By Mike Cadarette (Contributor) – Email
231 minutes and 41 seconds.
That’s the number of minutes Barry Brust has played without allowing a goal in Wednesday’s 2-0 Heat victory. The Heat goaltender (nicknamed ‘The Ninja’), has led the Heat to back-to-back victories versus the Lake Erie Monsters.
At this point, one would think Brust wouldn’t even remember what it feels like to allow a goal, but such is not the case. “Unfortunately I do,” chuckled the modest goaltender. “It’s been nice, but obviously I was pretty lucky tonight. They hit three posts and missed an empty net… I’ve been fortunate, but I’ll take it.”
Barry Brust currently leads the league in goals against average with an unfathomable 0.25 through his first four games, which is good for first in the AHL.
Brust, just one of three goalies on the Heat roster, continues to show why the Abbotsford Heat signed him to a standard player contract this offseason.
“It’s very good for us to know that we have a guy back there like Barry,” said Brett Olson. “Those guys come and they’re ready to go every night and they stop pucks that they’re supposed to and some that they’re not. It makes it a lot easier for us defensively.”
The Heat and Monsters went scoreless through the first two periods until rookie Brett Olson finally opened the scoring 5:50 into the third period. A well-executed cycle from Carter Bancks and Ben Street found Olson in the slot and beat Lake Erie goaltender Sami Aittokallio five-hole.
Mid-way through the third period hulking defender Chris Breen channeled his unexpected inner-Wayne Gretzky by sniping the puck past Aittokallio. It hit two posts before rippling the mesh.
“He did a toe drag of the puck around somebody a week ago and we had to show that in the team meeting, like that was a first. Now he’s added a snipe in there,” explained Ward. “But he won’t be in any shootouts anytime soon.”
The Heat now go on a half-month long road trip visiting Rochester and Toronto on Friday and Saturday in the east followed by Texas, San Antonio and Houston for a back-to-back-to-back set from November 23-25. The Heat will return home to the AESC on November 30 against the Hamilton Bulldogs.
