Barry Brust earns third straight shutout as Heat blank Monsters 2-0

ABBOTSFORD, B.C. - It was a repeat performance for Barry Brust on Wednesday.

Brust made 29 saves as the Abbotsford Heat blanked the Lake Erie Monsters 2-0 on Wednesday in American Hockey League action.

The 29-year-old goaltender shut out Lake Erie for the second time in as many nights. Brust had stopped 29 shots on Tuesday as Abbotsford downed the Monsters 3-0.

It was his third consecutive shutout, extending his goal-less streak to 231 minutes 41 seconds.

"Usually, I feel better in the second of a back-to-back," said Brust. "When you play the night before sometimes it takes a bit of time. (...) You kind of get a little rhythm going."

Brust's coach has come to expect this sort of performance from his goaltender.

"I'm not shocked by Barrys performance," said Heat head coach Tony Ward. "He plays a little unorthodox and a and plays the puck.

"He's athletic and a very competitive man."

Brust insists that his shutout streak isn't all skill.

"It's been nice," said Brust. "I mean, I was pretty lucky tonight. They hit three posts and missed an empty net.

"I've been fortunate, but I'll take it. Obviously."

Brett Olson and Chris Breen supplied the offence for Abbotsford (9-1-3).

The Heat are 5-0-1 in their last six games and haven't lost in regulation time since a 2-1 loss to the Hamilton Bulldogs on Oct. 28.

Sami Aittokallio stopped 18 of 20 shots for the Monsters (9-5-0).

Abbotsford couldn't score on its one power play, while Lake Erie went 0-for-3.

Olson scored his second goal of the season, redirecting a pass from behind the net from Ben Street.

Breen added some insurance for the Heat when he lifted a shot past an outstretched Aittokallio later in the third period.

The game began with a scoreless first, even though Abbotsford forward Sven Baertschi had three shots in the period.

Lake Erie tested Brust in the second period, getting 13 shots on net.

Andrew Agozzino was particularly aggressive for the Monsters, unloading five shots on Brust in the second.

Lake Erie outshot the Heat 29-20 over the course of the game.