Heat Hot Sheet - Here Come the Dogs

March 14, 2011 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Abbotsford Heat News Release


ABBOTSFORD BC - The Abbotsford Heat enter the final month of the season with their task clearly at hand: win in your division and make the playoffs.

With 13 games over the final 23 days of the season, playoffs are now in the Heat's hands. Win consistently over the next three weeks, and the Heat can punch their ticket to the post season. Be inconsistent and it may very well be curtains.

After splitting games this week against the AHL leading Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins, the Heat open the week in sixth place in the North Division. The Heat are just seven points back of the front running Manitoba Moose and only four points back of the Hamilton Bulldogs for a guaranteed playoff spot in the division.

North Division:

Manitoba (Last week 2nd) - 13 games left - 80 points.  The Moose finished off their eleven game road trip in style, posting a 3-1 record to finish the trip with a tidy 7-4 to seize the division lead. The Moose return home this week and they will have 13 games left on their schedule, with ten of their final 13 at home, including two versus Abbotsford. This week, the Moose will return home to face the AHL leading Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins back to back before facing Texas on Friday in Sunday for four consecutive home games. The Moose will now play eight straight at the MTS Centre.

Toronto - 10 games left - 78 points.  The Marlies have 10 games left on the schedule after playing four games this past week. Toronto went 2-1-0-1, losing their final two games of the week. With ten games left in the season, Toronto has played the most games to this point amongst the division, which means that they will now watch and wait while others play catch up in the games played department. This week, the Marlies visit Syracuse on Friday before hosting Adirondack on Saturday afternoon. Toronto is only 15-13-5 thru thirty three games at home, so this is not necessarily an advantage.  Game 80 of the season will be the Heat vs. the Marlies at Ricoh Coliseum in Toronto.

Hamilton - 14 games left - 77 points.  Tough week for the 2010 Division Champs, as the Dogs posted a 1-2-0-1 record thru four home games this week and now strike out on a six game road trip, beginning with a desperate Rochester team on Wednesday night in Rochester. The good news for the Bulldogs is that they have the most games left of anyone in the division with fourteen remaining. The bad news is that eleven of the fourteen games are away from Copps Coliseum.  But before you write off the Bulldogs, remember this; they have the best road record in the division with a .621 win percentage. Abbotsford will get to play the Bulldogs 6 times before the season ends ‚¬Â¦huge games!  Four of those games will be here in Abby, including two to finish the week here for Hamilton.

Lake Erie - 13 games left - 76 points.  The Monsters continue their hot ways, winning both games last week to jump into the division hunt.  It is now or never for Lake Erie, who have 13 games left, but only five at home. Lake Erie has NEVER made the playoffs and the Heat also will play them on the final weekend of the season.

Grand Rapids - 13 games left - 74 points.  What did we say about the Griffins last week' Don't write off the Griffins yet.  3-1 this past week on the road has vaulted Grand Rapids past Abbotsford and right in to the heart of the race ‚¬Â¦and take a look at their upcoming schedule! The next ten days are CRUCIAL for the Griffins as they play five home games in that span. The Griffs will then hit the trail to finish off the season with seven of their last eight games on the road, including two against the Heat in Abbotsford. The Griffins only game left at home after these five coming up ‚¬Â¦you guessed it, their final meeting of the season with the Abbotsford Heat on April 8th.

Abbotsford - 13 games left - 73 points. Now that Wilkes-Barre has come and gone, the Heat shift their focus to the final thirteen games ‚¬Â¦all against their division. Six home games and seven away for the Heat and the schedule shows balance. The Heat are home for two games this week versus the Bulldogs, and will meet Hamilton six times over the final thirteen. The Heat will get to play everyone above them in the standings as they fight for a spot ‚¬Â¦2 versus the Moose, 1 versus Toronto, 1 versus Lake Erie, six versus Hamilton and three versus Grand Rapids ‚¬Â¦how could you not want it any other way'

Rochester Americans - 13 games left - 66 points.  In a nutshell, it's miracle time for the Amerks, who now need to run the table and get help to have any chance. Eleven points out of a playoff spot with six teams above them fighting each other leaves little error for the Americans. Stick a fork in them ‚¬Â¦they are done.

Crossover:

A little more intrigue has crept into the crossover race ‚¬Â¦right now Chicago holds down the crossover spot with 79 points, just three points better than fourth place Lake Erie and six better than Abbotsford.  If the fourth place team in the North finishes ahead of the fifth place team in the West, NO crossover. The Wolves have played two more games than Lake Erie and three more than Abbotsford, so while they fight to get in the playoffs in the West, they, like Toronto, will have to now wait and see what their fate holds for them as all the teams around them play their games in hand. Chicago hosts the desperate Oklahoma City Barons this weekend. OK City is four points back of the Wolves and need to sweep Chicago to have a chance to make the playoffs. The Wolves will be in tough.

Upcoming Schedule:

HAMITLON BULLDOGS (Friday and Saturday - AESC - 7PM):

The Bulldogs arrive playing inconsistent hockey by their high standards. The defending North Division Champs are 5-4-0-1 over their past ten games and head out on a six game road trip over the next two weeks, beginning in Rochester on Wednesday night. The Bulldogs will then drive home and fly cross country on Thursday before taking on the Heat this weekend.

This season, the Bulldogs and Heat have met twice, with both games being in Hamilton. Abbotsford is 1-0-0-1 this season against the Dogs, dropping a 3-2 shootout decision back in early December before bouncing back for a 4-3 win at Copps Coliseum on February 8th.

BC Connections:

Only one BC Player is on the Bulldogs roster. Defender Brandon Nash is from Kamloops BC and the 23 year old will be making his first appearance at the AESC in front of family and friends. Nash has played 61 games for the Bulldogs this year, counting five goals and 22 assists.

Keep an eye out for Nigel Dawes. The former WHL star with the Kootenay Ice was traded by Atlanta to Montreal and has been assigned to Hamilton. With the Dogs, Dawes has been hot! Dawes has scored six goals and has ten points in eight games for Hamilton. Dawes' 33 goals leads the entire AHL.



American Hockey League Stories from March 14, 2011


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central