Submitted. The Abbotsford Heat lost 2-1 in a shootout to the Milwaukee Admirals (AHL affiliate of the Nashville Predators) on Saturday night at the Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre (AESC).
The two teams remained tied through regulation time for the second consecutive night, as Abbotsford’s Reto Berra and Milwaukee’s Magnus Hellberg made numerous excellent saves to keep their teams deadlocked. Berra stopped 51 of 54 shots during the weekend doubleheader.
Photo: Clint Trahan – Abbotsford Heat
The first period ended scoreless with Heat goaltender Reto Berra stopping nine shots and Admirals goaltender Magnus Hellberg stopping six. Milwaukee had three power plays to Abbotsford’s one, with both teams failing to capitalize on the man advantage.
The second period featured the same steady defence and goaltending by both teams. Heat goalie Reto Berra made eight saves while Admirals goalie Magnus Hellberg made 15 saves in the period.
Roman Horak opened the scoring with a powerplay goal just 0:41 into the third period, assisted by Max Reinhart and Chad Billins. The Heat led 1-0 for much of the third period, until Milwaukee’s Colton Sissons tied the game at 14:16. The Heat outshot the Admirals 12 to seven in the third period, and the game went to overtime.
The Heat dominated much of the overtime period but only managed one shot on goal. After a scoreless five minute overtime period, the Admirals scored twice on three attempts to claim victory in the shootout. Abbotsford failed to score on four shooters for their first shootout loss of the season.
The Heat were one for four on the power play, and successfully killed all five of Milwaukee’s man advantages. Abbotsford was a perfect nine for nine on the penalty kill against the Admirals this weekend.
Reto Berra stopped 27 of 28 shots on the night for the Heat, while Magnus Hellberg stopped 28 of 29 for the Admirals.
The Heat head out on the road this week to face the Oklahoma City Barons (AHL affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers) on October 18th and 19th, followed by a visit to the Texas Stars (AHL affiliate of the Dallas Stars) on October 20th. The next Heat home games are Friday, October 25th and Saturday, October 26th against the Lake Erie Monsters (AHL affiliate of the Colorado Avalanche). Friday, October 25th is Heat magnetic schedule giveaway night, with the first 2,500 fans getting a free Abbotsford Heat magnetic schedule. Lake Erie also features three players from the Greater Vancouver area: Stefan Elliott (North Vancouver), David van der Gulik (Abbotsford), and Mark Oliver (Burnaby). To purchase tickets call 1-877-452-HEAT.