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Bulldogs send Heat down to defeat for 10th time in last 11 games

The Abbotsford Heat let an early lead slip away on Wednesday, as they opened a six-game road trip with a 3-1 loss to the Hamilton Bulldogs.
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Heat forward Josh Jooris (17) battles for the puck in the neutral zone against the Hamilton Bulldogs.

The Abbotsford Heat let an early lead slip away on Wednesday evening, as they opened a six-game road trip with a 3-1 loss to the Hamilton Bulldogs.

Defenceman Chris Breen staked the Heat to a 1-0 lead at the 8:56 mark of the first period, jumping into the play and wristing a shot from the slot past Bulldogs goalie Dustin Tokarski. Corey Locke and Sven Baertschi picked up assists on the play.

But Hamilton otherwise dominated the opening frame, out-shooting the Heat 16-6, and they got on the board with 2:05 to go before the intermission when Mike Blunden took advantage of a turnover and beat Abby goalie Aaron Dell.

Christian Thomas gave the Bulldogs their first lead midway through the second period, and Gabriel Dumont scored on a third-period penalty shot after being hauled down on a breakaway.

Dell picked up third star honours after keeping Abbotsford in the game despite being out-shot 39-28.

Baertschi, making his return to the lineup after missing four games due to an unspecified injury, extended his points streak to five games with his assist on Breen's goal.

It was the 10th loss in 11 games for the Heat (34-23-7, 75 points), who were first in the Western Conference less than a month ago but have slid to fifth since their roster was decimated by recalls and injuries around the NHL trade deadline. With 12 games to go in the regular season, they've got a nine-point cushion on the ninth-place Oklahoma City Barons – the top eight teams in the conference make the playoffs.

The Heat and Bulldogs (27-30-5) renew hostilities on Saturday (4 p.m. Pacific time), and Abbotsford visits the Toronto Marlies on Sunday (11:30 a.m. Pacific).