Bancks and Aliu help Heat overcome tough travel for 4-2 victory over Marlies

TORONTO - Carter Bancks and Akim Aliu each had a goal and an assist as the Abbotsford Heat beat the Toronto Marlies 4-2 Saturday afternoon in American Hockey League action.

Bancks got the assist on Aliu's goal in the second period then Aliu returned the favour in the third.

Tyler Ruegsegger and Blair Jones also scored for the Heat (28-25-8).

Greg Scott and Joe Colborne scored for the Marlies (30-20-6).

It was a quiet afternoon for Heat goalie Danny Taylor, who only had to make 16 saves. Drew MacIntyre made 19 for Toronto. It was just MacIntyre's second loss in regulation since joining the Marlies in February.

Scott got Toronto started at 10:25 of the first period. After Tim Connolly got the move started by throwing the puck in front of the net from the left side, Carter Ashton fanned on his shot with the puck in front of the net.

That turned out to help Toronto, as Ashton's attempt drew out Taylor and opened up some space for Scott to bang in the puck from close range.

Just over three minutes later, Ruegsegger tied things up when he took a quick shot after breaking into the Marlies zone. It wasn't hit with much venom but it fooled MacIntyre.

Jones got his first goal as a member of the Heat at 6:05 of the second period on the power play when Drew MacKenzie fed him a pass that Jones one-timed a shot from the left face-off circle.

Six minutes after going ahead, Aliu gave the Heat some insurance. He one-tined a Bancks feed at 12:15.

The two reversed roles at 1:51 of the third when Bancks scored his third goal of the season with a little help from Aliu. Aliu floated a shot towards goal that Bancks deflected past MacIntyre.

Colborne scored by deflecting a Simon Gysbers shot from the left point in the final minute to get Toronto a late consolation goal.