Hunt Scores Twice in 5-2 Loss to Canucks
Oct 25, 2023
ABBOTSFORD, BC. – Colorado defenseman Brad Hunt netted his first two goals of the season, but it would not be enough, as five different Abbotsford skaters notched a goal, driving the Canucks to a 5-2 win over the Eagles on Wednesday. Abbotsford goalie Arturs Silovs stopped 28 of the 30 shots he faced to earn his second win of the season, while Colorado goalie Arvid Holm suffered the loss, allowing five goals on 29 shots.
Colorado would strike just 3:45 into the contest when a delayed penalty against the Canucks allowed Hunt to hammer home a slapshot from the point, giving the Eagles an early 1-0 edge.
Abbotsford would square things up just 1:36 later when a Colorado turnover in the neutral zone set up a 2-on-1 rush for the Canucks, which forward Aidan McDonough would cap off with a wrister from the low slot, tying the game at 1-1.
Less than five minutes later, Abbotsford would cash in on its second power play of the contest, as forward Arshdeep Bains fielded a cross-slot pass at the bottom of the left-wing circle before sweeping a shot past Holm, giving the Canucks a 2-1 lead at the 9:57 mark of the opening 20 minutes.
Colorado would go on to outshoot Abbotsford 16-11 in the period, but headed to the first intermission still trailing, 2-1.
The deficit would grow just 2:44 into the second period when forward Chase Wouters collected a rebound at the side of the crease and lifted a backhander into the back of the net, putting the Canucks on top, 3-1.
The Eagles would generate an answer less than three minutes later when Hunt wrapped behind the net Silovs and threaded the puck home, slicing Abbotsford’s advantage to 3-2 at the 5:41 mark of the middle frame.
A turnover in the Colorado zone onto the tape of Aatu Raty would set up Raty to feed the puck into the low slot, where forward Marc Gatcomb would light the lamp and push the Canucks lead to 4-2 with 3:32 left in the second stanza.
Abbotsford would leave one more mark on the period, as forward Linus Karlsson collected an outlet pass from Silovs at neutral ice, sending him streaking through the right-wing circle, where he would beat Holm with a wrister, sending the Canucks to the second intermission on top, 5-2.
The third period would not see either team find the back of the net, but play would be halted with just under six minutes remaining in the contest after Abbotsford forward Vasily Podkolzin went down after a hit in the corner and had to be stretchered off the ice. After a pause in the contest, the two teams closed out the remaining 5:40 on the clock, as the Canucks picked up the 5-2 victory.
The Eagles outshot Abbotsford 30-29, as Colorado finished the night going 0-for-2 on the power play and 5-for-6 on the penalty kill.
The Eagles will be back in action when they travel to take on the Calgary Wranglers on Saturday, October 28th at 1:00pm MT at Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta. Season tickets for the 2023-24 season are on sale now and can be secured with a deposit of just $100 per seat. Click here to place your deposit.
