(CP) — It was a repeat performance for Barry Brust.
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. Hockey Hall of Famer Johnny Bower — the AHL’s all-time leader in wins and shutouts — owns the league’s record for longest shutout streak at 249:51.
"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 Barry’s performance," said Heat head coach Troy 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."
Brust has made four starts this season and allowed only one goal, to Chicago’s Zack Kassian 8:19 into his Heat debut on Oct. 20. He shut out the Toronto Marlies on Nov. 1 and has stopped 105 of 106 shots overall this season (4-0-0, 0.25, .991).
Brett Olson and Chris Breen supplied the offence for Abbotsford (9-1-1-2).
The Heat are 5-0-1-0 in their last six games and have lost in regulation time only once all season, a 2-1 loss to the Hamilton Bulldogs on Oct. 28.
Sami Aittokallio stopped 18 of 20 shots for the Monsters (9-5-0-0), who have scored three goals and been shut out four times in their last six games at the Abbotsford Entertainment & Sports Centre.
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.
