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Heat Hot Sheet

March 8, 2010 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Abbotsford Heat News Release


ABBOTSFORD BC - The Abbotsford Heat officially are now in the playoff chase. With just 13 games left in the Heat's inaugural campaign, Abbotsford is smack in the middle of the North Division. In third place, the Heat (32-25-4-6) are just two points back of Rochester for second place and four points ahead of the Manitoba Moose for the fourth and final playoff position in the North Division. With the playoffs being a divisional format with the top four teams making the post season chase for the Calder Cup, the Heat is eight points up on Lake Erie, who are currently on the outside looking in, fifth place in the Division. Abbotsford will play all North Division opponents for the rest of the season, and will face the 5th place Monsters five times, beginning with a two game set at the Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre this Friday night and Saturday afternoon.

This past week, the Heat played for games against familiar opponents, the Providence Bruins and the Worcester Sharks.

On Tuesday, the Heat would fight back to tie the game three times versus the Providence Bruins, but Bruins goalie Kevin Regan would turn aside all five Heat shooters in overtime, as the Bruins would prevail 4-3 in the shootout. David Van der Gulik, Brett Sutter and Shawn Weller would score for the Heat, and David Shantz would turn aside 30 of 33 shots in regulation before falling to defeat in the shootout.

On Wednesday, the same two teams, almost the same script. In this game, the Heat would jump out to an early lead, thanks once again to David Van der Gulik, who would score his eleventh goal of the season just 2 minutes in to the first period. However, the Heat would find themselves behind after two periods thanks to a pair of goals by Jordan Knackstedt of the Bruins, setting the stage for Cam Cunning in the third period. Cunning would swoop past the Providence defence and roof a shot past Regan to tie the game at two just nine seconds in to the third period. But once again, the Heat would have trouble in the shootout, as Regan would stop five of six Heat shooters to wrap up the second shootout win in successive nights for the visitors.

On Friday night, the Heat would again face the Atlantic Division leaders from Worcester. The Heat would pick up right where they left off against the Sharks. After winning twice in the Sharks backyard, Abbotsford would make it three in a row with a 5-4 victory that flattered the opposition. The Heat would build a 5-2 lead late in to the third before the Sharks would get two very late goals, including one in the final seven seconds, to make the score close. David Van der Gulik would score his third goal in as many games for Abbotsford, while Cam Cunning, Olivier Latendresse, and Colin Stuart with a pair would also answer the red light challenge for the Heat. Leland Irving would return to the pipes for the Heat and pick up the win, his first in over a month.

On Saturday, the Sharks would finally get a chance to bite back, but it would take a late power play goal by Dan DaSilva to finally subdue the Heat 2-1. DaSilva would pot the winner with just 3 minutes left in the third on a Worcester power play to secure the one and only victory in four tries versus the Heat on the season. Jason Jaffray would notch his 22nd goal of the season on a third period power play for the heat while Dwight Helminen opened the scoring late in the second period on a breakaway in the final seconds of the middle stanza.

The Heat would finish the week with a 1-1-0-2 record. David Van Der Gulik and Cam Cunning had solid weeks for the Heat offensively. Van Der Gulik would score in three straight games for the Heat while Cunning would score twice and add two assists as well.

Abbotsford would also be a part of the frenzy that is Trade Deadline Day in the NHL. Popular forward Riley Armstrong would be traded from the Heat in return for veteran puck moving defender Andy Delmore. Delmore would make an immediate impact, drawing an assist when his point blast was tipped home by Cam Cunning.

LOOKING AHEAD

The Heat will face the Lake Erie Monsters, the Colorado Avalanche affiliate, this Friday and Saturday in Abbotsford. So far this season, the Heat is 2-1 versus the Monsters, but the two clubs will play five times in the next thirteen games to decide each other's playoff fate.

The Monsters will bring some local flavour to the AESC, as three players (Brock Bradford from Burnaby, Josh Aspenlind from Langley, and Travis Gawryletz from Trail) will once again hit the ice in their home province.

Tickets for these two games are available online at www.abbotsfordheat.com, at the AESC box office, or by calling 1-877-452-HEAT.



American Hockey League Stories from March 8, 2010


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.

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