Hockey
Heat Defeat Stars
The Abbotsford Heat will look to stretch their home winning streak to four games on Sunday after opening their six-game home stand with a 2-1 win over the Texas Stars.
Krys Kolanos made his return to the Heat line-up, scored and was named the first star in a game that moves the Heat into a home-ice playoff position.
The two points earned give the Heat 67 on the season in 57 games and saw the team hurdle the Chicago Wolves into sole possession of fourth spot in the Western Conference standings.
The Heat struck early in the first period, just 2:33 into action while on the power play when Krys Kolanos scored on his first shift back with the Heat, after nearly a month with the Calgary Flames.
Kolanos took a pass from Dustin Sylvester and circled the Stars net before ripping his 19th of the season into the top right corner of the Stars net.
The Heat would strike again on the man-advantage just 2:27 later when Ben Walter potted his 12th of the season. Ryan Howse and Clay Wilson drew assists on the play that saw Howse put the puck on the tape of Walter’s stick at the top of the crease.
After going 20 games without a professional point Ryan Howse has now recorded two goals, two assists and a game-winning shootout goal in his last seven contests.
The Stars would record the third power play goal of the period at the 7:32 mark, cutting the Heat lead to one.
Less than eight minutes in, the game had seen three special-team strikes, but that would be all on a Friday night that drew 3,609 fans to the Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre as both net-minders were perfect for the final two and a half periods.
Danny Taylor made his second straight start, and earned his second consecutive win as he stopped 22 of 23 Stars shots. Taylor was named the second star of the game after being named the first star of Wednesday’s win in Rockford.
The Heat directed 29 pucks at the Texas net.
During the post-game press conference Head Coach Troy G. Ward said about Taylor, “It looks like Danny has got some of his swagger and confidence back.” He continued, “It’s nice to have him back in the win column (over the last two contests) and feeling good about his game.”
The Heat PP scored on its first two opportunities before the Stars killed off the last two chances.
The penalty kill erased one of two Texas opportunities five-on-four.
The game saw three fights as Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond, Carter Bancks and Akim Aliu all dropped the gloves in this sixth meeting of the season between divisional rivals.
The Heat play the second of a six-game home-stand on Sunday afternoon in their second to last meeting with the Stars this season.
Abbotsford has won three straight home contests and have now earned points in seven of their last eight games.
Through six (6) meetings with the Stars this season the Heat have five (5) wins.
Sunday’s rematch begins at 1:00 PM and features a post-game ‘Guns and Hoses’ exhibition game between the Abbotsford Police and Fire Departments.
The photo is from one of the earlier games played in December.