The Abbotsford Heat as a whole, and Guillaume Desbiens in particular, staged a breakthrough against the Oklahoma City Barons on Saturday evening.
The Heat knocked off the Barons for the first time in four tries this season, skating to a 4-2 triumph at the Cox Convention Centre. Along the way, Desbiens snapped an epic goal-scoring slump – he scored his first of the season in the third period, and it stood as the game-winner.
The Heat improved to 5-1-0-0 on their current road trip, and moved into a tie with OKC atop both the West Division and the Western Conference. Both teams have 25 points.
After a scoreless opening period, goals by Greg Nemisz and Clay Wilson staked the Heat to a 2-0 lead in the second. But the Barons rallied to knot the score before the period was up, on goals by Hunter Tremblay and Chris VandeVelde.
At 3:25 of the third period, Desbiens took a pass from Dustin Sylvester and ripped a high shot past Barons goalie Yann Danis. It marked the ex-Vancouver Canuck's first goal in 18 games this season.
Jon Rheault, with his ninth of the season, salted the game away with an empty-netter with 34 seconds left. Rheault also picked up two assists on the night to continue his red-hot November, during which he's racked up 13 points (seven goals, six assists) in nine games.
The Heat wrap up the trip on Sunday, when they visit the Houston Aeros.