Heat clinch playoffs with thrashing of Checkers

CHARLOTTE, NC – The Checkers were embarrassed when the Abbotsford Heat

ran riot, with the Heat gaining an 8-2 victory. The win means that Abbotsford have clinched a play-off spot. This was the last home game of the season and as in most of the recent matches Charlotte started encouragingly, at one time they had outshot Abbotsford 8-0.
 
However, it was the old story, Charlotte was unable to put the puck in the Heat’s goal, and they paid dearly for the missed opportunities. Late in the first period Abbotsford scored twice in just over a minute with Ben Walter and Paul Byron getting on the score sheet, the rot had set-in. For Charlotte the second period was a nightmare, they were blasted by the Heat being outshot 20-5. By the end of the period the score was 7-1 to Abbotsford.
 
Hugh Jessiman added a third goal then Paul Bryon scored his second of the night. Charlotte kept giving the puck away, the Heat took advantage, firstlyAdam Estoclet pounced on a loose puck to score goal number five then Krys Kolanos then added two more goals as the period ended. Riley Nash scored Charlotte’s lone goal.
 
Early in the third period Dustin Sylvester made the score 8-1. Brett Sutter got Charlotte’s second with three minutes to go. The final 8-2, Abbotsford. This was Charlotte’s seventh loss in their last eight home games and the worse defeat in their two year history.
 
Mike Murphy made 19 saves and had five goals scored against him while Justin Peters made 13 saves with three goals against. Danny Taylor in the Heat’s goal made 22 saves giving him his 21^st win.
 
The Checkers need to win all four of their road games to have any chance of being in the play-offs. On Tuesday April 9, they face Rockford Ice Hogs, onto Peoria, then back to Rockford, before the final game in Milwaukee on April 15^th.
 
EddieMitchell@ProHockeyNews.com
 Photographer at Tom.Nelson@prohockeynews.com