Gulls Can’t Double Up in Abbotsford, Fall to Canucks 5-2

Jan 21, 2024

By Nick Aguilera/SanDiegoGulls.com 

The San Diego Gulls couldn’t make it two in a row against the Abbotsford Canucks Sunday afternoon, as they fell 5-2 at Abbotsford Centre. 

Abbotsford took control early after Jett Woo kicked off the scoring with his fourth goal of the season. Filip Johansson followed up with another Canucks goal to stretch the lead to two late in the opening frame.  

"They came up with a good response after losing last night," Andrew Agozzino said. "They just carried the play more so as opposed to last night us carrying the play."

The Canucks kept their foot on the gas in the second with Danila Klimovich scoring his first of the campaign to move the lead to three early in the period.  

Drew Helleson injected a bit of life into San Diego late in the middle frame, netting his second goal of the season with 30 seconds left in the period. 

Alex Stalock kept San Diego afloat, making several spectacular saves in the first two frames. He ended the night with 33 saves. 

"Alex battles every game," assistant coach Jason Clarke said. "He's just a consummate professional and works real hard at his game. It's disappointing to see a guy that works that hard all the time for us to have that kind of effort when he's in the net."

Abbotsford re-established their three-goal advantage in the third, as Chase Wouters scored to make it a 4-1 game.  

The Gulls needed a jolt and pulled their goaltender with about six minutes left, and Glenn Gawdin answered the call to pull them back within two. Gawdin extended his point streak to a season-high five games (4-1=5). 

Jett Woo put the game to rest moments later, though, depositing one into the empty net for his second goal of the game. 

Nathan Gaucher earned his second assist in as many games. Sasha Pastujov, Andrew Agozzino and Trevor Carrick also picked up helpers in the contest. 

The Gulls will return to Pechanga Arena San Diego for the third straight game against the Canucks on Tuesday night (7 p.m. PST; TV: AHLTV; RADIO: Gulls Audio Network).