The Heat Report: Kotalik crucial in tight playoff race
As the race for a playoff spot in the North division gets tighter and tighter, the Heat got a really big boost offensively two weeks ago when ten year NHL veteran Ales Kotalik was sent down to Abbotsford after clearing waivers. Kotalik has played for the Buffalo Sabers, New York Rangers, and the Calgary Flames, and now he has returned to the league that his career started in to try to bounce back. Most of the reason he is even in the AHL is because of his large contract, which was hitting Calgary’s salary cap.
The Heat Report
With the need for young blood in Calgary to keep their glimmer of a playoff chance alive, Lance Bouma has been called up to the show from the Abbotsford Heat. Lance Bouma is from the Alberta area and is a favourite of Brent Sutter. He is a great two way player and has had a very modest season with the Heat, putting up 11 goals, 19 assists, and 49 penalty minutes in 49 games so far this season. The former Vancouver Giant will take the spot of the freshly retired Craig Conroy.
The Heat Report
Despite almost three packed houses during this home stretch, one that didn’t include the Manitoba Moose (the third game being the Sunday afternoon game broadcasted on CBC), the Abbotsford Heat ended their 10 game home stand with barely a .500 record, taking only 10 of a possible 20 points. After the last home game against the Peoria Rivermen, coach Jim Playfair had this to say about his team’s play during their home stand: “Obviously I think we should have garnered more points, but I think when I break it down, I do it a little differently than you guys and I do it in segments, and right now, in the fifth segment of our season and we are 3-0-1.” Coach Playfair went on to stress about the importance of the upcoming 10 game road trip and the upcoming series with divisional rivals, the Manitoba Moose. “I think the biggest thing right now is focusing on Manitoba this Friday.” The Manitoba Moose were in town just a few weeks ago with half the barn packed with Vancouver Canucks fans cheering on their prospects, a series in which the Moose swept the Abbotsford Heat.
Heat Report
After coming away with one of a possible four points in a disappointing series with their rivals, the Manitoba Moose, the Heat went right back at it three nights later for a series with the Adirondack Phantoms. The Heat bounced back after their two losses to the Moose with a 3-2 shootout win over the Philadelphia Flyers farm club. Michael Leighton was in net for the Phantoms for this game; as you may recall Leighton was in net for the Philadelphia Flyers while they were in the Stanley Cup finals against the Chicago Blackhawks last year. Leighton signed a decent sized contract with the Flyers but was sent down to the minors to play with the Phantoms. The game of musical goalies continues in Philadelphia, and yet the Flyers seem to continue to stay on top of their conference and keep winning games despite who is in net for them.
Heat Report: December Update
It’s been a while since you have had your Abbotsford Heat update due to the holidays, so I will fill you in on what you missed. The month of December was a very important month for the Heat due to all the divisional match ups that they had to endure to stay competitive with the rest of the North division and stay in the playoff race. The Heat played eight of their thirteen games in December against divisional rivals and needed to have a strong month.
Heat hit the road running
After finishing their eight-game-home-stand strong with a winning record, the Abbotsford Heat embarked on a five game road trip that saw them face off five times in eight days against three different opponents. After winning their first two games and then falling in the shootout to the Providence Bruins in the third, the Heat squared off with the Peoria River Men in a two game mini series to cap their trip. Even after four days of rest for the Abbotsford Heat, game one with Peoria did not go as well as their past few games had gone.
Heat find stride in recent home stand
After a shaky start at home, the Abbotsford Heat seem to have finally found their stride and managed to put up a winning record during their last home stand. The Heat started this home stretch with a dismal three losses in five games, and it looked like they were on their way to a loosing record during their eight games at home. However, the Heat had other plans and decided to turn up their play. They ended up winning their last three home games. The Heat will now leave on their road trip with a 5-3 record during their home stand and a three game winning streak going.
The Heat Report
The Abbotsford Heat’s woes on home ice continue, as they just can’t seem to find their swagger in front of their home fans. The Heat could use more fan support as their home attendance has been dismal to say the least. Maybe all this team needs is a little bit of love from the home fans to spark them up when they are playing at home. The Heat haven’t had any problems winning games on the road, but when they get onto home ice, you never can tell which team is going to show up. The Heat has managed to squeak out a few wins at home, but most of their wins this season have come when they are on enemy territory.
The Heat Report
The Abbotsford Heat opened up their two-week, eight-game home stand with an overtime win against the Rochester Americans. The Heat got to an early 2-0 lead in the first period with goals coming from John Armstrong and Galen Patterson. The Heat then gave up two unanswered goals to the Americans, with former Vancouver Giant Kenndal McArdle getting one of the goals for Rochester. The Heat then temporarily retook the lead in the third period with another goal from Patterson, before Rochester would tie it up with just over a minute left in the game, sending the contest to overtime. Once again the Heat were able to answer right back with the winning goal coming from Rheault, just over a minute into overtime. The final score was 4-3 for the Home team.
The Heat Report
The Abbotsford Heat opened up their Second AHL season on the road with a 3-2 shootout win against the Grand Rapids Griffins. Goals for the Heat came from Carter Bancks and Matt Keith, while Staffan Kronwall had the shootout winner.
