ABBOTSFORD, BC– Another clutch goal from Jesse Puljujarvi lifted the Checkers to an overtime win in Game 5 of the Calder Cup Finals – extending the series and sending it back to the Queen City for the remainder.
The two sides traded blows throughout the first 40 minutes of play. The Checkers secured two leads along the way but the Canucks kept coming up with responses – Ben Steeves opened the scoring by finishing off a feed from Jack Devine late in the first but the Canucks struck on a power play just over three minutes later, then Brett Chorske reclaimed the lead with a quick shot early in the second but Abbotsford responded less than 90 seconds later.
Deadlocked as things progressed past the midway point of regulation, Rasmus Asplund converted on a man advantage by hammering a one timer from the left circle and pushing the visitors ahead once more.
Things locked up from there – in part due to a strong 29-save performance from Kaapo Kahkonen between the pipes – and the game barreled toward overtime, where Puljujarvi would emerge as the hero.
