[Game Day] Calder Cup Western QF Heat vs Griffins- Griffins win 3-1

[Drury18]

2014 Western Conference Quarterfinals
Abbotsford Heat (Calgary Flames) vs Grand Rapid Griffins (Detroit Red Wings)

Schedule:
Game 1 – Friday, April 25th – 8:00PM MST in Abbotsford
Game 2 – Saturday, April 26th – 8:00PM MST in Abbotsford
Game 3 – Wednesday, April 30th – 5:00PM MST in Grand Rapids
Game 4** - Friday, May 2nd – 5:00pm MST in Grand Rapids
Game 5** - Saturday, May 3rd – 5:00pm MST in Grand Rapids
**if necessary


Season Series vs Grand Rapids:

Grand Rapids - 5 @ Abbotsford - 2
Grand Rapids - 4 @ Abbotsford - 3
Abbotsford - 3 @ Grand Rapids - 2
Abbotsford - 0 @ Grand Rapids - 3


Head to Head Stats:




Point Streaks:

• Reinhart - 4g, 13a in 12 games
• Granlund - 9g, 9a in 14 games
• Smith - 3g, 10a in 14 games
• Street - 6g, 9a in 13 games
• Baertschi - 8g, 10a in 15 games
• Olson - 6g in 9 games
• Jones - 3g, 4a in 5 games
• Hanowski - 1g, 3a in 4 games
• Poirier - 2g, 2a in 2 games

Injuries:

• Michael Ferland (Knee) – Out for Season
• Tyler Wotherspoon (Shoulder) - Out for Season
• Patrick Sieloff (Infection) – Out for Season

Preview from Abbotsford Heat Website: http://<br /> http://www.abbotsford...article_id=835

Listen Live : http://www.teamradio.ca/abbotsford-heat.aspx

Watch Live (with subscription purchase): https://ahl.neulion.com/ahl/secure/r...rform?type=all

Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AHLHeatInGame

[Drury18]

As per requests and with permission from the mods, we'll have coverage of the Abbotsford Heat playoff games/run in the main forum.

Updated on Lines from our own PMM:

Originally Posted by Pierre "Monster" McGuire

Ward confirmed today that Poirier will play tomorrow on a line with Max and Markus.

How deep is this team? That's one of the top 2 lines.

Then you've got Street and Jones on the second line with Sven and Knight together on another line (likely with Olson). You can put Hanowski and Locke anywhere. On the fourth line you've got Bancks, Jooris, Gillies, and Miller.

EDIT - And don't forget the defense. O'Brien and Smith as the top pairing. Breen and Billins as the second unit. Then two of Kulak, Lafranchise, Davies and Arsene.

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

Ward was quick to note that even though the Griffins won three out of the four games against them, the Heat didn't have the team they have now. Not even close. The Heat are a much much deeper and skilled team than before.

[EVERLAST]

I wish there were a place for all interested parties to gather to watch these games.

I am not Jonesin for hockey but am very interested to see where the Heat will take this.

I am thinking if Ortio plays out of his mind hot and the level of play continues throughout the lineup the way they finished the season theyll have a great run.

[J epworth]

Originally Posted by EVERLAST

I wish there were a place for all interested parties to gather to watch these games.

I am not Jonesin for hockey but am very interested to see where the Heat will take this.

I am thinking if Ortio plays out of his mind hot and the level of play continues throughout the lineup the way they finished the season theyll have a great run.

Would be awesome if Flames Central or Schanks could somehow get the game on their TVs.

[Wood]

Poirier is going to lead the team in scoring. He's that good IMO

He has been awesome in his short stint with the Heat

[To Be Quite Honest]

Go Heat!

[DOOM]

I hope the Bruins/Red Wings series goes to 7 games (with the Bruins winning)

[Vulcan]

We're a lot better than when I saw them play the Griffins, but still they're the defending champions and a very good team. It could be a very tough series.

[Drury18]

They have a lot of guys returning who went on the run last year whereas we have a lot of guys where this is their first playoff run or he first one where they aren't a Black Ace.

We might have one secret weapon though: Chad Billins was a member of the Griffins last year. He might know what to expect.

[DOOM]

Looks like Mrazek might be getting called up with the sickness/possible injury to Howard.

[Vinny01]

With Abbotsford dumping the Heat I wish the Flames could pull a big eff you and play all their home games in Calgary for the playoffs.

I am excited to follow the Heat this playoff I think they have potential to go on a deep run

[Scoreface]

Apparently Howard has the flu, so I'd expect Mrazek to start in game 2 at the latest probably. Unless it's something worse, which I doubt. If their backup has to start game 1, the Heat really need to throw lots of pucks on net and try to take advantage.

[Drury18]

Unfortunately their "backup" Tom McCollum started more games then Mrazek this year (46) and was 4th in the league for GAA and I think 5th in SV%.

It's a pick your poison sort of deal. Both Griffins goalies are quite good.

It does appear Mrazek might be going up as there is a transaction showing Jake Paterson being reassigned from Saginaw to Grand Rapids today.

[Scoreface]

Thanks Drury. That's so Red Wingish. That stinks. Typical of them. If I manage to catch some of these games, it will almost be with the same fury as when the Flames play the Wings. I can't stand anything about the Wings.

Go Heat!

[combustiblefuel]

Originally Posted by J epworth kendal

Would be awesome if Flames Central or Schanks could somehow get the game on their TVs.

Tell them to get the Ahl live

[formulate]

So can we expect something like:

Reinhart-Granlund-Poirier
Baertschi-Knight-Olson
Locke-Street-Jones
Bancks-Jooris-Hanowski

Up front?

That's pretty scary depth. 9 guys with at least some NHL experience. 2 point-per-game guys on the 'third line'? Wow. Without even mentioning how good Ortio has been.

[icarus]

This is our playoffs. Many of these guys will be with the Flames in the NHL playoffs in a few years (hopefully sooner) so time to see what they can do in games that count. I am pumped. Go Heat Go!

P.S. Why is the Heat PK so brutal?

[UKflames]

Looking forward to follwing this series, I miss flames hockey already.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Will Poirier be playing RW? Might as well get used to the position now, because the Flames will need him there later on.

I can see this series going to game 5.