With the temperature on the minus side in Hamilton and expecting light flurries, the Heat are looking at keeping things on the cool side for Montreal’s farm-team.
The Heat enter tonight’s game minus the likes of solid “tender” Leyland Irving, who received his first start on this night against Florida; albeit in a SO loss.
With Irving having a “tour-of-duty” it opens the door for newly acquired “tender” Danny Taylor who made 38 saves in a 2-0 win on his home debut against Lake Erie, also managed to grab one assist in the contest.
For the special teams unit on the PP, the Heat through 27 games has had the advantage 113 times managing 23 GF for a PP% of 20.4 with 2 SHGA.
The Heat are currently first in the PK and through 27 games they have a 120 TSH for 14 PPGA and a PK% of 88.3 with 2 SHGF. Sunday see’s the Heat host the third Annual “Teddy Bear Toss” on Sunday with the face-off set for 1 pm.
Tonight’s game see’s 3,274 in attendance and hopes are to have a sell-out for Sunday’s game.
This game also see’s the return of Mitch Wahl who is on loan to Hamilton from the Flames for a “stint” and one who knows this rink very well, due to his time with the Heat.
Head Coach Troy Ward is pleased with the play of his squad so far and only hopes it continues.
The Bulldogs are in the North Division of the Western Conference, currently sitting with a record of 10-13-1-2 for 23 points.
The Heat are third in the West conference with a record of 18-8-1-0 for 37 points and looking at adding to this point total.
While we want to believe we are in “Heat Country”, it was impressive to see the number of Montreal sweaters in the crowd, several have the name Richard on the back.
So truth be known – they do remember!!!Through two periods the Heat are outshooting Hamilton by a 22-16 margin and it was clearly Lawson keeping Hamilton in the game helping them to take a 2-1 lead to the dressing room.
The third started strong for both clubs with Taylor being overworked due to a number of minor’s to the Heat.
All far too obvious to be overlooked by any official!!The Bulldogs dominated the first part of the third, which (at times) saw the frustration set-in for the Heat.
At 10:30 of the third Sylvester hammered a PP shot past Lawson to get them within one and assists going to Mikkelson and Byron.
Wilson managed to get an unassisted goal off a goal-mouth scramble to tie the game at 3 which had the last two goals for the Heat scored 2:47 apart.
With less than five minutes the crowd started to “razz” Lawson who did his best to ignore them.
With 2:01 left in the third Paul Byron exploded out of his end-zone to wire a shot catching Lawson on the outside edge of the blocker allowing it to go wide.
Shots through three see Hamilton with 28 and the Heat sending 35 on Lawson.
With O/T on the horizon, the fans’ are getting their money’s worth.
With the Heat applying “ton’s” of pressure Lawson lost his glove with traffic cutting through his crease, but managed to shake it off.
Taylor made the “save of the game” with 56 second left in O/T on a cross-ice pass allowing the Bulldogs to get in the paint, only to be stopped.
Not surprised the Heat called a T/O with the ensuing face-off in the Bulldogs end zone.
Hamilton were sent in home free and had an open net, but fanned on the shot, which was followed by a Heat rush only to be stopped by a sprawling Lawson.
Shots after the S/O were 37-30 for the Heat.
Game stars were:
1. ABB – 5 Clay Wilson
2. HAM – 18 Danny Masse
3. HAM– 40 Gabriel Dumont
