By Mike Cadarette (Contributor) – Email
Print Edition: October 17, 2012
The Abbotsford Heat picked up where they left off the previous night in a dominating 6-2 win over the Peoria Rivermen on Saturday evening.
In a game that saw the Abbotsford Heat come off a 4-1 win on Friday, the Heat continued their relentless offensive ways scoring three goals in the first period.
After a quick goal from Peoria enforcer Anthony Peluso only minutes into the game, Heat sparkplug Carter Bancks responded by dropping the gloves on the ensuing faceoff with Chris Bruton.
Two minutes later, Lance Bouma got the Heat’s first goal of the game with a quick snap shot that beat Peoria goaltender Jake Allen cleanly.
The Heat fell behind for the second time after Rivermen rookie Sergey Andronov, playing in only his second pro game, shot a puck on net that goalie Danny Taylor misread; it resulted in a 2-1 lead for Peoria halfway through the first period.
Five minutes later the Heat came from behind again, on a goal from Ben Walter. Walter, who played in his 500th AHL game on Saturday, reflected on his long, yet successful career after the game. “It’s gone by really fast,” said Walter. “It’s been a pleasure. I’ve been around some really good people in the hockey world … Hopefully I can play as many more as I can.” After the game, Heat head coach Troy Ward commented on Walter’s dedication over that 500 game span. “I think when you endure this business … you have to have a special quality of who you are as a person. I think that just speaks to how he is as a man. It speaks to how he is in day-to-day life and how he carries himself.”
With only two minutes left in the first period, Flames’ top prospect Sven Baertschi scored on the power play with a laser of a shot, which proved to be the eventual game-winning goal. “That’s an NHL type goal from an NHL type player,” said Ward, “It’s a real pleasure to have that type of talent.”
The Heat finished the first period with 17 shots on net, which was one more than the Heat were able to muster in total on Friday night’s game. “We made more of a conscious effort to get pucks to the net,” said Ward, “That was our main point of emphasis this morning [at practice].”
Three minutes into the second period, former Chilliwack Bruin Roman Horak was able to score on a Ben Olsen pass from behind the net. On that play, Peoria goaltender Jake Allen was knocked down in the crease and Horak was able to capitalize on the opportunity.
Shortly after a small brawl involving both teams, the Heat found themselves on the power play once again. Last season’s Heat rookie leading scorer, Dustin Sylvester, was able to find the back of the net on a beautiful passing play from Ben Street and defenceman TJ Brodie.
Brodie, who finished the game with three assists and the game’s first star honours, commented on the huge minutes he’s had to log from the blue line. “It’s definitely different from last year,” said Brodie, who played sparing minutes with the Calgary Flames last season, “I’m just trying to focus on each shift … and make sure they’re not getting chances against us when I’m out there.”
Only seconds later, Heat All-Star Krys Kolanos, who was a healthy scratch on Friday night, was able to capitalize off his own patience. Kolanos glided patiently from the top of the left faceoff circle and waited for the Rivermen goalie to move first before snapping the puck far side.
The Heat finished their opening weekend with a flawless record. This marks the first time in Heat franchise history that they have started the season 2-0 at home in their four-year existence.
The Heat will be back in action on October 19 and 20 when they host the Chicago Wolves, top affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks.
