The Abbotsford Heat dropped a 4-1 decision to the Peoria Rivermen on Friday night, in the first of three road games in three days.
The Rivermen deflected three pucks past Danny Taylor in his first start since returning from the Calgary Flames, to hand the Heat their second loss of a five-game road trip.
Ben Walter’s power play goal briefly tied the game in the second period, but it turned out to be all the offence the Heat would muster.
The Rivermen scored just 2:15 into the game on Cody Beach’s second goal of the season, and Walter knotted the score with a five-on-three power play goal at 9:59 of the second period. Brett Carson and Krys Kolanos drew assists on Walter’s ninth goal of the season.
But the Rivermen would surge ahead once again, as Brett Sonne and Chris Porter tallied before the middle frame was done.
Adam Cracknell rounded out the scoring into an empty net with nine seconds to play.
Taylor, making his first start since he cleared waivers and was assigned to the Heat on Wednesday, made 30 saves on 33 shots. The Rivermen outshot the Heat 34-25.
Abbotsford (26-18-7) is back in action on Saturday, as they visit the Rockford IceHogs.