A dramatic overtime goal by Jesse Puljujarvi at 15:22 secured a 4-3 victory for teh Charlotte Checkers over the Canucks in Abbotsford on Saturday night. The sold-out crowd at Abbotsford Centre had hoped to see the Canucks clinch the Calder Cup on home ice, leading the best-of-seven championship series 3-1. Now,the American Hockey League (AHL) team must aim to win the title at Bojangles Coliseum in North Carolina.

Ben Steeves, Brett Chorske, and Rasmus Asplund also contributed goals for the Checkers, who outshot the Canucks 40-32. Linus Karlsson scored twice for the Canucks, with Arshdeep Bains adding a goal and an assist. The game was tightly contested, with a 1-1 tie after the first period and a 3-3 score heading into the third. Both teams capitalized on one of their two power play opportunities.

The series began in Charlotte, where the Canucks took Game 1 with a 4-3 double-overtime win.The Checkers responded in Game 2, securing a 3-2 overtime victory. When the series moved to Abbotsford, B.C., the Canucks won Game 3 with a score of 6-1 and followed up with a 3-2 victory in Game 4.

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“Jesse Puljujarvi spoiled the party in Abbotsford on Saturday night.”

With the series now at 3-2, the Checkers have a chance to tie the series at home. The canucks will need to regroup and find a way to win on the road to secure the calder Cup.