From The Heat. The Abbotsford Heat beat the San Antonio Rampage (AHL affiliate of the Florida Panthers) 3-1 on Thursday night at AT&T Center. The Heat remain in second place in the West Division with a 41-25-5-3 record and 90 points.
Photo by Darren Abate
Three straight goals in the second period was the difference in the game for the Heat, who improved their record to 6-1-0-0 against the Rampage this season. Blair Jones and Ben Street extended their point streaks to four games in the victory.
Both teams were scoreless after the opening 20 minutes, with the Heat leading the shot count 10-8.
In the second period, the Heat opened the scoring on a goal from Ben Hanowski assisted by Chad Billins at 5:16. Blair Jones made it a 2-0 game with his 17th goal of the season, unassisted at the 7:24 mark of the period. At 11:01, Corey Locke scored the Heat’s third straight goal, with his ninth of the season from Ben Street. The Rampage were able to get on the board with a power play goal at 15:46 from John McFarland, which cut the Heat’s lead to a pair of goals after 40 minutes.
The Heat received strong goaltending from Joni Ortio in the final period, who stopped all 14 shots he faced en route to a 3-1 victory.
The Heat went zero out of three on the power play, and killed off two of three penalties on the evening.
Joni Ortio picked up his 26th win of the season making 32 saves on 33 shots. Rampage goaltender Scott Clemmensen was charged the loss stopping 24 of 27 shots.
The Heat continue their three-game road trip on Friday, April 18th at 5:30 PM PST in San Antonio against the Rampage (AHL affiliate of the Florida Panthers). Heat playoff tickets are on sale now! The first home game goes Friday, April 25th at the Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre. For tickets, please call 1-877-452-HEAT (4328) or visit us online at www.abbotsfordheat.com.