Jiří Patera returned to the crease for Abbotsford and took on Connor Ungar at the other end. The Canucks opted for an 11-and-7 formation, with Vilmer Alriksson dropping out and Christian Felton coming on the blue line.
Bakersfield came out strong in the opening minutes and it paid off early. Just four and a half minutes later, James Hamblin ripped a shot from the left circle that found the rope, giving the Condors a 1-0 lead. Despite the early setback, Abbotsford pushed back hard, firing twenty shots in the opening frame. The Canucks earned the only power play of the period, but Ungar held on to maintain Bakersfield’s lead into the intermission.
Abbotsford piled on the pressure in the middle frame, limiting the Condors to just six shots. Patera was sharp when called upon, while the Canucks threw everything they had at Ungar. Another power play opportunity went unanswered, but after 34 consecutive shot attempts, the pressure finally broke. Lukas Reichel tipped Jimmy Schuldt’s point shot past Ungar to tie the game at 1-1. Abbotsford ended the period with 23 shots on target, but only one found a way through, leaving the match tied in the bottom twenty.
Ungar remained a brick wall in the third, denying several straight chances. Despite being out of bounds, the Condors took advantage of the turnover to increase momentum. At 10:30, Viljami Marjala intercepted a pass and restored Bakersfield’s lead. Less than a minute later, Roby Järventie defeated Patera in five holes to give the Condors a two-goal cushion.
The Canucks did not move quietly. With just over four minutes remaining, Reichel struck again, firing past Ungar to pull Abbotsford within one. A late power play gave the Canucks a 6-on-4 lead after Patera was pulled, but Ungar closed the door again as time expired.
Abbotsford fell 3-2 to Bakersfield to end a busy January and will return home for two more games ahead of the All-Star break.
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