Cootes scores first career AHL goal and Mueller scores a pair in Abbotsford Canucks’ opening weekend

The Abbotsford Canucks opened their AHL season with consecutive 4-2 road defeats against the Calgary Wranglers. Despite the losses, top prospect Braeden Cootes scored his first career AHL goal, while Ty Mueller scored once in each contest. The opening weekend results leave new head coach Ryan Papaioannou searching for his first victory behind the Abbotsford bench after taking over from Manny Malhotra.

In the series opener, Mueller and Jimmy Schuldt scored for Abbotsford as goaltender Nikita Tolopilo made 17 saves on 20 shots. In game two, Mueller struck again and Cootes added a third-period goal to pull the Canucks close before an empty-netter sealed Calgary's second consecutive 4-2 win. Defenceman Kirill Kudryavtsev contributed two assists across the two-game series.