion, Canucks fans are encouraged to “Go Green” and show their colours for the games on Monday and Wednesday.
The Abbotsford Canucks have a 0-2-0-0 all-time record against the Tucson Roadrunners.
QUICK NUMBERS
Sheldon Rempal leads the team with 31 points (16-15-31) through 30 games.
Sheldon Dries is tied for the team lead in goals with 16 this season. He also is second on the team with 30 points (16-14-30) through 29 games.
Nic Petan leads the team with 19 assists this season. The veteran centreman has recorded 24 points (5-19-23) in 23 games this season with the Canucks.
Phil Di Giuseppe has registered 23 points (7-16-23) through 28 games in 2021.22.
- Justin Bailey has registered 20 points (10-10-20) in 23 games for Abby this year.
- Madison Bowey and Noah Juulsen are tied for the lead among Canuck defenders in points with 10 (2-8-10) through 27 games each.
Danila Klimovich has 10 points (4-6-10) through 29 games this season.
Will Lockwood has 14 points (8-6-14) through 26 games with Abby.
- Spencer Martin has registered a 2.60 goals against average with a .909 save percentage and five wins through his first eight appearances of the season.
LAST MEETING – NOV. 27/21: ABB 4 vs TUC 5
The Abbotsford Canucks came up short for the second consecutive night against the Tucson Roadrunners, losing 5-4…Will Lockwood opened the scoring for both teams at the 3:35 mark of the first period..Phil Di Giuseppe and Sheldon Dries assisted on the play…Dries scored at the 19:07 mark of the first period…Di Giuseppe and Guillaume Brisebois had the helpers…Jarid Lukosevicious tied game at the 11:27 mark of the second period…Jett Woo recorded the assist on the play…Woo scored just under two minutes later…Chase Wouters had the assist on the goal…Dries led the team in shots (4)...Arturs Silovs made 18 saves on 23 shots.
LAST GAME – FEB. 4/22: ABB 1 vs STK 2
The Abby Canucks fell short in their comeback bid on Friday night against the Stockton Heat, losing 2-1 in Abbotsford…Sheldon Rempal got the scoring started for the Canucks at the 17:08 mark in the third period…Jack Rathbone and Sheldon Dries had the helpers for Abbotsford…Rempal, Phil Di Giuseppe and Sheldon Dries all tied for the team lead in shots (5)…Michael DiPietro was saddled with the loss in net…Mikey turned aside 18 of the 20 shots he faced.
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
• Michael DiPietro recalled to Vancouver Taxi Squad, Jan. 31
• Joe Mudaca released from PTO, Jan. 31
• Keltie Jeri-Leon released from PTO, Jan. 31
• Spencer Martin assigned to Abbotsford, Jan. 30
• Noah Juulsen assigned to Vancouver Taxi Squad, Jan. 29
• Michael DiPietro assigned to Abbotsford, Jan. 28
• Sheldon Dries assigned to Abbotsford, Jan. 28
• Ashton Sautner assigned to Vancouver Taxi Squad, Jan. 25
PETAN IS THE MAN
Nic Petan has been a true difference maker for the Abbotsford Canucks. The Delta, BC product has put up 24 points (5-19-24) through his first 23 games with the Canucks this season. His 19 assists are tops on Abbotsford as is his 1.04 points per game. Petey’s five goals are tied for the seventh highest tally on the team.
Perhaps the biggest testament to the impact made by Nic Petan is the team record when he has been in the lineup. Through his 23 games this season, the Abby Canucks have gone 14-9-0-0. The Canucks have only won one game this season without Petan in the lineup, going 1-6-3-1 in those 11 games. That speaks volumes.
DRIES IS ON FIRE
Sheldon Dries has lit the lamp 16 times this season and is currently the Abby Canucks' leading goal scorer. Dries has been the most productive player in the Abby lineup throughout the entire season. The Western Michigan alum enters play with 30 points (16-14-30) through 29 games. During his last four games, Dries has posted five points (2-3-5). His 1.03 points per game is tied for second on the Canucks.
SHELDON IS OUR REM-PAL
Sheldon Rempal has been an offensive force all season for the Abby Canucks. He is tied for the Canucks lead in goals (16) and first on the team in points (31). His 15 helpers are good for second on the team. He has netted a team-leading seven powerplay markers and is one of two Abby players to score shorthanded this season.
Rempal has been highly effective as of late, scoring six goals over his last four games against the Manitoba Moose and Stockton Heat.
JOHN STEVENS IMPRESSING
John Stevens enters Thursday’s game having registered at least one point in six of his last 12 appearances. Stevens has recorded a total of 11 points (5-6-11) over his past 15 games. Overall, the Northeastern alum has 13 points (7-6-13) through 34 games this season for Abbotsford.
SPECIAL SPECIAL TEAMS
The Abbotsford Canucks are amongst the best teams in the league when it comes to the play of their special teams. Their potent powerplay has been playing exceptionally well as of late, and they sit fifth in the Pacific Division with a 19.7% powerplay percentage. They have killed 81.0% of their penalties, good for the fourth best penalty kill percentage in the Pacific.
ARROW POINTING UP FOR BOWEY
Madison Bowey has been getting some extra time on the powerplay during the past four games and he has been taking full advantage. The former Kelowna Rocket enters Thursday’s contest having registered two assists in his last three outings. Bowey is tied for the active lead among the Canucks’ D-men with 10 points (2-8-10) this season.
MAN IN THE CREASE – SPENCER MARTIN
After spending much of the last month with the Vancouver Canucks, Spencer Martin has rejoined the Abby Canucks. The 26-year-old goaltender started three games with Vancouver, going 1-0-2 with a 1.59 GAA and a .958 SV%. He was outstanding for the big club, earning his first career NHL victory on January 27th against the Winnipeg Jets.
Prior to earning the call to Vancouver, Martin was the Abby Canucks most dependable goalie. Martin enters Monday’s game against Tucson 5-1-2-0 with a 2.60 GAA and a .909 SV% through eight appearances. He has saved 209 of the 230 shots he has faced this season.
RECENT CANUCKS MILESTONES
Devante Stephens played his 100th career AHL game, Feb. 4 vs. Stockton
Madison Bowey recorded his 50th career AHL assist, Jan. 30 at Manitoba
Sheldon Rempal recorded his 100th career AHL point, Jan. 29 at Manitoba
Yushiro Hirano recorded his first career AHL goal, Jan. 22 vs San Diego
Joe Murdaca recorded first career AHL win, Jan. 22 vs San Diego
Tristen Nielsen recorded first career AHL goal, Dec. 1 vs Ontario
Nic Petan recorded his 100th career AHL assist, Dec. 19 at Henderson
Nic Petan recorded his 50th career AHL goal, Dec. 5 vs San Jose
Tristen Nielsen recorded first career AHL goal, Dec. 1 vs Ontario
Sheldon Dries recorded his 100th career AHL point, Nov. 27 at Tucson
Chase Wouters recorded first career AHL goal, Nov. 14 vs San Jose
Sheldon Dries recorded his 50th career AHL goal, Oct. 24 vs Henderson
Arturs Silovs recorded his first career AHL shutout, Oct. 24 vs Henderson
THREE STARS – 2021.22
Dries - 30 points
Rempal – 30 Points
Bailey - 20 points
Petan - 15 points
Silovs - 15 points
Martin – 15 points
DiPietro – 10 points
Di Giuseppe – 10 points
Stevens – 10 points
Juulsen – 10 Points
Wouters – 10 points
Klimovich - 10 points
Lockwood – 10 points
Bowey - 5 points
Woo – 5 points
Lukosevicius – 5 points
Sautner – 5 points
Murdaca – 5 points
*5 points are awarded for each Three Stars selection