Heat Win Series

Published on April 28, 2010 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Abbotsford Heat News Release


ROCHESTER NY - The Abbotsford Heat completed the comeback, scoring a 2-0 Game Seven win over the Rochester Americans to win their best of seven opening round series 4-3.

The Heat once again came out in the first period like they had been shot out of a cannon. Fore-checking the Americans and stifling them at every turn, until the Ams were forced into mistakes. The Heat would capitalize on a mistake in the opening period. After Heat forward Tyler Spurgeon caused a turnover in the centre ice area, Brett Sutter would pounce on a loose puck and skate away in to the Rochester zone. Looking up, Sutter spotted John Lammers in full stride breaking towards the goal on the far side of the ice. Sutter would saucer the perfect pass to the Langley BC, native and Lammers would drop the hammer on a one time slap shot that was by starting Rochester net minder Tyler Plante before he could move. Lammers scored his 2nd of the post season from Sutter for the opening goal of the game at 12:58 of the opening period. Abbotsford would outshoot the Americans 17-3 in the opening period and take a 1-0 lead to the dressing room.

In the second period, the Americans would try to pressure the Heat into turnovers. But it soon became apparent that the Heat would have none of it, as the team, and in particular the defensive corps, would not be giving any gifts out tonight. The only gift that the defense would give in the second would be a beautiful pass by Heat defender Matt Pelech. Pelech would break up a Rochester rush early in the second period and at the same time moved the puck forward into the Rochester zone, and into the path of the speedy Olivier Latendresse. Latendresse would surprise the Amerks defenders with a quick burst of speed and race in alone on Plante from just inside the Rochester blue line. A nifty shot over the shoulder of Plante would give the Heat a 2-0 lead at 6:36 of the second period. For Latendresse, it was his first goal of the post season and would give his team a two goal lead heading to the final period.

In the third, David Shantz would use the period to exorcize some demons. The Heat goaltender, a former second round draft pick of the Americans parent club, the Florida Panthers, has spent part of the past three seasons in Rochester, before Florida would give up on the goalie prospect. Halfway thru this series, it looked as though the Panthers may have made the right move. Shantz was struggling mightily and had been pulled in an 8-4 Game three debacle that left many fans shaking their heads. After another brutal showing in Game Four, Heat Head Coach Jim Playfair had some words of encouragement for the Heat tender. "I just told David that he was the better goaltender in the series," said Playfair earlier in the week. "I asked him to show us that he was the best in the series and he has proven all of us and himself correct."

Shantz would turn aside eleven third period shots and twenty four overall as the pride of Burlington Ontario picked up his first post season shutout of the playoffs and the important fourth win in the series to advance his team to the North Division Final.

With the win, the Abbotsford Heat has become the first team in AHL History to win their series by winning game six and seven on the road after trailing a series 3-1. The Heat also became the 15th team in the history of the American Hockey League to come back from a 3-1 deficit to win a playoff series.

Abbotsford will now travel to Hamilton to face the North Division Regular Season Champions, the Hamilton Bulldogs, in the North Division final. The series starts Thursday night at the Cops Coliseum in Hamilton.

Schedule:

North Division Final (Abbotsford Heat vs. Hamilton Bulldogs)

Game One - Thursday, April 29th - Abbotsford @ Hamilton - 4:30 PM PDT

Game Two - Sunday, May 2nd - Abbotsford @ Hamilton - 11:00 AM PDT

Game Three - Tuesday, May 4th - Hamilton @ Abbotsford - 7 PM PDT

Game Four - Thursday, May 6th - Hamilton @ Abbotsford - 7 PM PDT

*Game Five - Saturday, May 8th - Hamilton @ Abbotsford - 7 PM PDT

*Game Six - Monday, May 10th - Abbotsford @ Hamilton - 7:30 PM PDT

*Game Seven - Tuesday, May 11th - Abbotsford @ Hamilton - 7:30 PM PDT

*if necessary

THE ABBOTSFORD HEAT IS IN TO THE NORTH DIVISION FINAL AND TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE FOR ALL HEAT HOME GAMES BY CALLING 1-877-452-HEAT. YOU CAN ALSO VISIT www.abbotsfordheat.com FOR ALL OF YOUR TICKETING NEEDS.

1. SHANTZ - ABB 2. LAMMERS - ABB 3. LATENDRESSE - ABB

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American Hockey League Stories from April 28, 2010


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