Heat take out Comets in preseason opener

The Abbotsford Heat beat the Utica Comets, 5-2, on Sunday night in AHL preseason action at the Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre.

The game was a heated affair, with 104 penalty minutes assessed between the two teams. Brett Olson (1g, 2a) and rookie Ben Hanowski (2g, 1a) led the Heat with three points apiece.

The Heat dominated the first period, taking a 3-1 lead through 20 minutes. Olson opened the scoring for the Heat just 1:34 into the game, assisted by Hanowski. Peter Sivak scored unassisted to make it 2-0 at 11:43 of the first period, and Hanowski scored at 14:44, assisted by Olson and Drew McKenzie, to round out the Heat scoring in the first period.

Alex Biega scored the lone Utica goal of the period at 17:35 to draw the Comets within two.

Dean Arsene stretched the Heat lead to 4-1 at 9:28 of the second period, assisted by Olson and Sivak. Utica scored at 18:24 of the second period, as Kellan Tochkin scored on a breakaway pass from Darren Archibald.

The only scoring in the third period was an empty-net goal by Hanowski at 19:21.

Joni Ortio allowed one goal on 10 shots and Laurent Brossoit allowed one goal on seven shots, splitting the goaltending duties for the Heat. Joacim Eriksson allowed four goals on 18 shots and Mathieu Corbeil stopped all nine shots he faced for the Comets.