[GDT] Heat vs IceHogs - Friday April 4th & Saturday April 5th @ 8pm MST

[Drury18]

Abbotsford Heat (37-25-5-2) vs Rockford Ice Hogs (Chicago Blackhawks) (33-26-5-4)

Friday April 4th @ 8pm MST
Saturday April 5th @ 8pm MST



The Abbotsford Heat's IOA/American Specialty AHL Man of the Year - Corban Knight

Notes:

• Final 2 games in a 4 game series
• Heat lead the season series 2-0, outscoring the Ice Hogs 8-5
• Derek Smith should play in his 300th AHL Game on Saturday (currently at 298)

Standings:

• 2nd in the West Division (6 points ahead of the Checkers, 8 points ahead of the Barons, mathematically impossible to catch Stars for 1st)
• 5th in the Western Conference (6 points behind 4th place Wolves, 2 points ahead of the 6th place Admirals)
• Heat's "magic number" to clinch a playoff spot is 8 (8 points needed in the last 7 games)
• 4th in the AHL on the PP - 21.8% (Up one from last week)
• 26th in the AHL on the PK - 79.2% (No change from last week)

Roster Notes

• ADD: Klimchuk (assigned by Flames), Valcourt (signed to ATO), Tolkinen (signed to ATO), Kulak (signed to PTO)
• DEL: Foster (released), Breen (recalled), Billins (recalled), Lyon (released), Ostrow (released), Connolly (assigned to Alaska)
• On Flames Roster – Hanowski, Granlund (IR), Wotherspoon (IR - Out for Season) , MacDonald, Breen, Billins
• Tyler Wotherspoon to undergo season ending shoulder surgery after an injury with the Flames. Will not return to Abbotsford this season
• Klimchuk has a minor injury, may not play Friday. Expected to play a Top 6 role when he does debut with Abbotsford

Point Streaks and Notables:

• Reinhart - 5g, 7a in 11 games
• Locke - 2g, 18a in 22 games
• Smith - 1g, 8a in 8 games
• Street - 5g, 4a in 7 games
• Baertschi - 5g, 6a in 10 games
• Davies - 2g in 3 games
• SOB - 2g in 2 games
• Granlund - 7g, 9a in last 12 games (recalled)

Injuries:

• Michael Ferland (Knee) – Out for Season
• Tyler Wotherspoon (Shoulder) - Out for Season
• Patrick Sieloff (Infection) – Unknown
• Trevor Gillies (Upper Body) – Day to Day
• Blair Jones (Unknown) – May return this weekend
• Morgan Klimchuk (Unknown) - Questionable

Preview from Abbotsford Heat Website: http://www.abbotsfordheat.com/news/?article_id=839

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

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

[FBI]

Man is klimchuk getting injured a lot?

[ForeverFlameFan]

So no debut for Klimchuk? Bummer...

[Redmonster]

Anybody have any idea what the line combos look like these days? So many guys being shuffled around its hard to keep track lately

[Drury18]

I have put line combos for the last few games, however with so many new faces, they are out of date.

Will be sure to get them posted for tonight's game as I see/hear them.

[Drury18]

Roster Notes:

@brandon_astle: Morgan Klimchuk in fact will not dress tonight. He is suffering from a minor injury and Ward said they won't rush him until he is ready.

@brandon_astle: However, @WHLGiants D-man Brett Kulak will play tonight with Captain Dean Arsene. Played 4 games last year with the Heat.

[Drury18]

Originally Posted by FBI

Man is klimchuk getting injured a lot?

No, not really. Prior to this season he's played almost full seasons with the Pats in the WHL missing maybe 3 or 4 games. Last season looks like a full one, one prior missing a few but being his 1st full WHL season it could be for a number of reasons.

He was out earlier this year with what looked like a significant hip flexor injury. Speaking from experience, those never 100% heal and become a nagging injury. My guess is he aggravated it during the last bit of the season or playoffs and they are letting him rest while it's minor rather then have a full out flare up.

[Trailer Fire]

Just found out that a girl I went to school with dated Carter Bancks and then Brett Lyon right after. I have no useful insight or information otherwise. I just thought I'd post that....

[Drury18]

^ Always good to be aware who your Eskimo Brothers are.

[Drury18]

Little incentive to listen in to the broadcast tonight:

Brandon Astle ‏@brandon_astle 2m
Got some great trivia on the broadcast tonight. Going to be handing out some signed stuff from Morrison during the 1st & 2nd period.

[Drury18]

Joni Ortio to get his 5th straight start tonight for the Heat

[Drury18]

Heat will be facing former NHL'er Jason LaBarbara in net.

Valcourt will make his pro debut tonight. Slated to play with Bancks and Hathaway.

[Drury18]

Klimchuk is confirmed out for tonight.

[Drury18]

Coaches Comment:

- Ward's report card for roadtrip is a strong B. When they left, playing C, low C hockey. Getting away regained focus, week in Lake Placid helped. Played well in Utica and Toronto and thought they made some good strides.

- Happy with play away from home. Got on a roll early on with the long trips. Got repetition on the road so they got alot of wins. Last year, played alot at home early on and think that hurt the road game.

- Status of Klimchuk: Not 100%, won't rush him, will be patient with him. If they have to wait a week, will wait a week.

- Klimchuk has alot of goods. Not great yet in any area, but good in most of the area's. Has alot to bring to the table.

- Kulak has skill and vision. Has the tools, need to work on the toolbox. How he sees the ice, how he structures with the team.

- Lineup shuffles and roster add-on's have added some pressure to the players, especially those who are just AHL players, not Flames prospects. Trying to even out playing time.

- Expecting a close game from Rockford. Hard fought battle. Know they are a hard, heavy team as that's Blackhawks style. Expecting their best, he wants their best to get ready for the playoffs. Good matchup.

[Drury18]

Scratches: Carr, Lamb, Klimchuk, Kremyr (illness), Tolkinen, Jones, Astles, Seiloff, Ferland, Gillies

Starters:

Ortio
Smith - SOB
Reinhart-Street-Jooris

[Drury18]

1st Star of the Month for March is Brett Olson

[Drury18]

Lines:

Reinhart-Street-Jooris
Olson-Locke-MacPherson
Baertschi-Knight-Miller
Valcourt-Bancks-Hathaway


Smith-SOB
Davies-LaFranchise
Kulak-Arsene

[Drury18]

Puck has dropped for the 1st!

[Drury18]

Icehogs Goal

0-1 Icehogs

[Drury18]

Mashinter and SOB in a fight. SOB falls.

Both go for 5, SOB gets an extra 2.

Heat to the PK.