Post-Game Talk: [AHL Playoffs Round 3 Game 1] Abby def. Colorado | 2-0 (Mueller, Mancini) | Shutout, shutout, shutout!

[Hughes Clues]

Look at every AHL playoff thread this season. Who has watched every game front-to-back and commented on the notable plays? Couldn't be me.

It also couldn't be me who said that I'd like to see more from Lekkerimaki, but his play since returning from injury and playing with a normal visor is leagues better than his play before the injury was resolved. Or me complaining, before we knew why he was in the fishbowl, that he was passing too much and not looking to shoot nearly enough.

If you want to step up, please do your research first.

Its concerning that the smallish sniper we drafted in the first round isn't hitting the scoresheet in the AHL.

 

[Tables of Stats]

Its concerning that the smallish sniper we drafted in the first round isn't hitting the scoresheet in the AHL.

Do you watch the games? Yes or no.

 

[Hughes Clues]

Do you watch the games? Yes or no.

Nope.

 

[Tables of Stats]

Extremely even game. They were slightly better in the first 25 minutes or so and we were a bit better in the last 35 minutes. We converted on the PP and they didn't.

- posts saying that Mueller looked Blueger-esque are accurate. Really strong two way game for him and probably the best forward.

- Blais was a wrecking ball but there's no way he can skate at the NHL level.

- Lekkerimaki was just all perimeter play.

- Bains was good as was Di Giuseppe. Sasson was noticeable but it was really a Mason Raymond game for him where he skated miles ineffectively and fought the puck.

- Kudryatsev was quietly very effective. Mancini was more noticeable, used his strength well to win some puck battles, but also some rough edges visible in his play. Great read on the EN goal - just a really athletic play all-around.

- Brisebois had a rough go in the first half of the game but had a strong 3rd period.

- would have been nice for Silovs to play anything halfway like this in the NHL this year or maybe the parent team would still be playing hockey.

Looks like it will be an extremely tight series where 1 goal is going to be the difference on a lot of nights and you wonder how wise it is to be scratching your leading goal scorer for the likes of a Kambeitz.

Disagree on Lekkerimaki. He made a nice pass that nearly resulted in a goal and was far more involved on the forecheck while doing a better job holding the puck and looking to shoot. Like everybody tonight, he was having trouble getting shots through.

 

[Tables of Stats]

Nope.

Then why are you here? There's a full game on YouTube you should be watching before saying anything.

 

[MS]

Disagree on Lekkerimaki. He made a nice pass that nearly resulted in a goal and was far more involved on the forecheck while doing a better job holding the puck and looking to shoot. Like everybody tonight, he was having trouble getting shots through.

He had one deflection that went wide on a near-odd man rush and otherwise didn't have anything resembling a shot attempt from a dangerous area of the ice. It was a very underwhelming performance for a player of his pedigree and success this season at this level. Mostly was just hanging around on the fringes and you expect more than just a nice pass at some point. He should be the best player on the ice most nights at this level at this stage if he's expecting to be in the NHL this year and he simply didn't look like a guy who was going to break open a 0-0 or 1-0 game.

That said, obviously he's had a rough month with injuries so you cut him some slack.

 

[Ernie]

- would have been nice for Silovs to play anything halfway like this in the NHL this year or maybe the parent team would still be playing hockey.

This is why it's hard for me to cheer for him. If he doesn't cough up 5 goals a game and go 1-5 through October / November last season we're probably looking at a different season. Without him in net the Canucks were 11-3-2 through November and the team vibe would have been a lot different if he'd just put in some quality games.

 

[MS]

This is why it's hard for me to cheer for him. If he doesn't cough up 5 goals a game and go 1-5 through October / November last season we're probably looking at a different season. Without him in net the Canucks were 11-3-2 through November and the team vibe would have been a lot different if he'd just put in some quality games.

There were 3 games (season opener against Calgary, November games against NYR and Pittsburgh) that he basically directly lost singlehandedly in a game where any sort of competent goaltending wins us the game.

As you say, if he could have just made some saves the team probably has a nice points cushion at Christmas and the whole rest of the year unfolds differently.

 

[Ernie]

He had one deflection that went wide on a near-odd man rush and otherwise didn't have anything resembling a shot attempt from a dangerous area of the ice. It was a very underwhelming performance for a player of his pedigree and success this season at this level. Mostly was just hanging around on the fringes and you expect more than just a nice pass at some point. He should be the best player on the ice most nights at this level at this stage if he's expecting to be in the NHL this year and he simply didn't look like a guy who was going to break open a 0-0 or 1-0 game.

That said, obviously he's had a rough month with injuries so you cut him some slack.

I only caught the first period but my overall impression of Lekk is that he's not going to be a guy who drives play. You just have to put him in a position to succeed and hope that he can hold his own without the puck, but when his linemates aren't going he also won't be going.

 

[Tables of Stats]

He had one deflection that went wide on a near-odd man rush and otherwise didn't have anything resembling a shot attempt from a dangerous area of the ice. It was a very underwhelming performance for a player of his pedigree and success this season at this level. Mostly was just hanging around on the fringes and you expect more than just a nice pass at some point. He should be the best player on the ice most nights at this level at this stage if he's expecting to be in the NHL this year and he simply didn't look like a guy who was going to break open a 0-0 or 1-0 game.

That said, obviously he's had a rough month with injuries so you cut him some slack.

I'll agree that he hasn't been anything near what he was getting hyped up as last season, nor even what he was earlier this season, but I think some of that comes with being injured since January, and some of it comes from the fact that he's stopped cheating for offence. This is one of those things we've seen happen to young guys adjusting to pro play and the smaller rink. They start hot on offence but are stacking minuses, then they cool off offensively and you see strides made in their defensive game. Toss in the fact that both the Firebirds and now the Eagles have played stifling defensive games, leaving very few clean looks for anybody and the ice in our barn is awful, and it's no wonder he's looked more like a rookie than we might have wished for.

I've noticed Lekkerimaki being willing to take and dish hits on the forecheck, being more willing to hold and skate with the puck, and earning his ice with good defensive play. All things Malhotra will be asking him to do. You can see game-by-game improvement since he's come back, and while I want the loose and confident Lekk back as much as anybody, seeing the details in his game coming into focus will do a lot to make him playable at the NHL level next season.

TLDR; I also want more offence, but can see signs of improved play that suggest he's improving and that Malhotra will like what he's seeing from Lekkerimaki.

 

[MS]

I only caught the first period but my overall impression of Lekk is that he's not going to be a guy who drives play. You just have to put him in a position to succeed and hope that he can hold his own without the puck, but when his linemates aren't going he also won't be going.

When he's on he's getting heaps of shots and chances (4-5 shots/game when he was producing last year). And can drive play at this level even if maybe he won't in the NHL. And I thought Bains was really sharp last night but Lekkerimaki really wasn't supporting him that well.

Right now he's on a 9-0-1-1 stretch since being sent down from Vancouver (with injuries mixed in) and only 13 SOG in that stretch. Again, the facial injury thing means you cut him some slack but you really want to see more than this as the series goes along.

 

[Tables of Stats]

At a glance, the entire Abbotsford team is generating fewer shots now than they did in the regular season.

Just among the forward prospects and younger players, it looks like:

Bains: 67 Shots in 50 GP - 1.34 S/GP ==> 8 Shots in 8 GP - 1 S.GP
Karlsson: 96 Shots in 32 GP - 3 S/GP ==> 18 shots in 8 GP - 2.25 S/GP
Klimovich: 178 Shots in 65 GP - 2.74 S/GP ==> 9 shots in 5 GP - 1.8 S/GP
Lekkerimaki: 121 Shots in 36 GP - 3.36 S/GP ==> 8 shots in 5 GP - 1.6 S/GP
Mueller: 110 Shots in 64 GP - 1.72 S/GP ==> 10 shots in 8 GP - 1.25 S/GP
Nielsen: 125 Shots in 67 GP - 1.87 S/GP ==> 14 shots in 8 GP - 1.75 S/GP
Sasson: 107 Shots in 41 GP - 2.61 S/GP ==> 29 shots in 8 GP - 3.63 S/GP
Wouters: 122 Shots in 72 GP - 1.69 S/GP ==> 9 shots in 8 GP - 1.13 S/GP

Lekkerimaki has it the worst. He was able to shoot more against the looser and more willing to trade chances Roadrunners, but has struggled against CV and CE, who both clog up the middle and block shots relentlessly. Sasson is insane, just a massive playoff buff for him.

Only Lekk and Klim have dropped off hugely in terms of shots, and Klim was scratched because when he isn't scoring, he's a net negative. Lekk can at least play even and help out the PP.

 

[Scumbag Frank]

Agree with MS on Lekkerimaki. Since being sent down he's been mostly invisible and disappointing.
He's a volume shooter but has been forced to the perimeter and not getting any shots. Everyone has nagging injuries this time of year and if he's good enough to be in the lineup you'd like to see more impact than this.

Defensively he has made some strides. Thought he should've been called for holding though on his "great defensive play" as Astle called it to spring the 3 on 1 last night.
If he's gonna make the NHL next year, he's gonna need to take a really big step this summer.
And for him to ultimately be successful as a top 6 forward in the NHL, I think he'll need to change his offensive game like Boeser did in 2023-2024 to be less perimeter and get more tips and rebounds. Which will require more strength.
He's looked like Markus Naslund in the AHL here and there, but not consistently enough that I think he'll be able to play that way in the NHL. Defensive schemes in the NHL have gotten so good that it's very rare to be a consistent 1 shot scorer now.

Also thought Hirose has looked surprisingly decent lately, more like the Hirose we got when he first signed. Might actually be worth re-signing for the AHL team.
Not a fan of McWard and think you can write him off ever making the NHL. Looked like Forbort in the offensive zone last night, and this is in the AHL.

Ty Mueller looks like a future NHL player to me

 

[MS]

Agree with MS on Lekkerimaki. Since being sent down he's been mostly invisible and disappointing.
He's a volume shooter but has been forced to the perimeter and not getting any shots. Everyone has nagging injuries this time of year and if he's good enough to be in the lineup you'd like to see more impact than this.

Defensively he has made some strides. Thought he should've been called for holding though on his "great defensive play" as Astle called it to spring the 3 on 1 last night.
If he's gonna make the NHL next year, he's gonna need to take a really big step this summer.
And for him to ultimately be successful as a top 6 forward in the NHL, I think he'll need to change his offensive game like Boeser did in 2023-2024 to be less perimeter and get more tips and rebounds. Which will require more strength.
He's looked like Markus Naslund in the AHL here and there, but not consistently enough that I think he'll be able to play that way in the NHL. Defensive schemes in the NHL have gotten so good that it's very rare to be a consistent 1 shot scorer now.

Also thought Hirose has looked surprisingly decent lately, more like the Hirose we got when he first signed. Might actually be worth re-signing for the AHL team.
Not a fan of McWard and think you can write him off ever making the NHL. Looked like Forbort in the offensive zone last night, and this is in the AHL.

Ty Mueller looks like a future NHL player to me

Agreed with all of this.

I’ve never liked McWard much and don’t see anything there that really projects and I’ve been confused why the organization likes him so much.

Hirose was confusingly terrible last year relative to what he showed in 2023 so at least it’s nice to see a rebound there.

Mueller looks like a very good bet to be a bottom-6 NHL C.

 

[DiggerDan]

Watching these games makes me hope even more that Blais gets a legit opportunity to get back into the bigs. Whether it's with us (hopefully) or someone else, he really deserves it.

 

[VanJack]

Kambeitz can probably sit for Klimovich after this one. He's only really been on my radar for his mistakes. I get very little sense that he has any ability to swing the game with any of his tools consistently.

One of the most disappointing aspects of the Abby Canucks Calder Cup playoff run so far, is the parking of Klimovich.

I mean, he really must be in the dog-house, if the team can afford to scratch their leading goal scorer for most of the Cup playoffs. I'm wondering if it could be injury-related?

Injury reports on the Farm are almost as bad as they are in Vancouver. For example, nobody has any idea why Raty is out of the lineup.

 

[Tables of Stats]

One of the most disappointing aspects of the Abby Canucks Calder Cup playoff run so far, is the parking of Klimovich.

I mean, he really must be in the dog-house, if the team can afford to scratch their leading goal scorer for most of the Cup playoffs. I'm wondering if it could be injury-related?

Injury reports on the Farm are almost as bad as they are in Vancouver. For example, nobody has any idea why Raty is out of the lineup.

It's possible he's hurt. I'd like that to be the case rather than him going full pumpkin mode the second he can start making a name for himself.

 

[VanJack]

It's less concerning when you realise he's only played 3 games healthy and out of the fishbowl. He also looked much better in this game, holding and carrying the puck more and looking to shoot rather than pass.

You could tell in late March and early April that the grind of his first NA pro season was starting to really take its toll on Lekkerimaki.

He's still only 20, and not the biggest guy out there. This season was really about learning the pro game in N.A. and getting stronger. Even at that, between the parent Canucks and Abbotsford he put up 22 goals and 34 points.

He'll go away this off-season and train hard--with a better idea of how much stronger he has to get to withstand the rigors of an 82 game schedule on the smaller ice. I just hope the Canucks aren't tempted to trade him.

 

[andora]

Look at every AHL playoff thread this season. Who has watched every game front-to-back and commented on the notable plays? Couldn't be me.

It also couldn't be me who said that I'd like to see more from Lekkerimaki, but his play since returning from injury and playing with a normal visor is leagues better than his play before the injury was resolved. Or me complaining, before we knew why he was in the fishbowl, that he was passing too much and not looking to shoot nearly enough.

If you want to step up, please do your research first.

Dont waste your time

 

[Blue and Green]

One of the most disappointing aspects of the Abby Canucks Calder Cup playoff run so far, is the parking of Klimovich.

I mean, he really must be in the dog-house, if the team can afford to scratch their leading goal scorer for most of the Cup playoffs. I'm wondering if it could be injury-related?

Injury reports on the Farm are almost as bad as they are in Vancouver. For example, nobody has any idea why Raty is out of the lineup.

Klimovich is not injured. He is participating in practices and warmups; he got scratched because he wasn't performing very well during the playoffs. The team has won all three games since Kambeitz replaced him and coaches are typically loathe to change a winning lineup.

It is not true that "nobody has any idea why Raty is out." He hit a CV player during the second period in the second game of that series, fell to the ice, skated to the bench and didn't play after that. Abbotsford doesn't provide any details on injuries but from watching the game I know what happened and when.