[GDT] Heat vs Griffins - Feb 28 @ 8pm MST and March 1 @ 8pm MST

[Drury18]

Abbotsford Heat (33-17-4-1) vs Grand Rapid Griffins(Detroit Red Wings) (33-17-2-3)

Friday February 28th @ 8pm MST
Saturday March 1st @ 8pm MST


It didn’t end so well for the last Griffin that tried to play hockey

Notes:

• The Heat and Griffins have split the first two games of the series with the Rapids winning the first game 3-0 and the Heat winning the second game 3-2
  
• This will be the last two games of the season series
  
• These games are important to the standings as the Heat have been bumped out of top spot in the West Division and Western Conference by the Stars and Griffins and need these points to regain their position on top. Texas only plays one game this weekend against San Antonio.
  

Standings:

• 2nd in the West Division (3 pts behind the Texas Stars)
• 4th in the Western Conference
• 3rd in the AHL on the PP (22.3%)
• 27th in the AHL on the PK (78.9%)

Roster Notes

• Joey MacDonald returned to practice earlier this week, is expected to be available for the games and may start one of the games
• Ben Street and Corey Locke may return this weekend
• DEL – Markus Granlund and Joni Ortio (recalled to the Flames)

Point Streaks and Notables:

• Knight - 5g, 4a in last 11 games
• Jooris - 5g, 5a in 11 games
• Jones - 2g, 3a in 5 games
• Olson - 2g, 3a in 4 games
• Locke - 8a in last 8 games (injured)
• Street - 5g, 6a in last 8 games (injured)
• Granlund - 7g, 9a in last 12 games (recalled)
  

Injuries:

• Michael Ferland (Knee) – Out for Season
• Patrick Sieloff (Infection) – Unknown
• Adrian Foster (Lower Body) – Week to Week
• Trevor Gillies (Upper Body) – late March
• Corey Locke (Unknown) - Questionable
• Ben Street (Unknown) - Questionable

Preview from Abbotsford Heat Website: http://abbotsfordheat.com/news/?article_id=782

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

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

[Freeway]

Jordan Kremyr has signed a PTO.

[Scoutski]

Nice, I might check in with this tonight if I can find a stream.

Can any of the avid heat-watchers tell me more about Jooris? Outside of being an unsigned FA, I know almost nothing about him, his current point streak looks pretty nice though.

Also, Roy or MacDonald in net tonight...

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by Scoutski

Nice, I might check in with this tonight if I can find a stream.

Can any of the avid heat-watchers tell me more about Jooris? Outside of being an unsigned FA, I know almost nothing about him, his current point streak looks pretty nice though.

Also, Roy or MacDonald in net tonight...

Jooris is quite often the hardest working guy on the ice. Not afraid to get involved physically or go to the dirty areas. I would say he will top out as a bottom 6 forward in the NHL at best, but a heart and soul top 6 forward in the AHL is more likely IMO.

[Drury18]

Only thing I have to add to Alberta_Beef's comments is that he's also been instrumental in some of Baertschi's goals of late as well as finishing some Baertschi passes. The guy seems to know how to read a play and might be one of those players that we have in the system that helps in the development of some of our Top 6 guys.

I do agree I see more AHL in him then NHL in him, but not in any negative way. I think his success and satisfaction from playing will be in the AHL rather then sitting on the bench or box in the NHL because he's maybe a 3rd or 4th liner.

Also, I would think Roy in net tonight. I don't think Joey will start.

We may also be down another defenseman as the Flames are looking at calling someone up.

[Scoutski]

Thanks for the feedback guys! Sounds like he was a solid pickup.

[thymebalm]

I think Jooris is frickin awesome. I absolutely loved his compete level in training camp and Flames camp. I had him picked as a dark horse to turn heads this year, and I couldn't have imagined a better rookie season for an undrafted kid like Jooris.

He's not NHL calibre, but if he keeps up this type of progression he could wind up making the big show. Not on pure talent, but insane work ethic.

[StrykerSteve]

Has the game started?

edit - yup

[StrykerSteve]

Baertschi scores on the PP 1-0 Heat

Assists to Street and Lafranchise

[Alberta_Beef]

New forward lines with the injuries and call-up of Granlund.

I honestly have zero idea which line is which when ranking them.

Baertschi - Reinhart - Hanowski
Trupp - Knight - Olson
McKelvie - Locke - Street
Bancks - Jones - Jooris

[StrykerSteve]

Bad guys score, 1-1 in the 1st.

[Alberta_Beef]

defense pairings are

SOB - Wotherspoon
Billins - Arsene
LaFranchise - Breen

[Alberta_Beef]

oh and Roy is in net

[Alberta_Beef]

1-1 after 1

[Alberta_Beef]

2-1 Griffins

[Freeway]

No Ramage tonight?

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by Freeway

No Ramage tonight?

nope, scratched

[Alberta_Beef]

Reinhart!

2-2

[Freeway]

Originally Posted by Alberta_Beef

nope, scratched

Off to Edmonton, I suppose...

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by Freeway

Off to Edmonton, I suppose...

that is my prediction