For the better part of 60 minutes on Saturday evening, Abbotsford Heat goalie Leland Irving did a spot-on impersonation of a brick wall against the Oklahoma City Barons.
The Barons finally solved Irving in the waning seconds of the third, and they completed the comeback in overtime, with Brad Moran scoring the game-winner in a 2-1 victory at the Cox Convention Centre.
Lance Bouma had given Abbotsford a 1-0 lead at 10:41 of the first period, banging home a rebound off a John Negrin point shot on the power play.
Irving was often spectacular in nursing that lead into the final minute of regulation. OKC out-shot Abbotsford 37-23, including an 18-3 edge in the third period.
Defenceman Colten Teubert, with 17.1 seconds left, finally got the Barons on the board, as his shot deflected off the Heat’s T.J. Brodie and eluded Irving.
Moran, an Abbotsford native, put the hurt on his hometown team, swatting in a rebound off Teemu Hartikainen’s initial shot at 3:37 of the extra frame.
The Heat turned in a terrific performance on the penalty kill on Saturday, snuffing all six of the Barons’ power play opportunities, including an extended two-man advantage in the third period.
Heat forward Ales Kotalik extended his point streak to five games with an assist on Bouma’s goal.
Both Abbotsford (30-25-4-5) and Oklahoma City (33-22-2-5) are in fifth place in their divisions – the North and West, respectively.
The Heat wrap up a five-game road trip on Sunday against the Houston Aeros. They return home for a Friday-Saturday set against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins at the Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre.