Heat Tame Tigers 3-2

Published on February 24, 2010 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Abbotsford Heat News Release


WORCESTER MA - The Abbotsford Heat continue to be the road warriors on their Olympic road swing, winning their six game in seven tries by edging the Bridgeport Sound Tigers 3-2 in AHL action on Wednesday night in Connecticut.

The Heat would have to battle from behind in this one. On a first period power play the Tigers would open the scoring. Jeremy Reich was able to put a rebound past Heat goaltender David Shantz on a first period power play to open the scoring. For Reich, it was his third goal of the season and gave his team a 1-0 lead at the 8:54 mark of the first period. Despite the opening goal, the Heat out chanced and outplayed the Tigers in opening period, outshooting the Tigers by a 16-15 margin.

Abbotsford would draw even early in the second period. Jason Jaffray would take a picture perfect pass from David Van der Gulik and outwait Tigers goalie Scott Munroe before sliding the puck into the empty net at 1:01 of the period. For Jaffray, it was his team leading 20th goal of the season and would spring his team back into the game.

Late in the second, Shawn Weller would continue his hot play. With time winding down on the clock to end the period, Weller would drive wide on Tigers defender Mark Flood and throw a puck towards the Tigers goal. The puck would careen off the skate of Flood and past Munroe to give the Heat a 2-1 lead with just six seconds left on the clock in the second period. For Weller, it was his third goal in two games and gave the Heat a 2-1 lead heading to the final period.

In the third, Flood would strike on the power play for the Tigers, drilling a shot through a Tigers screen and past Shantz on the power play to knot the game at 2-2. For Flood, it was his 9th goal of the season and the Tigers second of the game on the power play.

But the Heat would once again have an answer, and it would once again be Keith Seabrook. With Tyler Haskins in the box for high sticking Heat d-man Josh Meyers, Seabrook would take a feed from Staffan Kronwall and ride the blue line at the top of the Tigers zone. Seabrook's blast from the top of the slot would beat the screened Munroe for the game winner at 11:51 of period three. For Seabrook, it was his 9th goal of the season, and the second consecutive game winner for the rookie d-man against the Bridgeport squad.

David Shantz would win another game for the Heat, his fifth win in six starts on this trip. Shantz has now posted a 6-3-1 record for the month, 2.35 goals against average and a .920 save percentage. Shantz has now appeared in a career high 17 games this season and his eight wins this year are 3 more than he has had in his three previous campaigns in the American Hockey League.

Abbotsford has now moved on to Worcester to take on the Atlantic Division leaders, the Worcester Sharks. With a 6-1 record on this trip, the Heat is now 17-14-0-2 on the season away from the Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre. With the victory, the Heat is now tied with the Rochester Americans for 2nd place in the North Division.

You can catch all of the Heat action on Country 107.1 FM. Game time this Friday in Worcester will be at 4:05 pm Pacific. Dave Sheldon will bring you the call of the game live from New England, beginning with the Honda Way pre game show at 3:50 pm.

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American Hockey League Stories from February 24, 2010


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