Abbotsford gets goals from five different skaters, downs Hamilton 5-1

HAMILTON - The Abbotsford Heat scored three goals in 53 seconds of the first period en route to a convincing 5-1 win over the Hamilton Bulldogs in the American Hockey League on Saturday.

Corey Locke, Chad Billins, Ben Street, Sven Baertschi and Max Reinhart each had goals for the Heat (35-23-7). Aaron Dell made 36 saves.

Nathan Beaulieu had the lone goal for the Bulldogs (28-32-5). Dustin Tokarski stopped 19 shots before being replaced to begin the third period. Devan Dubnyk stopped all five shots he faced in relief.

Tokarski made an exceptional save to keep the game scoreless 12 minutes into the first period, sliding to his right to deny the Heat in close at his far post.

But a night that started so well for the Hamilton goaltender quickly turned sour.

Locke, who had set up the previous chance, provided the finish as the Heat opened the scoring at 14:28.

Locke moved into the low slot with Kane Lafranchise holding the puck along the boards, and tipped a slap-pass from the defenceman high and past Tokarski.

Abbotsford doubled its lead just 19 seconds later, when Billins fired a wrist shot from the point that moved through a screen and surprised Tokarski.

The Heat scored their third goal in quick succession at 15:21.

Tokarski sprawled to deny Josh Jooris' initial shot as the forward crashed the net, but Street was on hand at the post to slot the rebound into the open net.

Dell worked hard to preserve his shutout bid in the second period. Nick Tarnasky was unguarded in the low slot, but Dell dropped into his butterfly to deny the Hamilton winger from point blank range six minutes in.

Louis Leblanc was whistled for closing his hand on the puck at 9:22, and Abbotsford quickly extended its lead on the ensuing power play.

The combination of Greg Olsen, Derek Smith and Baertschi sprung a three-on-two rush, and after Olsen was turned back, Smith slipped a short pass to Baertschi, who slapped a one-time shot past Tokarski from close range at 10:00 of the second.

Dell was forced into action late in period, and kicked aside a tipped shot before recovering to deny a hard wrist shot from Bournival with his right pad.

Devan Dubnyk came in to replace Tokarski to begin the third period after Tokarski allowed four goals on 23 shots.

Christian Thomas spoiled Dell's shutout bid at 3:59 of the third. Thomas' initial shot from the blue-line hit a Heat defender and bounced to Beaulieu at the left faceoff dot. But with Dell out of position, the defenceman easily fired a shot into the open near side of the net.

Reinhart added an empty-net goal at 19:11.