Ortio makes 29 saves as Abbotsford hands Charlotte fifth straight defeat

RALEIGH, N.C. - Jonio Ortio made 29 saves as the visiting Abbotsford Heat downed the Charlotte Checkers 5-1 on Saturday in American Hockey League play.

Blair Jones had a goal and an assist for the West-Division leading Heat (32-15-4) while Markus Granlund, Sven Baertschi, Ben Street and Ben Hanowski each scored once.

Victor Rask scored the lone goal for the Checkers (22-24-2), who are on a five-game slide. John Muse turned away 28-of-33 shots in a losing cause.

Granlund opened the scoring 1:32 into the game and Jones made it 2-0 for Abbotsford just 14 seconds into the second period.

Rask responded for Charlotte with a power-play goal at 6:34. Baertschi, however, made it 3-1 for the Heat after 40 minutes of play.

Street and Hanowski put the game away with power-play goals in the third period.

Abbotsford went 2 for 4 on the power play while Charlotte scored once on three chances with the man advantage.

The two clubs will meet again Sunday.