Abbotsford Canucks one win away from Calder Cup Final after epic double OT win
The Abbotsford Canucks are one win away from making it to the Calder Cup Final for the very first time.
Danila Klimovich was the overtime hero for Abbotsford on Wednesday, as the Canucks beat the Texas Stars 5-4 in Game 4. The Canucks lead the series 3-1 and can book their ticket to the final as soon as Friday night in Cedar Park, Texas.
Linus Karlsson, Tristen Nielsen (2), and Victor Mancini also scored for Abbotsford, as the Canucks nearly won the game in regulation time. Abbotsford led 4-3 throughout most of the third period, before Texas tied the game with just 19 seconds left.
“It was just relentless. Not every line played a ton, but every line was contributing in different ways,” Nielsen said in a post-game interview with Olivia McDonald. “Our fourth line was physical, our first line was physical, and everything in between was just very, very impressive for our group.”
Vancouver’s second-round draft pick in 2021, Klimovich, scored the game-winner 3:21 into the second overtime period. It was a gorgeous goal by the 22-year-old winger, who pulled the puck to the inside of the ice on his backhand to get by the Stars defender, before roofing a shot into the back of the net.
šØDANILA KLIMOVICH, OT HERO! š®
The fancy moves and the incredible backhand puts the Abbotsford Canucks ONE WIN away from the Calder Cup Final! They win Game 4 and take a 3-1 series lead!@abbycanucks | @Canucks#AHL #CalderCup #ProudlyAbbotsford #Canucks pic.twitter.com/g6vM8EndC1
— FloHockey (@FloHockey) June 5, 2025
It was just the second goal and point for Klimovich in eight playoff games, as he hadn’t played since May 23.
Arturs Silovs picked up the victory, as the Canucks goaltender stopped 27 of the 31 shots he faced. The Latvian goalie has drawn most of the headlines for Abbotsford on this playoff run, as the 24-year-old has five shutouts and a sparkling .930 save percentage in the postseason. Karlsson, meanwhile, has been Vancouver’s top skater, with 17 points (9-8-17) in 16 playoff games.
Abbotsford now has a stranglehold on the AHL’s Western Conference Final, with Game 5 set for Friday. If necessary, Game 6 (Sunday) and Game 7 (Monday) will be played at the Abbotsford Centre.
The winner of this series will play the Charlotte Checkers (AHL affiliate of the Florida Panthers) in the final, beginning June 13. Game 3 (June 17), Game 4 (June 19), and Game 5 (June 21) would be played in Abbotsford if the Canucks make the final.
The Canucks have never had an AHL affiliate win the Calder Cup, and haven’t had their farm team reach the championship final since Travis Green led the Utica Comets there in 2015.