" "Everybody has to look at the game tapes and see how to improve,"

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ABBOTSFORD, B.C. -- The Abbotsford Heat have finally made their rink a difficult place to play -- and just in time for the playoffs. The Heat won their third-straight home game on Wednesday night, defeating the Rochester Americans 4-3 in overtime in American Hockey League action. Abbotsford has struggled much of the season in their own barn but are now over .500 at home after the win, concluding a homestand on which they went 4-1-1. "This needs to be a tough place for teams to play," said Heat forward Carter Bancks. "Were battling for home ice right now and its not going to be much help if this is an easy place for other teams to play. This is a place we want teams to be nervous coming into and I thought weve done a better job in the last four games." The geography of the Calgary Flames affiliate may have some relevance as to why it can be difficult for visiting teams to play in Abbotsford, B.C. "From my time here, (I noticed) that teams have to come here from a long ways and travel," said Rochester captain, and former Abbotsford forward Colin Stuart. "Theres no excuses for the visiting team but its definitely a hard rink to play. They seem to play a hard simple game, clog up the neutral zone and theyve got some guys that can move the puck." Ben Walter converted a pass from Krys Kolanos off the rush at 2:19 in overtime to clinch the victory. "It was a nice play by Kolanos to get it to Walter and put it in," said Kolanos regular linemate Dustin Sylvester. The goal gives Walter points in his last seven games (five goals and seven assists). That assist gave Kolanos three points on the evening. His second-period score gave him goals in five-straight games, to go with four assists in that stretch. "We got great leadership out of those guys at critical moments," said head coach Troy Ward. Also, with that goal Kolanos set a new single-season franchise record with 26 on the year, surpassing Jason Jaffrays mark from 2009-10. "To set a franchise record for goals in a year and...he hasnt played a full year with us, I think its an outstanding accomplishment," said Ward. "Im real happy for Krys and the franchise." Sylvester and Roman Horak also scored for home team. With the win Abbotsford (38-26- maintained a three-point lead for fourth in the Western Conference and has gone 4-0-1 in its past five games. "These are huge points for us in the standings," said Bancks. Rochester (32-26-13) moved up to one point out of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference but remained winless in the past five games. "Every points important," said Stuart. "Were on a stretch now where we need two-point games. Obviously anything less than that is a disappointment. But well take the one point and focus on getting two in Hamilton." Danny Taylor got his second straight start, recording 29 saves in the win. Evan Rankin had a goal and an assist for Rochester, while Derek Whitmore and Stuart also scored. David Leggio stopped 31 shots in his 17th consecutive start. "(Leggio) was on his game tonight," said Stuart. "Obviously the shots we did give up were quality. He kept us in the game." After a scoreless first period, Kolanos was sent in on a breakaway by a Brian Connelly pass and wired a shot glove side on Leggio at 4:13 for his record-setting goal. The Americans tied the game at 7:58 of the second while killing a penalty on a two-on-two rush. Rankin redirected Phil Varones pass over the glove of Taylor for his 12th of the season. Rankin now has nine points in his past six games. Abbotsford has given up 12 short-handed goals this season, the fourth most in the AHL. "Weve been giving up short-handed goals lately, which we dont want to do," said Sylvester. "We changed it in the third, I dont know if well stick with that, but weve got to try and stop giving up short-handed goals." The Americans took their first lead of the game at 11:30 with Whitmores team-leading 27th of the year. Paul Szczechura beat Connelly to the puck behind the Heat goal and fed it to Rankin in the corner. He quickly set up Whitmore in the low slot for a one-timer. The Heat tied the game just 34 seconds into the third period. Kolanos point shot was stopped, but Paul Byron collected the rebound and fed it to Sylvester for a tap in. Abbotsford regained the lead at 9:46. Bancks blew by a defender and centred for Horak in the low slot before Horak fought off a check to convert the pass. However, the Americans tied the game at three with 5:39 remaining in regulation. Stuart one-timed a cross-ice feed from Varone to send the game to overtime. "Our effort was...night and day compared to last night," said Stuart, whose team lost 4-0 to the Heat on Tuesday. "There was some ebbs and flow in that game where it was in anybodys hands but down the stretch we just didnt take care of the puck enough." Wholesale NFL Jerseys . Valanciunas eclipsed other nominations in the field which was voted on by selected journalists and fans, easily seeing off Croatias Dario Saric and Frances Leo Westermann, who finished second and third respectively. Wholesale Jerseys . Moreover, it makes the game a little less beautiful. I call it the "deliberate handball swindle. http://www.cheapnfljerseybest.com/. They remain a long way away from winning it again, of course, but their performance in Manchester on Tuesday night was a sign of intent, a message they very much intended on delivering the moment their attention turned on the last 16 clash. Cheap Jerseys From China . Marcum was making his second start since missing two months because of elbow soreness. He allowed three runs, scattering five hits and four walks while striking out four. Cheap NFL Jerseys . -- The Detroit Pistons are building their franchise around a talented frontcourt. MONTREAL -- The Montreal Impact have opened their account in the Major League Soccer win category. Sinisa Ubiparipovic and Andrew Wenger each scored as the expansion Impact registered their first MLS victory with a 2-1 win against Toronto FC on Saturday afternoon at Olympic Stadium. "Its always nice to get the monkey off your back and move forward, but more importantly it just feels good to win," said Wenger. Ubiparipovic, making his first appearance of the season for Montreal, scored in the 17th minute in front of 23,120 spectators at Olympic Stadium. Wenger, the Impacts first overall draft pick, doubled the Impacts lead with nine minutes remaining as Montreal (1-4-1) held off a late rally by 10-man TFC. It was the first ever MLS goal for Wenger, who has been splitting time between the team and Duke University in North Carolina, where he is finishing up a history degree. "Its good to break that losing streak, and now we just have to string some wins together," Wenger said. Danny Koevermans scored for winless Toronto (0-4-0), which was reduced to 10 men after defender Logan Emory was sent off in the 65th minute. Koevermans scored on a header in the 88th to cut Montreals lead to one. It was Torontos fifth game in 14 days, including CONCACAF Champions League matches. The crowd was less than half the 58,912 fans who attended Montreals home opener on March 17. But the home fans were loud and enthusiastic as their team got off to a strong start, dominating ball possession early on and coming close on several rushes by Sanna Nyassi. The two clubs showed a feistiness in their first ever MLS matchup in what promises to become a strong rivalry.dddddddddddd Montreal and Toronto have met six times before in Amway (formerly Nutrilite) Canadian Championship play. TFC won five of those matches. Emory, who was sent off for tripping Nyassi, was visibly disappointed after the game and said the team needs to start executing better if they hope to find their first win on the season. "Its definitely frustrating," he said. "Nobodys really breaking us down, its all mistakes were making." "Everybody has to look at the game tapes and see how to improve," added TFC keeper Milos Kocic. "If you want to earn your respect from the fans and the other players and your teammates, you need to perform." Impact head coach Jesse Marsch said his teams hard work finally paid off after a string of disappointing results. "I know that theyre all buying in to what were about," said Marsch. "More than anything I wanted them to feel validation for all the positive energy that theyve given to the club." Impact midfielder and hometown favourite Patrice Bernier didnt play for the second straight game, although Marsch said Bernier will be back in the lineup soon. "We know that hes a very good player, its going to be a long year," he said. The Impact now return to the road for games at Dallas and D.C. United before returning home for a game against Portland on April 28. Only three of their first 10 games are at home as they await completion of the expansion of their outdoor home, Saputo Stadium. TFC returns home to Toronto for a game against Chivas USA next Saturday. ' ' '