Abbotsford, B.C.- A 3-0 deficit was too much for the Rockford IceHogs to climb out of on Friday night. The Abbotsford Heat skated away with a 4-2 win at the Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre.A pair of quick strike goals put the IceHogs in a 2-0 hole in the first period on Friday. Cam Cunning picked up his first goal of the season when beat Corey Crawford glove side at 14:06 with a helper from Brett Palin.
Jamie Lundmark came right back and made it 2-0. Lundmark redirected a Gord Baldwin slapshot past Crawford at 14:25 to extend the Heat lead.
Another flurry of goals to begin the second period put Abbotsford on top 4-1. Garth Murray began the lamp lighting when he fired his second goal of the season past Crawford shorthanded, set up by David Vander Gulik :47 into the period.
Rockford would hop on the board just 15 seconds later with a Pete MacArthur power play tally. MacArthur knocked his first goal of the season past Leland Irving at 1:02 with assists from Evan Brophey and Daryl Boyle.
But Abbotsford responded to take their three goal lead back. Jason Jaffrey blew his sixth goal of the season past Crawford, chasing him from the game, at 2:08 of the middle frame.
In the third period Bracken Kearns would cut the IceHogs deficit back down to a pair. Kearns picked up a Danny Bois centering feed and jammed it past Irving at 6:25 making it 4-2 Heat.
Joe Fallon replaced Crawford early in the second period and was outstanding in goal. The second year goalie turned away all 26 shots against including a highlight film glove save on Jaffray in the third period.
Fallon's performance wasn't enough however, as Irving made 33 saves on 35 Rockford shots in the win. The Hogs finished 1-5 on the power play while holding the Heat to 0-4.
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