The Heat will play a sold-out two-game set against the Oklahoma City Barons (AHL affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers) on Friday and Saturday night at the Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre (AESC). The Barons and Heat were divisional rivals last season, renewing their rivalry this year with a combined 11 NHL first round draft picks on their rosters.
Through the first four weeks of the AHL season the Heat have the top winning percentage in the Western Conference with a record of (6-1-0-2). The Barons sit three points behind the Heat with a record of have a mark of (5-4-0-1) and have played one more game.
Roman Horak’s hot start to the season has the 21-year-old Czech product leading the AHL with ten goals in nine games. Horak recorded a natural hat-trick in the Heat’s last game, a 4-2 win over the Toronto Marlies on November 2nd. Horak (10-1-11) is tied for the team scoring lead with Sven Baertschi (4-7-11) with 11 points this season, one ahead of Ben Walter (2-8-10).
Prized free agent signing Justin Schultz has led the Barons offensively with 15 points (6-9-15) in 10 games played. Schultz was born in Kelowna, BC, and was named an ‘AHL Player of the Week’ in October. Drafted in the second round of the 2008 Draft by the Anaheim Ducks, Schultz opted to sign with the Edmonton Oilers in 2012 after three seasons at the University of Wisconsin.
The Heat penalty kill enters this weekend with the top ranking in the AHL. The Heat have killed off 39 of 40 man-advantages (97.5%) and have scored three short-handed goals. The Heat power play is also tied for top spot in the AHL on home ice converting 32% of its power play opportunities. The Barons have the 29th ranked penalty kill and ninth ranked power play in the league.
BARONS' STAR-STUDDED POWER PLAY BIG TEST FOR RECORD-SETTING HEAT PENALTY-KILL PERFORMERS
Under normal circumstances, Steve McCarthy’s first professional shorthanded goal would have been highlight material. Especially after the rushing Abbotsford Heat defenceman went wide and cut smartly to the net to finish a timely play on Nov. 1 against the Toronto Marlies.
However, the shorthanded effort by teammate Ben Street on the ensuing face-off just three seconds later was far from a normal circumstance. His record-setting goal during the 3-0 victory had the Hockey Hall of Fame requesting the centre’s stick. The goals eclipsed the pro hockey mark for the quickest two shorthanded efforts when Jody Gage of the Rochester Americans scored twice in an eight-second span on March 25, 1989. And with the AHL’s best penalty kill on a 39-for-40 run, it sets the stage for a monumental challenge for the Heat this weekend against the Oklahoma City Barons. The Edmonton Oilers farm club can ice an NHL power-play alignment that includes Jordan Eberle, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Taylor Hall and Justin Schultz. Eberle and Schultz have six goals apiece in 10 games and Schultz — the college free agent who chose the Oilers over the Vancouver Canucks — was player of the month for October with 12 points (6-6) in seven games.
No wonder Friday and Saturday games against the slumping 5-4-0-1 Barons are sold out.
“We’re looking forward to the challenge,” Street said Thursday. “This is a huge test for us and a great measuring stick. The biggest thing is those guys are all very good with the puck and have excellent one-on-one skills and you can’t just key on one guy. We can’t get watching or let them make plays through us. We’ve got to make sure we don’t beat ourselves.”
In compiling a 6-1-0-2 record to sit atop the North Division, the best start in franchise history has been buoyed by a league-leading 10 goals from Roman Horak, 11 points from Sven Baertschi and steady goaltending from Barry Brust, Danny Taylor and Leland Irving.
“We think we’re a pretty deep team and roll four lines,” Street added of the Calgary Flames affiliate. “We don’t get too caught up in matchups and trust whoever they [coaches] throw out there.”
Street also trusted the coaching staff when told the Marlies like to go forward after giving up a shorthanded goal. So, Street went the other way with his historic goal and surprised goalie Ben Scrivens.
“I got real lucky and just hit it basically perfect,” said Street. “It went out of the goalie’s vision and right through his legs. Somebody said after the game it was a record and I thought he was joking. It was just such a weird play and more hilarious than anything. But when the trainer came over and said they [Hockey Hall of Fame] wanted my stick, it kind of sunk in.”
For McCarthy, his first goal of the season was significant because the former Canucks blueliner is on a pro tryout with the parent Flames and played for new Calgary bench boss Bob Hartley last season with Swiss league champion Zurich.
“It was a reaction play and just a good time to jump up and I just wanted to make sure it was the right decision,” said McCarthy. “The record is pretty cool and is going to be pretty hard to beat. We’re playing as a team and the attention to detail that was laid out at training camp is being followed.
“We’re going to have our tough stretches, but we’re doing the little things right.”
The only thing is that Byron MIGHT make his season debut this weekend at some point and he's not a bottom 6 player (he MAY be able to play 3rd line).
It'll be interesting to see who they take out if Byron is ready.
Byron definitely has the tenacity to be a 3rd liner in the AHL especially if he plays with Reinhart and Aliu. There is also a chance Ferland draws in again as he had a decent debut.
my guess is 1 or 2 of Laing, Aliu or Kolanos sits.
That isn't really a serious question, I'm not one of those people.
Wear a roughriders jersey, that makes more sense
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'When I use a word,' Humpty Dumpty said, in rather a scornful tone, 'it means just what I choose it to mean — neither more nor less.'
Heat vs. Barons @ 8:00PM MT Friday, Nov 9
