By Win Wachsmann. The Abbotsford Heat opened their two day home stand at the AESC by defeating the Hamilton Bulldogs 3-1 on Tuesday evening. Both teams have lost a total of twenty players to their respective NHL Teams. The Heat opened strong keeping the Bulldogs at bay and only allowed 3 shots in the first period.
Both teams traded penalties and then at the 18.26 mark Bulldog Daultan Leveille was penalized for tripping.
At 19:26 rookie Mike Matczak fired from the point and missed the mark. Krys Kolanos took the puck from behind the net and tried a wraparound and then Ben Walter jammed it past Cedrick Desjardins to get his 7th goal of the season. This was Mike Matczak’s first professional point.
In the second period the Heat continued to press the Dogs.
At 9:30 Heat centre Brett Olson was sent off for roughing and the Bulldogs had their second powerplay opportunity. This time Tyler Murovich took advantage and fired a shot past Heat goalie Danny Taylor.
Bulldog Kyle Hagel and Abbotsfordian Zach McKelvie were both sent off for fighting two seconds after the goal. Just 12 seconds later Tyler Ruegsegger took a pass from Quintin Laing and got his third goal of the game (and the game winner) to put the Heat ahead once again.
In the third period Mike Matczak rode down the left boards and fired a shot from the left side that beat Desjardins high on the glove side at 5:54. Joe Piskula got an assist on that play. The rookie Matczak got his first two points of his professional career.
That was it and the final score was 3-1 for the Heat.
The Heat outshot the Bulldogs 36-15.
The three stars: 1. Mike Matczak ABB 2. Tyler Ruegsegger ABB 3. Krys Kolanos ABB
Both teams are back at the AESC on Wednesday at 7 PM