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The Heat didn't show up for game 2, and as a result, got blown out, 7-2. Grand Rapids can take the series with a third victory on Wednesday.
It's officially do or die for the Abbotsford Heat. While they played an excellent first game, getting 56 shots on net and falling in a close one that required double overtime, game 2 was the complete opposite.
The Heat had 17 shots on net over three periods. Compare that to last game's 35 in regulation: just over half. Brett Kulak, a rookie defenceman, had the most with three.
The Griffins, on the other hand, stormed out of the gate, with 21 shots in the first period, en route to a total of 46 for the night.
Taking 10 penalties and collecting 54 penalty minutes, including three game misconducts (none by any prospects - but one by Shane O'Brien, of course), certainly didn't help the Heat's case, but fact was it was a completely different team in game 2.
Without sustained pressure, without shots on net, and without puck possession in general, you're not going to win many games; especially not going up against Petr Mrazek, who stole the first game.
It's certainly possible to come back from down 2-0 in a best of 5 series, but the Heat need to play the way they did their first game, and the Flames' top prospects need to show up. Emile Poirier, who was initially a healthy scratch, but ended up being a last-minute replacement for Corban Knight, got the game's first goal. Max Reinhart got the Heat's second.
From there it was over as the Griffins scored six straight goals over the rest of the game, resulting in Joni Ortio being pulled after giving up five.
The Flames' farm team had a great season, but it may almost be over. It would be a shame to see the prospects' seasons finished so early, and certainly not what you hope from a rebuilding team: the NHL club may not make the playoffs, but the AHL one should at least have a good post-season run.
The takeaway from this mess? Hope that the prospects had a good learning experience, and not much else. It was an extremely poor showing: one the Heat must not repeat if they want their season to continue.