The risk-reward ratio of Abbotsford Canucks forward Danila Klimovich finally paid off in the biggest way possible for the club on Wednesday (June 4) night.
His dichotomy was on full display in just the overtime portion of the Canucks' 5-4 double overtime win over the Texas Stars in game four of the AHL's Western Conference Finals.
The Belarusian product viciously cross checked Stars forward Kole Lind and somehow avoided a penalty at 9:15 of the first overtime. He followed that up in the second overtime by carrying the puck starting from his own blue line, entering the Stars zone, dekeing out Stars defender Kyle Looft and then backhanding a shot past Texas goalie Magnus Hellberg to win the game at 3:21 of the second extra frame.
Good lord! Klimovich with a nasty move and the winner, Canucks win 5-4 and lead the series 3-1 pic.x.com/QvYazCqaJ1
— Ben Lypka (@BenLypka) June 5, 2025
Keep in mind that this was Klimovich's first since game four of the Pacific Division final series against the Colorado Eagles when he took an untimely penalty in the second period and didn't play in the third of that loss.
Abbotsford's goal scoring leader in the regular season (25) has found it challenging to crack the playoff lineup, but last night's goal etches his name in history and is likely the biggest goal in franchise history (so far).
WATCH IT ON REPEAT 🔂 pic.x.com/xtDes1acpY
— X - Abbotsford Canucks (@abbycanucks) June 5, 2025
Klimovich's incredible individual effort put an exclamation mark on a game that was played at breakneck pace and saw four different lead changes, a goalie being yanked and star-making performances from Abbotsford's Linus Karlsson and Tristen Nielsen.
Texas opened the scoring with a power play goal at 4:18 when sharpshooter Matjej Blumel fired from the same shot he scored from in game three. Karlsson responded about four and a half minutes later, as line mates Max Sasson and Phil Di Giuseppe battled to get the puck free down low and found the Canucks' leading scorer in the slot.
Karlsson ties it up, great forecheck by PDG and Sasson pic.x.com/ijLkc8bscW
— Ben Lypka (@BenLypka) June 5, 2025
Karlsson again helped lead an aggressive fore check near the end of a power play and the puck eventually ended up on the stick of Nielsen who drilled a shot past Stars starting goalie Remi Poirier at 15:33 of the first. Abbotsford led 2-1 after one, but were mostly outplayed and were out shot 12-4.
The Stars answered back in the second period with two goals in 97 seconds from Jack Becker (7:51) and Cameron Hughes (9:28). However, the Canucks refused to go away and Victor Mancini scored a soft goal on Poirier at 14:57 and less than two minutes later Nielsen scored his second on a breakaway. The Canucks again escaped the period with a one-goal lead despite being out shot 10-7.
What a goal from Nielsen, Abbotsford back up 4-3 late in the second pic.x.com/Tx8TaVIXCo
— Ben Lypka (@BenLypka) June 5, 2025
The third period saw Texas replace Poirier with Magnus Hellberg, who quickly transformed into a concrete wall for the Stars. Abbotsford controlled the play in the third, but Hellberg stopped all the shots he faced. Texas pulled Hellberg with just over two minutes left and that gamble paid off when Justin Hryckowian deflected a Kole Lind shot with 18 seconds to send the game to overtime. The Canucks out shot the Stars 6-4 in the third.
Texas ties the game up with 18 seconds to go pic.x.com/a7hTn6ipO0
— Ben Lypka (@BenLypka) June 5, 2025
Abbotsford poured on the pressure in the first overtime period and out shot Texas 13-5, but again Hellberg stood tall. The Canucks did get a power play to start the second overtime, but still couldn't solve Hellberg. The magic moves of Klimovich were the only thing that could fool him just over three minutes into double overtime.
Karlsson and Nielsen both had two point nights and Karlsson now sits in second place for AHL playoff scoring with 17 points in 16 games. Karlsson and defenceman Kirill Kudryavtsev, Christian Wolanin and Akito Hirose all finished at a team-best +2. Karlsson also led all Canucks with five shots on goal.
FIRE US RIGHT UP KLIM 🔥
— X - Abbotsford Canucks (@abbycanucks) June 5, 2025
11/16 ⚫️ pic.x.com/gzWFKy4k9F
Arturs Silovs had another solid performance in goal, making 27 saves for his 11th win of the playoffs. Texas starting goalie Remi Poirier allowed four goals on 11 shots, but Hellberg was charged with the loss.
The Canucks played the game without forwards Jonathan Lekkerimaki and Sammy Blais, who were both scratched in favour of Klimovich and Dino Kambeitz. Both Klimovich and Kambeitz had two shots on goal.
Texas players Alex Petrovic, Harrison Scott, Emilio Pettersen, Michael Karow and Anthony Romano all finished at -2. Cameron Hughes and Kyle Looft both recodred a team-high four shots on goal for the Stars.
YES, THE DUBS ARE BIGGER IN TEXAS 🎉 pic.x.com/7J5e2TjzMX
— X - Abbotsford Canucks (@abbycanucks) June 5, 2025
Wednesday's game was the longest game in the history of the Abbotsford Canucks and breaks the record set against the Colorado Eagles on May 21. It's also the first time Abbotsford has ever played in a double overtime game.
The win puts the Abbotsford Canucks up 3-1 on Texas in the best-of-seven series and they are now one win away from the Calder Cup Finals. Game five is set for Friday (June 6) in Texas.
“It just shows that when we play the Abby Canucks way, that we can win, no matter how long it takes, we’re gonna get the job done.”
— X - Abbotsford Canucks (@abbycanucks) June 5, 2025
Tristen Nielsen chats with Olivia McDonald following their 5-4 double overtime winner tonight! pic.x.com/O3XkaQjK1T
The AHL's Eastern Conference Finals is already over as the Charlotte Checkers swept the Laval Rocket 4-0 following a 3-2 win in game four on Tuesday (June 3). Charlotte will hold home ice advantage over Abbotsford or Texas.
Continue visiting abbynews.com for ongoing coverage of the Canucks' journey in the Calder Cup playoffs.
