Credit: Clint Trahan / Abbotsford Heat
1. FATAL FIRST: A quick start on the power play courtesy Ben Walter’s sixth goal of the season was just the start the Heat wanted, but the good vibes didn’t last long. The Wolves Brett Sterling scored three times over 8:16 to earn a natural hat trick and put the away team up by a pair after 20 minutes. It was all the scoring the Canucks affiliate would need on a night they were missing five regulars (Connauton, Tanev, Schroeder, Ebbett & Kassian) due to the pending NHL training camp in Vancouver.
2. MARKS MISSED: Ben Street, Paul Byron and others missed gaping nets on Friday night in the loss, and while Matt Climie was good, I’m not sure the label ‘great’ was warranted. Climie had some pucks hit posts, a quick whistle that saved a goal, and saw Heat shooters with tight grips miss the mark with regularity.
3. IRVING HOOKED: For the second straight start Leland Irving was on the bench more than he was on the ice. You have to feel for the franchise leader in wins, who can’t seem to find his rhythm this season amid the three-headed goaltending situation for the Heat. Irving is likely off to Calgary for Flames Training Camp where hopefully a change of scenery is the recipe for a mid-season turnaround.
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