Heat Hot Sheet

March 1, 2010 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Abbotsford Heat News Release


Abbotsford BC - What a month for hockey in the Lower Mainland! While Team Canada lived up to their expectations of winning the Gold Medal for Canadian hockey fans around the world, the Abbotsford Heat left town on their longest road trip of the season. The Heat left town staggered from injuries and inconsistent results, and also left being out of a playoff spot. Nine games later, the Heat return with an 8-1 record, a share of second place in the North Division and a wave of momentum for the stretch drive that will see them play 12 of their final 17 games on home ice at the Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre.

The Heat began the week in Bridgeport, Connecticut on Wednesday night. Last week, Matt Keetley shut the door for the Heat in Bridgeport with a 1-0 win over the Tigers, with Keith Seabrook netting the game winning goal in the power play with 1:38 to play. This week, it was David Shantz in goal, turning aside 32 of 34 Tiger shots in a 3-2 Heat win. Keith Seabrook scored the game winner again, on a power play in the third period, while Jason Jaffray with his team leading 20th goal of the season and Shawn Weller with his third goal in two games also tallied for the Heat.

Abbotsford then proceeded to Worcester, Massachusetts, home of the San Jose Sharks affiliate and Atlantic Division leading Worcester Sharks. The Sharks had lost at home just three times in their last 20 games. By the time the weekend was over, that stat would be readjusted.

On Friday night, the Heat would rally from a 3-1 deficit to beat the Sharks 5-4 in the shootout. Riley Armstrong, Mikael Backlund, David Van der Gulik and Brett Sutter would score in regulation, while newcomer Radek Smolenak would seal the deal with his shootout winner in the eighth round of the one on one showdown.

On Saturday night, the Heat and Sharks would finish the week in style, with the Heat scoring a 4-3 win. Abbotsford would get the win by taking the lead on four separate occasions, and would also win despite not having one single power play all game, the first time that has happened all season. Mikael Backlund, Jason Jaffray, Cam Cunning and JD Watt with the winner in the third period would score for the Heat.

Abbotsford would finish the week 3-0, and the trip 8-1 after reeling off five straight wins to finish the road trip in torrid fashion. The Heat finished the month with a 10-3-1 record in 14 games, with 10 of these games being on the road. Ten wins is the most wins that the Heat have posted in any single month. Abbotsford now sit in a tie for second place in the North Division with the Rochester Americans. At one point this season, the Amerks led the HEAT by 18 points in the standingswith 17 games left, the Heat are tied with Rochester for second place and are now four points ahead of fourth place Manitoba.

Abbotsford will now play 12 games in the month of March, with 10 of their games being at the AESC. The Heat will face affiliate teams from the Boston Bruins, San Jose Sharks, Colorado Avalanche, Montreal Canadiens and Vancouver Canucks. Boston brings in first round draft pick Zach Hamill with the Providence Bruins. The first place Worcester Sharks will be looking to avenge a pair of losses to Abbotsford when they hit the AESC ice on the weekend. When the Lake Erie Monsters come to town, they will bring in local boys Brock Bradford (Burnaby BC), Josh Aspenlind (Langley BC) and Travis Gawryletz (Trail BC). The Hamilton Bulldogs return with their North Division leading team in mid March and see North Vancouver's Ben Maxwell return to the Lower Mainland. To wrap up the month, the Heat will once again see a sold out building as the Vancouver Canucks affiliate, the Manitoba Moose, make their way to the Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre.

The HEAT will begin their week with a game versus the Boston Bruins affiliate, the Providence Bruins. You can catch all the action of Abbotsford Heat hockey on Country 107.1 FM. Dave Sheldon will have the call of every game, home and away. The HEAT will take on the Bruins this Tuesday night, beginning with the HONDA WAY pre game show at 7 pm with Dave and Craig MacEwen. The drop of the puck from The Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre will be at 7:30 pm.



American Hockey League Stories from March 1, 2010


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