Wolves fall for first time
ABBOTSFORD, B.C. — The Abbotsford Heat reeled off 3 unanswered goals in the third period to knock the Chicago Wolves from the ranks of the unbeaten with a 4-1 decision Saturday night at Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre.
Right wing Zack Kassian produced the Wolves goal — his third in as many games — while goaltender Eddie Lack posted a season-high 37 saves. Defenseman Yann Sauve assisted on Kassian's score.
Kassian opened the scoring for the third game in a row at 8:19 of the first. Sauve battled an Abbotsford player along the boards for the puck and tapped it toward Kassian, who skated into the slot and rifled a shot past Heat goaltender Barry Brust.
Abbotsford evened the score at 5:10 of the second period after Lack roamed out to the faceoff dot to try to clear the puck. Heat center Adam Estoclet gained control and hit left wing Carter Bancks in the front of the net. Bancks backhanded it in before Lack could return home.
The Wolves (4-1-0-0) fell behind for the first time all year at 8:44 of the third when Heat center Ben Walter's sharp pass found Dustin Sylvester right in front of the crease. Sylvester redirected the pass past Lack for a 2-1 lead.
Walter's pass set up Sven Baertschi for another goal at 12:44 and Roman Horak tacked on a power-play goal at 14:27 for the Heat (3-0-0-1).
Lack's record dropped to 3-1-0. Brust (1-0-0) saved 25 shots in his season debut.