ABBOTSFORD 2, ROCHESTER 0
Abbotsford set the pace early and went on to a 2-0 win over Rochester on Tuesday in Game 7 of the teams’ first-round series.
The Heat, who rallied back from a 3-1 series deficit, advance to take on Hamilton in the North Division Finals beginning on Thursday night.
Abbotsford, which cruised to a 5-1 win in Game 6 on Sunday, stormed out of the gate in this one with a 17-3 shots advantage in the first period. John Lammers finally broke through against Amerks goaltender Tyler Plante at 12:58, putting the Heat on top.
Olivier Latendresse stretched Abbotsford’s lead to 2-0 at 6:36 of the second period, and neither side scored the rest of the way.
Heat goaltender David Shantz, who spent parts of the last three seasons suiting up for Rochester, earned his first shutout of the postseason with 24 saves in net, 21 of those coming over the final 40 minutes of play.
Abbotsford finished 5-1-0-0 at Rochester’s Blue Cross Arena between the regular season and playoffs combined.
The Heat became the 15th team in AHL history to win a best-of-7 series after trailing 3-1 and just the fourth to capture a postseason series by winning Games 6 and 7 on the road. The last team to accomplish that feat was Providence, which ousted Hartford in the 2007 division semifinals.
Rochester dropped to 8-3 all-time in Game 7’s.
North Division Finals – Series “K” (best-of-7)
N1-Hamilton Bulldogs vs. N3-Abbotsford Heat
Game 1 – Thu., Apr. 29 – Abbotsford at Hamilton, 7:30
Game 2 – Sun., May 2 – Abbotsford at Hamilton, 2:00
Game 3 – Tue., May 4 – Hamilton at Abbotsford, 10:00
Game 4 – Thu., May 6 – Hamilton at Abbotsford, 10:00
*Game 5 – Sat., May 8 – Hamilton at Abbotsford, 10:00
*Game 6 – Mon., May 10 – Abbotsford at Hamilton, 7:30
*Game 7 – Tue., May 11 – Abbotsford at Hamilton, 7:30
