Submitted. The Heat continue their six game road trip, starting tomorrow night as they are in Utica to face the Comets. The lengthy 12 game season series with the Comets comes to an end on Saturday night in the weekend rematch. The trip concludes Sunday afternoon at Ricoh Coliseum as the Heat are back in Toronto for a matinee affair against the Marlies to end their four season series.
The Heat are coming off a 3-2 defeat on Sunday afternoon against the Marlies in a penalty filled game, which saw both teams amass a combined 89 minutes of infractions. All five goals scored in the game were recorded on the man advantage for both teams.
The Heat are in fifth place in the Western Conference, with an overall record of 35-24-5-2 and 77 points.
HEAT vs. COMETS (AHL AFFILIATE OF THE VANCOUVER CANUCKS)
Utica has the edge in the season series so far, going 7-2-1-0 in the ten games they’ve played. However, it has been a tight series, as three of the Heat’s losses to Utica have come in Overtime, and eight of the ten they’ve played have been decided by two goals or less.
Utica currently sits in 11th place in the Western Conference, six points out of a playoff spot with 12 games remaining. Their overall record is 29-28-3-4 with 65 points. The Comets had a tough start to the season, but have been relatively hot the last month, and are 7-3-0-0 in their past 10 games. Pascal Pelletier leads Utica in scoring with 52 points (14-38-52) in 57 games. Benn Ferriero is second on the team with 39 points (19-20-39) in 54 games.
2013-14 Heat head to head stats vs. Utica Comets:
10/30/13 – ABB 5 UTI 4 @ Utica Memorial Auditorium OT
11/01/13 – ABB 4 UTI 3 @ Utica Memorial Auditorium
11/29/13 – UTI 3 ABB 2 @ Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre
11/30/13 – UTI 4 ABB 3 @ Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre OT
12/18/13 – ABB 2 UTI 4 @ Utica Memorial Auditorium
12/20/13 – ABB 0 UTI 3 @ Utica Memorial Auditorium
01/24/14 – UTI 1 ABB 0 @ Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre OT
01/25/14 – UTI 4 ABB 3 @ Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre OT
03/14/14 – UTI 1 ABB 3 @ Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre
03/15/14 – UTI 3 ABB 1 @ Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre
Individual leaders in season series (among active skaters):
ABB: Reinhart: 7 points in 8 GP (3-4-7), Street: 4 points in 7 GP (2-2-4), Billins: 4 points in 9 GP (1-3-4), Roy: 2 GP (1-1-0, 58/62 saves)
UTI: Pelletier: 9 points in 10 GP (2-7-9), Ferriero: 8 points in 8 GP (6-2-8), Stuart: 6 points in 6 GP (3-3-6), Eriksson: 7 GP (5-2-0, 212/225 saves)
HEAT vs. MARLIES (AHL AFFILIATE OF THE TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS)
The Heat have a slight edge in the season series so far with the Marlies, having won two of three games. Their one loss to Toronto came just last weekend, as the Marlies scored the winning goal within the last 5 minutes of the game on a five minute power play. The power play has been a big factor between these clubs, as eight of the 21 goals scored have come on the man-advantage.
The Marlies currently sit in first place in the North Division, a whopping 13 points up on second place Rochester. They also sit comfortably in 3rd place in the Western Conference, five points behind Grand Rapids for second. The team is led by Spencer Abbott who is second in league scoring with 69 points (17-52-69) in 61 games and T.J. Brennan who is first among defenceman in the AHL with 61 points (21-40-61) in 64 games.
2013-14 Heat head to head stats vs. Toronto Marlies:
09/11/13 – TOR 3 ABB 4 @ Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre
10/11/13 – TOR 3 ABB 6 @ Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre
23/03/14 – ABB 2 TOR 3 @ Ricoh Coliseum
Individual leaders in season series (among active skaters):
ABB: Street: 5 points in 3 GP (1-4-5), Billins: 4 points in 3 GP (1-3-4), Olson: 3 points in 3 GP (1-2-3), Joni Ortio: 2 GP (1-1-0, 51/57 saves)
TOR: Smith: 6 points in 3 GP (2-4-6), Abbott: 4 points in 3 GP (0-4-4), Leivo: 4 points in 3 GP (2-2-4), Sparks: 2 GP (1-1-0, 54/61 saves)
NEWS & NOTES
The Abbotsford Heat announced Sunday that they have released goaltender Aaron Dell. Dell, a native of Airdrie, Alberta has appeared in six games with the Heat this season registering a 1-2-0 record along with a 2.29 GAA and a .922 save percentage. He earned his first career AHL win on March 22nd, 2014 in a 5-1 Heat victory over the Hamilton Bulldogs stopping 37 of 38 shots.
The Abbotsford Heat announced Wednesday that they have assigned forward Brendan Connolly to the Alaska Aces, the Heat’s developmental affiliate in the ECHL. Connolly, a native of Canmore, Alberta, has played in six games with the Heat this season, registering two points (1-1-2). He scored his first career AHL goal on March 14th against the Utica Comets in a 3-1 victory.
Brandon Astle will bring all live Heat action this week on 101.7 CIVL FM and on www.teamradio.ca. The pre-game show begins 15 minutes before puck drop.
Friday, March 28th – 4:00 PM PST – Utica Memorial Auditorium
Saturday, March 29th – 4:00 PM PST – Utica Memorial Auditorium
Sunday, March 30th – 1:00 PM PST – Ricoh Coliseum
Television: March 30th Live on Sportsnet 360- 1:00 PM PST
Radio: CIVL RADIO 101.7FM
Streaming: TEAMRADIO.CA
*Pre-Game Show begins 15 minutes prior puck-drop