Credit: Clint Trahan / Abbotsford Heat
1. MIDWEEK MOJO: Four points are four point are four points. No matter the route to the back-to-back wins, the Heat earned a much needed +4 to their point total in the Western Conference standings. In Jeopardy of falling out of a playoff position for the first time this season, the Heat reeled off consecutive home wins for the first time since November 13 & 14. The club now is just two points behind the Toronto Marlies for the North Division lead, though the Marlies hold a pair games-in-hand.
2. BIG DADDY TAYLOR: Danny Taylor’s run of hot play continues, as he has now allowed six goals in his last six games played. The new father has been the team’s best player since Christmas, posting a 1.04 goal against average and a save percentage of .951. The lone goal Taylor allowed was off a Heat turnover in the neutral zone where he stopped the initial shot before a rebound was banked to tie the game. 28 shots stopped in 65 minutes plus four more in six rounds of the shootout earned first star honours.
3. RUGY, RUGY, RUGY: Troy G. Ward has called him the Heat’s version of Notre Dame football player ‘Rudy’ who inspired a motion picture. Ruegsegger seems to find a way to insert himself into the game no matter the circumstance. He’s not the biggest, nor the strongest, nor the fastest, nor the most highly-touted, but he’s banked back-to-back game winning goals for the Heat and is beloved by his teammates. ‘Nuff Said.
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