The sign of a good team is the ability to win games when you're not at your best and it could be argued that the Abbotsford Canucks proved that against the Bakersfield Condors on Wednesday (April 16) night.

Abbotsford fell behind 1-0 at 2:22 of the first period and that goal held for the 46-plus minutes until forward Jackson Kunz – playing in his first-ever AHL game – found rookie defenceman Joe Arntsen at the point and he beat Collin Delia at 8:39 of the third. 

Artnsen ties the game up, Kunz with the assist

— Ben Lypka (@BenLypka)

Less than eight minutes later a burst of speed from forward Tristen Nielsen found open ice and he fooled Delia for the eventual game-winning goal at 16:28. Abbotsford cranked up the defence and Arturs Silovs slammed the door in the game's final minutes to earn the 2-1 win.

Nielsen with a super clutch goal, 2-1 Abbotsford late

— Ben Lypka (@BenLypka)

Artnsen, playing in his 10th career AHL game also played a critical shutdown role with partner Guillaume Brisebois in the game's final moments. The former Lethbridge Hurricanes captain has also played 43 games for the ECHL's Kalamazoo Wings in 2024-25, but recently got the call-up due to so many bodies heading to Vancouver this month. Artnsen was one assist away from a Gordie Howe hat trick, as he also dropped the gloves with Bakersfield's Ethan Keppen in the second period. 

10-9 round for Arntsen

— Ben Lypka (@BenLypka)

Kunz, a Vancouver Canucks fourth round draft pick in 2020, finished up with the University of North Dakota last month and inked a one-year contract with Abbotsford on March 24. Wednesday marked his professional debut.

Silovs steered the ship after a rocky start and finished with 32 saves for his 14th win this season. Defencenman Christian Wolanin picked up an assist on Nielsen's goal and he leads the Canucks this season with 34 assists. Jett Woo led all players with five shots on goal.

BYE BYE BAKERSFIELD 👋

— X - Abbotsford Canucks (@abbycanucks)

Canucks forward Jonathan Lekkerimäki did not dress against the Condors and his status was not shared. Abbotsford is also currently playing without goalie Nikita Tolopilo, defencemen Victor Mancini and Kirill Kudryavtsev and forwards Linus Karlsson, Max Sasson, Aatu Raty, Nils Aman and Ty Mueller – who are all in Vancouver.

The win was an important one for the Canucks, as it keeps the club's hopes at winning the Pacific Division crown alive. The first place Colorado Eagles lost 4-2 to the Ontario Reign on Wednesday and – if Abbotsford wins the final two games combined with two losses for Colorado, then Abbotsford would win the crown and earn a first round bye.

The win also keeps Abbotsford ahead of the Reign for second place in the division. The Canucks record now sits at 42-24-2-2 on the season and the 42-win mark has set a new franchise record for most wins in one season.

Abbotsford's road trip continues when they visit the Coachella Valley Firebirds at 6 p.m. on Friday (April 18). The Canucks close out the season against the Reign in Ontario at 6 p.m. on Saturday (April 19).