The San Antonio Rampage sent the Abbotsford Heat to a defeat at the tail end of a five-game road trip, winning 2-1 on Monday afternoon.

The Heat, playing their fifth game in seven days and third in three nights, were playing one skater shy of a full roster – forward Jon Rheault sat out with an upper-body injury.

The Rampage opened the scoring on a first-period power play, as James Wright tipped in Evan Barlow's shot to snap the Heat's streak of 29 successful penalty kills. Abbotsford still leads the AHL in PK efficiency at 87.9 per cent.

Akim Aliu knotted the score late in the first period with his fourth goal as a member of the Heat, as a rebound caromed off his skate and into the net.

The Heat were victims of an unfortunate bounce on the game-winning goal, as the puck banked in off the skate of Rampage forward Mark Cullen at 7:12 of the third period.

Abbotsford goalie Danny Taylor, starting his 16th consecutive game, stopped 29 of 31 shots, while San Antonio's Dov Grumet-Morris turned aside 25 of 26.

With the loss, the Heat (24-13-3-0, 51 points) remain two points back of the Oklahoma City Barons for top spot in the Western Conference.

The Heat now head home for a Friday-Saturday set against the Charlotte Checkers at the Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre (7 p.m. both nights).