By Mike Cadarette (Contributor) – Email
Print Edition: November 28, 2012
In case being the best team in the AHL isn’t enough to please Heat fans, a professional hockey world record and an AHL record should.
About three weeks ago the Heat set a record for scoring the fastest consecutive goals only three seconds apart. On Saturday, November 24 Heat goalie Barry Brust added to the Heat’s accolades beating Hockey Hall of Famer Johnny Bower’s 55-year-old AHL shutout streak record having not allowed a goal in 268 minutes and 17 seconds (Bower’s record was 249 minutes and 51 seconds).
At this point, setting records are merely icing on the cake for the Heat who won two games in extra time and lost another in overtime on their road trip to Texas. The Heat took home five of a possible six points this weekend, which puts them solely in first place in league-wide standings with 28 points.
On Friday night, the Heat were able to pull off a 1-0 overtime win versus the Texas Stars in what turned out to be a battle between great goaltender. Stars’ netminder Cristopher Nilstorp, who took home third star honours, faced 29 shots from the Heat in the loss.
Heat defenceman Chris Breen would eventually help his goalie, Danny Taylor, preserve his shutout when he blasted a slap shot past Nilstorp just eight seconds into overtime. Overlooked by fellow netminder Barry Brust, Taylor has put up very stingy numbers in the crease with 1.65 goals against average and a .937 save percentage.
On Saturday night, the Heat faced off against the Florida Panthers’ affiliate San Antonio Rampage. The game ended in a thrilling 11-round 3-2 shootout victory for the Heat.
Coming into the game, Barry Brust needed less than one period to break the aforementioned shutout record, which his team helped him achieve by allowing only three shots on net in the first period.
However, that shutout streak would come to an end with four minutes left in the second period on a game-tying power play goal from Rampage forward James Wright. Less than two minutes later, the Rampage would take a 2-1 lead after two periods.
Abbotsford was able to pull off a few clutch goals during the game to keep themselves in it. The first clutch goal came in the third period when Heat rookie Ben Olson scored with 14 seconds left in the game to tie it at 2-2. In the shootout, facing a loss, Roman Horak scored the second clutch goal to keep his team alive. Then, in round 11 of the shootout, Carter Bancks scored the 3-2 game winning goal.
The next afternoon the Heat played their third game in less than 48 hours, losing to Minnesota Wild farm team Houston Aeros in a 3-2 overtime loss.
The Heat would go into the locker room after the first intermission tied 1-1. Olson tied the game a minute and a half after Houston took the lead on a beautiful pass from Paul Byron and Dustin Sylvester.
In the third period, down 2-1, the Heat were able to muster another important goal to force overtime on a point shot from Joe Piskula beating Aeros goalie Matt Hackett.
However, not much of the extra frame was needed. Just five seconds into overtime, Aeros’ Jason Zucker would break into the zone on a two-on-one and put home the game-winning goal.
On the Heat’s half-month long road trip—a road trip in which they faced the Rochester Americans and Toronto Marlies before heading south to Texas—they were able to collect seven of a possible 10 points.
A few Heat players were outstanding this week. Rookie Ben Olson was vital to his team, garnering two important goals on Saturday and Sunday. Olson, who made the Heat out of training camp and earned himself a contract, has been one of the biggest pleasant surprises of the season. If he is able to keep up the pace he has set for himself, he could find himself on a NHL roster at some point. Paul Byron was another important factor getting a goal and an assist and creating a myriad of scoring chances for the Heat.
Defensively, Chris Breen has been as steady as a pillar on the blue line – even chipping in with a rare, but important overtime goal.
Yet, goaltending has been the feature story for the Heat in the early going this season. Barry Brust continues to play lights out leading the AHL in goals against average and save percentage. Danny Taylor is fourth in the league in those same statistical categories. In fact, Abbotsford has allowed the fewest goals in the AHL, letting in only 32 goals in 18 games.
Given the Heat’s 12-2-2-2 record and setting two records, not much else can go right for Abbotsford’s club at this point.
The Heat will take on Montreal Canadiens’ affiliate Hamilton Bulldogs at home this upcoming weekend on November 30 and December 1.
