Barons Halt Heat Streak at Seven Games

Published on November 19, 2011 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Abbotsford Heat News Release


Oklahoma City, OK - The Abbotsford Heat will look to start a new road winning streak on Saturday after suffering a 4-1 loss to the Oklahoma City Barons, their first away from home since October 26th in Toronto.

The Barons opened the scoring with a pair of tallies in the first eight minutes off of two-on-one rushes, as they caught a Heat squad with less than their best effort on this season-long two week trip away from Abbotsford.

In the second period, the Barons stretched their lead to 3-0 before the heat would get their first of the night when Jon Rheault scored his eighth of the season at 17:20 of the second period. Rheault took a pass from Ben Walter and roofed the puck to cut the Barons lead to 3-1, but it turned out to be the lone goal the visitors would score on the night. Dustin Sylvester also drew an assist on the strike.

Leland Irving stopped 20 of 24 shots, while the Heat would score one goal on 25 shots guided at the Oklahoma City net. For Irving the game was his first loss since November 3rd, when the Heat lost 3-2 against this same Barons team, ending a four game stretch that saw him allow just six goals against.

Neither team could score on the man-advantage on Friday as the Heat finished with four attempts, compared to the Barons three chances up a man.

The season series now sees the Heat with just a single point in three games, while the Barons have three wins and six of a possible six points. The fourth game of the eight-game season series starts tomorrow at 5:00 PM Pacific.

With the win, the Barons now move into sole possession of top spot in a crowded West Division (and top spot in the Conference), while Houston lost 3-2 to Texas in overtime, and now are just three points behind the Oklahoma City Barons, and a single point behind the Heat, who has 23 points. The Heat can take a share of top spot in the standings tomorrow with a win and some help from the Out-of-Town Scoreboard.

The Heat and Barons will complete this two-game set tomorrow in Oklahoma City. The pre-game show starts at 4:45 PM Pacific, with puck-drop shortly after 5:00 PM.

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American Hockey League Stories from November 19, 2011


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