There's been one thing missing from this amazing run by the Abbotsford Canucks, and unfortunately on Saturday night, it made an appearance. Up until Game Five, there hadn't been a single instance of Canuck Luck, but that goal in overtime had this cursed franchise's fingerprints all over it.

Before we get into the preview, I want to apologize for not having a game thread available for Game Five. Early Saturday morning, our dog Grady passed, and I just wasn't able to get it done for you. Grady suffered from Mega Esophagus, a condition that is usually a death sentence for dogs. A diagnosis will often lead to the dog being put down, because of the short life expectancy, as well as the amount of time and energy that goes into the day to day care of a dog with ME. Add in that even our veterinarian knew little about it, and we had to rely on Facebook and Reddit groups for info. In spite of that, Grady was able to live a pretty full four years (well beyond the average lifespan of ME afflicted dogs). He went through a lot, but was always very affectionate and playful, right to the end. If you have a dog that regurgitates frequently, please have them checked for signs of ME. Thank you, Grady. You came into our lives after the sudden death of our dog Chyna, and helped heal the pain of that loss. You really were the best boy, and we already miss you more than you could ever know.

ABBOTSFORD CANUCKS (3-2) vs CHARLOTTE CHECKERS (2-3)

BOJANGLES' COLISEUM, CHARLOTTE, NC

4:00 PDT/ 7:00 EDT

RADIO: SPORTSNET 650 TV: FLOHOCKEY.TV

There are some pretty shitty ways to lose a hockey game, and brother, that was one of them. Talk about a classic Canucks goal. Just awful, given how Abbotsford had been controlling the run of play in that overtime period, and especially that another goal for the Charlotte Checkers had come after Victor Mancini had blown a tire, setting up a scoring opportunity.

Still, despite the way that game ended, the Canucks are in a good place. Charlotte has to win three in a row, something that hasn't happened to Abbotsford since a four game skid at the end of February. They've been the best team in the AHL since that time, and even with the hostile crowd and shitty ice conditions, I feel confident that Manny Malhotra's crew are going to shake off the loss and come out strong against the Checkers tonight.

GAME DAY BATTLE HYMN

This one's for Grady. Love you, buddy.

Enjoy the game, everyone! Go Canucks Go!