By Sean Evans (The Cascade) – Email
Date Posted: October 27, 2011
Print Edition: October 26, 2011
The Abbotsford Heat fell 3-1 on Saturday night to the Milwaukee Admirals, splitting a two-game weekend series and improving their record to 4-2-0.
Both teams played a tight, hard-hitting game and there was not much room to be found out on the ice. The game was scoreless until 10:49 of the second period, when Greg Nemisz made a Sedin-esque pass through the crease, past the sticks of two d-men to Clay Wilson, who potted his first of the season.
The Heat took the one-goal lead into the third period, hoping to sneak out another win. However, that would not be the case as three unanswered goals in the third unraveled the hopes of the 2422 in attendance at the AESC.
In trying to account for the third period collapse, head coach Troy Ward commented after the game that, “You’re not going to win hockey games when you have just a few guys step forward and the rest of the guys are just along for the ride… We just didn’t have enough people on the ship.”
One of those players who stepped forward was Leland Irving, who stood tall, making some great stops during the first two periods. Lance Bouma of the Heat commented after the game, “Irv did what he could to keep us in the game for a long time, and we just got undisciplined there for a little bit.”
The first Admirals goal came early in the third after a defensive breakdown in the Heat zone. Kyle Wilson, of the Admirals, took advantage and got off a wrist shot, which was tipped past Irving by Michael Latta.
The Admirals then took the lead, with defensemen T.J. Brodie in the penalty box, as a shot from Victor Bartley got through a crowd in front of the Heat net.
The game-winner came just moments later on the next shift, when Taylor Beck managed to force the puck into the net on a hectic play in Irvings crease. And just like that, the game had slipped away from the Heat.
Coach Troy Ward hopes that as the Heat head out on the road, their game will improve. “It’s been tough to get in any type of rhythm; (we) look forward to getting on the road and playing every other day.”
The Heat head out on the road this week, playing on Wednesday night in Toronto against the Marlies, associated with the NHL Toronto Maple Leafs.
