It took 10 rounds of shootout for the Abbotsford Heat and Rochester Americans to settle matters on Sunday.
After the two teams exchanged three goals apiece over the first nine rounds of the skills competition, Alex Biega put the puck past Heat goalie Danny Taylor in the 10th to lift the host Amerks to a 3-2 victory.
Rochester had built a 2-0 lead in the first period on goals by Matt Ellis and Phil Varone, despite Abbotsford's 10-5 edge in shots and three power plays in the frame.
The Heat battled back, though. Akim Aliu scored his second goal in as many games in the second period, beating Amerks goalie David Leggio following an end-to-end rush. Drew MacKenzie notched his first career AHL goal in the third to knot the score, banking a point shot off the end glass and in off Leggio's back.
Taylor stopped 30 shots in regulation and overtime, while Leggio made 35 saves in his fifth win of the season vs. the Heat.
The extra point earned by Rochester (31-22-4, 66 points) in the shootout boosted them past Abbotsford (28-25-9, 65 points) for second place in the North Division and seventh in the Western Conference.
Rookie forward Sven Baertschi, reassigned to the Heat by the Calgary Flames on Saturday, suited up vs. the Amerks and registered three shots on goal and a -1 rating.
The Heat are back in action on Wednesday, when they visit the Texas Stars.