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As the Abbotsford Canucks trailed Coachella Valley 5-4 on Sunday (Jan. 7) with minutes left and on the verge of losing four in a row, Vasily Podkolzin changed into his Superman cape and put the club on his back.

The 2019 first round draft pick stole the puck from a Firebirds defenceman and rifled a shot past goalie Cale Morris to tie the game up at 18:02.

Podkolzin again pounces on a giveaway and ties the game up

— Ben Lypka (@BenLypka)

After overtime solved nothing, Podkolzin again played the role of the hero and scored the lone goal in the shootout. That nifty move proved to be enough and helped the Canucks earn two points in a game that looked like they had let slip away.

ABB Podkolzin scores

— Ben Lypka (@BenLypka)

Abbotsford entered Sunday’s game after a disappointing effort in a 4-0 loss to the Firebirds on Saturday (Jan. 6) and a 6-5 shootout loss to the Bakersfield Condors on Wednesday (Jan. 3).

The club faced adversity early on, as the 31st-ranked in the AHL power play allowed a shorthanded goal just 4:32 into the game when Max McCormick lit the lamp. Abbotsford’s Max Sasson responded just 53 seconds later with his 10th on the season. He now ranks tied for sixth in the AHL in goals by a rookie.

Canucks give up shorthanded goal, unbelievable. Should maybe just decline power plays at this point. Podkolzin let his man go here

— Ben Lypka (@BenLypka)

Sasson ties the game up

— Ben Lypka (@BenLypka)

Podkolzin put the Canucks up 2-1 with another steal and goal at 19:42 of the first and Abbotsford outshot Coachella Valley 11-9 after 20 minutes.

Podkolzin with a good forecheck and steal, that's his ninth on the season

— Ben Lypka (@BenLypka)

Arshdeep Bains made it a 3-1 game at 6:42 of the second period, but Logan Morrison of the Firebirds made it a one-goal game again just 41 seconds later. Bains potted his second of the night – a shorthanded marker – at 9:38 to restore the two-goal lead. It was a strong game for Bains, who was slotted in the fourth line after hitting a bit of a rut in his sophomore season. However, that demotion seemed to motivate him on Sunday.

Bains set up perfectly by Irwin. Looks like a great call by Colliton to bump him down to the fourth line, he has been flying today

— Ben Lypka (@BenLypka)

Defensive breakdown by CV and Bains wires home a shorthanded goal

— Ben Lypka (@BenLypka)

Depsite Bains’ heroics in the second, the Firebirds got a power play goal from Connor Carrick at 10:40 and Coachella Valley completed the comeback when Shane Wright tied the game at 14:17 with another power play goal.

Wright then put the Firebirds up 5-4 at 4:37 and the Canucks appeared to be flailing to find offence until Podkolzin saved the day. Podkolzin now has 10 goals in 24 games.

Shane Wright with his second, 5-4 CV

— Ben Lypka (@BenLypka)

Abbotsford outshot CV 41-38 and Bains led the Canucks with six shots on goal. Bains, Sasson, Irwin and Podkolzin all had two point nights and Bains has now recorded 29 points in 29 games this season. Sasson was also an impressive +4 in the win.

Arturs Silovs made 30 saves for his 11th win and came up big in the shootout, stopping all three Firebirds attempts. Abbotsford’s record now improves to 18-10-2-1 and the win was a big one as they keep pace with the logjam atop the Pacific Division. The Canucks currently sit in fifth place, but only seven points separate first from sixth.

Flying home with a W 👌

— Abbotsford Canucks (@abbycanucks)

The club next returns home for games against the Tucson Roadrunners on Friday (Jan. 12) and Saturday (Jan. 13).