By Mike Cadarette (Contributor) – Email
On Tuesday night, the last place San Antonio Rampage played spoiler to the first place Abbotsford Heat beating them 3-2 in overtime. Just two days earlier the Hamilton Bulldogs, who were, at that time, at the bottom of the AHL standings, shut out the Heat 3-0.
“I don’t feel they’re a last place team, nor do I feel we’re a first place team to be honest with you,” said Heat head coach Troy Ward about the Rampage. “That’s a good hockey team.”
The Heat had a muddled start to the game, which resulted in going down 1-0 only three minutes into the game. However, Roman Horak, who was the game’s first star, scored his twelfth goal of the year on the power play to tie the game at 1-1. With four minutes left in the first period, San Antonio would respond when the red hot Greg Rallo scored his fourth goal in as many games to put the Rampage up 2-1 after the opening period.
“It’s inexcusable the way we started,” explained Heat captain Quintin Laing. “We had the rest, we had the practice time and coming off a loss is something that doesn’t sit well with me or with the guys right now. [It was] an unacceptable start for us.”
Overshadowed by his team’s loss was Heat rookie Max Reinhart’s first goal of the season – a goal that has been elusive to the West Vancouver native after having a stellar end to the season with the Heat just last year. Reinhart was able to draw into the lineup in the last game of the Heat’s season, including four playoff appearances. He collected three goals and one assist in those five games.
“Half my battle was fighting to get ice [time] this year. That’s the longest I’ve ever gone without a goal and it’s the tightest I’ve ever hugged somebody for getting me an assist,” said Reinhart of his linemate Horak. “I struggled with my confidence throughout the start of this year and I’d say this is just a massive relief to get one.”
After a scoreless third period, the game went to overtime with score tied 2-2. Just 35 seconds into the extra frame, DeSantis would get his first goal of the season to win the game for the Rampage.
Despite the outcome, Troy Ward thought highly of his team’s play. “Probably after the second and third period and parts of the first, it might’ve been one of our best home games all year.”
In the rematch game on Wednesday night, the Rampage shut out the Heat and won handily 4-0. Yet, the Heat were not discouraged by the decisive loss. Just like the previous night, head coach Troy Ward admired his team’s work ethic and overall play.
“This is probably the happiest I’ve been all year,” said a beaming Ward to reporters. “We’ve put on dominating performances and lost at home, so that’s a really good sign and we just have to be patient.”
Leland Irving would get the start for the Heat having not starting in a game since November 18 in a 5-0 loss in Toronto. Wednesday’s game was not much easier for Irving after letting in three goals on eight shots before getting pulled just five minutes into the second period.
“I looked at my watch,” said Ward, “it’s December 5. No big deal. This is going to happen. Brust and Taylor are going to have those games too. It’s just the way it goes.”
Scott Timmins opened the scoring for the Rampage on the team’s second shot on net after a clumsy pass out in front of the net by Heat defenseman Brady Lamb. Less than three minutes later, the Rampage extended their lead after Justin Vaive beat Irving low.
Rampage rookie Quintin Howden put his team up 3-0 at 5:30 of the second period after turning Chris Breen inside out with a shifty move only to beat Irving low once again. Breen would try to spark his team by dropping the gloves with Jean-Francois Jacques, but the Heat couldn’t solve Jacob Markstrom’s outstanding goaltending. Markstrom stole the show on Wednesday evening, stopping 36 Heat shots and was named the game’s first star.
“It’s frustrating,” said Heat defender Joe Callahan of his team’s wide shot margin, “but it’s a long season. That stuff happens with every team. You go through ups and downs, you go through times where maybe your defensive play isn’t that strong, times where you have trouble scoring goals, but you’re going to be a better team later in the season when you go through that adversity.”
In the dying minutes of the game Quintin Howden sealed the victory for the Rampage scoring on the empty net to make the score 4-0.
“Tonight I don’t think is really an indication of the score, how we played,” said Chris Breen. “I think we played a really solid game.”
The Heat hope to continue that positive attitude on December 9 and 11 when they take a trip east to play the Toronto Marlies and Rochester Americans. The Heat will return to the AESC to face the Texas Stars on December 14 and 15.
Ice Chips:
Ryan Howse was injured on just the second shift of his first game after being called up from the Utah Grizzlies on December 2.
Krys Kolanos got a “little nick,” according to head coach Ward. On a team as deep at the forward position as the Abbotsford Heat, there are now eight injured players, including Krys Kolanos, Lance Bouma, Ben Walter, David Eddy, Akim Aliu, Michael Ferland, Sven Baertschi and Ryan Howse.
“That’s good. That’s a good thing for our hockey team,” said Ward of his team’s mounting injuries. “I love the adversity and I think that’s the right thing for us to go through.”
