Charlotte’s time is in Charlotte when the finals start tonight | theahl.com

Patrick Williamstheahl.com writer

Close the video. The same goes for pre-sticking materials. No more meetings.

The first game of the Calder Cup final has arrived, with Abbotsford Canucks and Charlotte pawns, two distant opponents who will open their seven best series (7 ET, AHLTV) at the Bojangles Coliseum tonight at the Bojangles Coliseum (7 ET, AHLTV, AHLTV on the Siriusxm NHL Network radio). The Florida Panthers and Vancouver Canucks organizations are seeking their first Calder Cup title. There is little history between these two teams. In fact, the latest showdown for Florida-WanZhi Prospects was January 3, 2020, when their former members Springfield Thunderbirds and Utica Comets Met.

But there are already some first impressions as another team got a crash course on another team this week.

“I think it’s a very structured, very organized group,” Checkers head coach Geordie Kinnear Said to Abbotsford. “Stay together for a while. Obviously, the coach is very good and they play the game the right way.”

Canaks goalkeeper says Artūrsšilovs Charlotte: “They look [like a] A hard-working team. I think their style is similar to ours. I think this might be a good challenge for us. ”

The latest history of each club is also their common. The two teams ranked second in their respective divisions in the 2024-25 season. They have been through nearly two months of playoff honing, both on schedule and between series after polishing their opponents. Abbotsford has played in four playoff series, eliminating the passers-by in Tucson, the Coachella Valley Firebirds, the Colorado Eagles and Texas stars, playing in the knockout match against Tucson and Colorado. Checkers almost saw their season ending in the semi-finals against Providence, but they had the upper hand and then continued to sweep back-to-back Calder Cup champion Hershey Bears and regular season champion Laval Rockets.

In the late-season 13-game winning streak, Abbotsford entered the Calder Cup playoffs and barely slowed down. Charlotte won eight straight wins.

“We can expect a very, very good team,” Checkers said forward Will Lockwoodformer Ganak. “They are one of the hottest teams in the league that are in the second half of the season and making the playoffs. I think we can expect a team to have a lot of Mojo, be confident and have a game that will work very hard. It will also be very structured.”

Captain Cannery Chase Records He was impressed by what Charlotte saw in his team’s pre-Sugs.

“They were tested for battle,” Water said. “They are ready. Everyone will do everything possible to win. They are a great team and we look forward to the challenge.”

In the network, Abbotsford has šilovs and his five closures. Charlotte and KaapoKähkönenlate-season trade acquisitions consolidated their position as a competitor to Calder Cup. The showdown between šilovs-kähkönen is likely to be the story of the series.

A strong blue line is the foundation of every club. Charlotte has a second All-Star team member Trevor Carrick as well as Mike Benning,,,,, Matt Kiersted and Tobias Bjornfot Help leaders. Abbotsford’s Jet Wo Play a hard and rubbing game. Christian VoranenTwo years ago, he won the AHL top defender and won the Eddie Shore Award. Rookie Kirill Kudryavtsev From a seventh round pick to one of the most important prospects in the Vancouver system.

In front, add sniper Linus KarlssonNine goals took him to the playoffs lead. Arshdeep Bains It has always been a key part of Abbotsford’s offense. So there is Sammy Blais2019 Stanley Cup Championship with St. Louis. Charlotte’s John Leonard He tied for second place with 36 regular season goals. rasmus asplund 20 goals were added to the regular season. Justin Sourdif Can lead the game. NHL veteran JessePuljujärviThis is another late-stage rookie from Charlotte, who has performed well in the playoffs against the pieces. Responsible, dangerous two-way forwards are up and down in each team’s roster, and each club has enough depth options.

Every club has a fine for closure. Before Texas finally began figuring out the successful approach, Abbotsford killed 39 of 40 relative power play opportunities. The Checkers led the AHL with 16 short regular season goals and went straight to the Calder Cup playoffs, burning six more opponents. However, the Canucks have 22% hits on the power game and will test Charlotte’s fine kill.

Most importantly, each club solidifies its identity. In the AHL, this is a big task due to mistakes and lack of experience.

These are tough, longing physical teams that define their ability to master one of the most difficult tasks in hockey: consistency. Every night, they can quickly implement their games, define the night’s matches and maintain these elements. Their game has little panic. Abbotsford has NHL veteran forward Manny Malhotra – Calder Cup winner 25 years ago with Hartford – in his first season on the AHL bench. Kinnear has been in the AHL coaching business since 2001 and won the Calder Cup with Albany River Rats in 1995, leading the Florida prospects since 2016. Neither head coach will succumb to the pressure of the finals.

Both teams master the emotional climax and lows of the playoff journey, which can be extended for two months, pass them through the AHL and get them psychologically tested the next night.

“I think it’s the exact feeling in the room, high and low,” Voranin said. “You have to manage them. You have to enjoy them. You have to buy them. Sometimes you feel like you may never lose again. Then when they make things tense, you feel like you may never win. It’s human nature to fall into the trap of emotions, but that’s so special.

“Manny did a great job of maintaining that mindset, and we did a great job in the room where we really enjoyed the process, every hour, a month and a half, a month and a half, a long trip, a hotel, a quick turnaround.

Whether it’s Abbotsford or Charlotte’s final promotion to the Calder Cup, Šilovs outlines the test of time for any team to succeed in winning the championship.

“Just work hard, you won’t surpass them and then become more desperate.”

During the fifty years in the American Hockey League, Theahl.com writer Patrick Williams currently covers NHL.com and Flosports leagues and is a regular contributor to Siriusxm NHL New Network Radio. He won the AHL’s James H. Ellery Memorial Award for his outstanding league coverage in 2016.