SportsHeat Report: Secondary scoring shortfall

Heat Report: Secondary scoring shortfall

This article was published on November 10, 2011 and may be out of date. To maintain our historical record, The Cascade does not update or remove outdated articles.
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By Sean Evans (The Cascade) – Email

Print Edition: November 9, 2011

The Abbotsford Heat came out of a weekend series against the Oklahoma City Barons with a single point out of a possible four. Having given up a two-goal lead in the final frame of last Thursday’s game to lose 3-2 to the junior Oilers, the Heat were looking for redemption this past Saturday night.

In the first period, undisciplined play led to the Heat spending 11 minutes on the penalty kill. That said, they managed to come out of the first frame with a 2-2 tie. The Heat were helped by a fluke short-handed goal which came after the Barons net-minder David LeNeveu attempted to clear the puck, but instead gave it to Greg Nemisz who buried it in the yawning cage.

The teams exchanged goals in the second, despite the Heat allowing just four shots in the period. In a divisional match, there was not much room to be found – the Heat allowed only seven shots in the final two periods, but managed 16 of their own. Yet the game remained tied and went into overtime.

In extra time, Gilbert Brule of the Oklahoma City Barons scored the game winner from the right face-off circle, beating Heat back-up goaltender Joni Ortio blocker side. Ortio, on his first start of the season stopped 21 of 25 shots.

Following the game, Greg Nemisz, who had two goals on the night said “We definitely didn’t finish the way we wanted to… We can feel good about the third period but we need to start putting some wins up.”

What seems to be the problem is the lack of secondary scoring. Speaking after the game, Heat head coach Troy Ward made some stinging remarks. “We just don’t score a lot of goals. If they don’t end up in the back of the net, the realization of the business we’re in, they won’t play here.” He continued, “It’s nothing against those guys, it’s just the nature of the business we’re in.” A number of players have yet to score, and those that have scored have not done so with consistency – perhaps Ward is sending a message to his team with his post-game comments.

It is a tough business indeed, one that will chew you up and spit you out. That fact can be seen in the story of Gilbert Brule, member of the visiting Barons. Once drafted sixth overall in 2005 by the Columbus Blue Jackets, Brule shouldered high expectations from the hockey world. Arguably entering the NHL too early, Brule had a successful rookie campaign, but began to slow down in his second season. A few injuries later, Brule has found himself playing in the AHL and being described as inconsistent at best. Indeed, Brule hardly stood out on Saturday night, except in his overtime winner. Brule will be fortunate to see time in the NHL again.

The Heat head back out on the road this week, playing their next seven games away from the AESC.

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