Weekend Preview vs Rochester & Toronto

Published on March 7, 2013 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Abbotsford Heat News Release


The Abbotsford Heat continues their longest road trip of the season this weekend with three games in three days. The Heat plays the Rochester Americans (AHL affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres) on Friday night and Sunday afternoon at the Blue Cross Arena and face the Toronto Marlies (AHL affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs) at the Ricoh Coliseum for a Saturday matinee.

The Heat is in the thick of a four-way battle for the North Division lead. The Marlies currently hold the division lead with 66 points through 55 games, while the Heat have 62 points through 59 games and hold the eighth and final playoff position in the Western Conference. The Americans are just a single point behind the Heat with five games in hand. Also in the mix in the North Division are the seventh place Lake Erie Monsters with 63 points in 59 games.

The Heat and the Americans close out their eight-game season series this weekend with each team having won three of the previous games and the Heat holding one more point in the season series due to a point earned in a shootout loss in Rochester on December 11th. The Heat has faced the Marlies just four times this season and has won three of the games against their 2012 Calder Cup second round opponents.

The Calgary Flames assigned Danny Taylor to the Heat on Wednesday. Fresh off his first NHL win, Taylor joins Leland Irving and Barry Brust in the Heat crease. Irving has been sharp of late, having allowed just seven goals on 113 shots since his return to the Heat from the Flames. Irving has won once, suffered a pair of 1-0 regulation losses, and was bested in a shootout in his four games since assignment.

The Americans have struggled somewhat since Head Coach Ron Rolston was hired by Rochester's NHL affiliate in Buffalo to replace Lindy Ruff. The Americans lost their first four games without Rolston behind the bench, but have posted back-to-back win under interim Head Coach Chadd Cassidy who took over coaching duties on February 25th.

The season's longest road trip has the Heat playing seven games over 15 days in six cities. After opening the journey with four divisional contests, the Heat head south on Monday for three games in Texas.

The Heat return to Abbotsford for a pair of games with the Rockford Icehogs on the 22nd and 23rd of March. For more information on the team and to purchase tickets, visit www.AbbotsfordHeat.com or call 1 (877) 452-HEAT(4328).

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



American Hockey League Stories from March 7, 2013


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