1. SKID SNAPPED: A big, character ‘W’ for the visitors tonight in their first game out of the Christmas break. Great tempo from both teams, all night, put a great product on display for the 10,833 fans in attendance and the countless others watching AHL hockey on TV in the Chicago area and across Canada (on Sportsnet One). The Heat had lost all three games against Midwest Division foes heading into the holiday break, but now it is the Wolves who have lost three straight. The rematch tomorrow should be fun.
2. THE RIGHT TIME (OUT): Troy G. Ward and his staff elected to use the team’s lone timeout immediately after the Wolves tied the game at 2-2 at 11:54 of the third period. The Heat lost a lead they had held since the 9:25 mark of the second period and the huge crowd roared at jet engine volume, but the timeout settled the visitors. 24 seconds after the breather, the line of Walter, Kolanos and Byron struck again; with Byron’s fourth of the year which would stand as the winner.
3. TALE OF A DROUGHT: Danny Taylor earned his first win since November 23rd by making 25 saves and getting three goals in support (that hand’t happened over the stretch). Number 30 made some great saves throughout the night including robbery of Wolves Captain Darren Haydar who was sent in all alone off a draw in the Heat zone. Long over-due, Taylor finally has win number six, which he’s deserved for some time now.
Highlights, Images, Video and Audio at AbbotsfordHeat.com/media
