The Abbotsford Canucks (44-24-2-2) scored three times in the third period to defeat the Ontario Reign (43-25-3-1) by a score of 5-3 in the teams’ final game of the 2024-25 AHL regular season on Saturday night at Toyota Arena.
Glenn Gawdin, Andre Lee and Kaleb Lawerence each scored for the Reign in a losing effort, which sent them to a third place finish in the Pacific Division standings for a second consecutive season with 90 points. Ontario is awaiting the conclusion of the league’s last game on Sunday afternoon to find out if they’ll play either Calgary or San Jose in the opening round of the 2025 Calder Cup Playoffs.
Gawdin opened the scoring 3:34 into the first period for Ontario, netting his 26th of the year after sneaking behind the Abbotsford defense and wristing the puck over the shoulder of goaltender Nikita Tolopilo. Taylor Ward recorded the first assist on the play by zipping a pass to Gawdin for the look, while Martin Chromiak earned the second helper, his 21st of the year.
The Canucks quickly evened things up at 1-1 with a tying strike by Linus Karlsson at 7:13 of the first.
Six minutes later, Ontario went back ahead 2-1 when Jack Studnicka picked up the puck after a fortunate bounce off the referee and fed Lee for his sixth goal of the year on a quick release that found its way past Tolopilo to the top right corner of the net at 13:14.
But once again, Abbotsford responded quickly, knotting the game with a strike by Victor Mancini at 15:32.
Both clubs had chances to take the lead in the middle frame, but neither could put the puck past the opposing netminder, and the game remained even after 40 minutes. The Canucks controlled the shot total by a 6-4 margin in the second.
Akito Hirose gave Abbotsford the lead for the first time at 4:39 of the third, scoring his fourth goal of the year to make it 3-2 in favor of the visitors.
With less than five minutes remaining in the game, Lawrence gave the Reign life by scoring for the third consecutive contest to tie things back up at 3-3. The rookie forward carried the puck down the left wing and behind the net before putting a centering feed in the crease that bounced off the skate of a Canucks’ defender and past the goal line. A lone assist on the play, which came at 15:10 of the third, was credited to Lawrence’s linemate, Jacob Doty.
Abbotsford answered right back, however, when Max Sasson grabbed a loose puck in the Reign end and beat Pheonix Copley to give his team a 4-3 advantage with less than four minutes to play at 16:23.
The Canucks added an insurance goal into an empty net by Arshdeep Bains at 17:46 of the final frame.
Tolopilo stopped 23 shots to earn the victory for Abbotsford, while Copley turned out 22 attempts for the Reign in a losing effort. Neither club converted on the power play, with each ending at 0-for-2 on the man-advantage.
Postgame reactions from Lee and head coach Marco Sturm are below –
Andre Lee
On his line as he gets set for the postseason
I think our line has found good chemistry. We know what we expect from each other out there. I think our whole team gets excited for this time of the year.
On tonight’s game
I think our mentality in there was treated like a playoff game. I think there was a lot of physicality and a lot of emotions too. So it was a good game for getting us ready.
On having a few days to get ready for Game 1
I think it’s good. I mean can never complain about rest days, also practice days and stuff like that, get to rest up a little bit. So be excited for who we got.
On playing Abbotsford in the playoffs last year
I think there’s some tension there of course but for the most part, I think we put that behind us, they put it behind them. Now both of us are probably focusing on playoffs and what’s ahead.
Marco Sturm
On the way the game was played
Great game. I mean look at their lineup. They’re fun to watch too. I thought we played pretty good. I think we won the first period. They won the second. Then the third, you know those little details matter. We made one mistake there on the wall for that one goal. It’s just those little mistakes can’t happen. We just had one or two too many mistakes, unfortunately. That’s what the good teams do. But I’m glad we had a chance to play a game like that to kind of prepare us what we’re facing. Now we face either Calgary or San Jose, and both are really good. They’re going to have some good players and it’s going to look just like tonight.
On previous playoff runs he’s had with Ontario
Me, the coaches and the guys who’ve been around, we already forgot about the playoffs from two years ago, so that’s gone. What we remember is last year. I think we just had a good run but we also learned what it takes to be in that position. That’s our only goal. We’re going to stay positive. We now look at the negatives and we’re going to get ready. It’s going to be tough. It’s going to be two really good opponents. Again, something new at Crypto too. Hopefully it’s going to be exciting, hopefully we’re going to have enough fans to get us going.
On the lineup for the postseason
We trust anyone of our abilities. It doesn’t matter. Even if players like Hudon and Booth are not ready, you know what? I trust my guys. That’s something I’m just way more relaxed because I know whoever’s in and out of the lineup, I know my guys are going to give it all and they’re going to play hard.
The Reign will open the 2025 Calder Cup Playoffs on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles against either the Calgary Wranglers or San Jose Barracuda. Ontario’s opponent will be determined after they have a final game against each other on Sunday afternoon.
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