A slow start to the second period was the Abbotsford Heat's undoing on Wednesday as they fell 4-3 to the Texas Stars on the road.
The Heat had built a 2-1 lead after the first period, with Krys Kolanos and Blair Jones scoring the Abby goals and Matt Fraser replying for the host Stars.
But Texas exploded for three goals in the first 4:45 of the middle frame – two from Mike Hedden and one from William Wrenn. The second goal in that spurt, off the stick of defenceman Wrenn, prompted Heat head coach Troy Ward to replace starting goalie Danny Taylor with Barry Brust. Taylor had allowed three goals on 14 shots.
The Heat would draw to within a goal at 1:48 of the third period on a point shot from Mike Matczak, but that was as close as they would get.
Abbotsford (28-26-9, 65 points) fell to ninth place in the Western Conference standings, while the conference-leading Stars (34-16-10, 78 points) snapped a five-game winless skid.
The Heat continue their road trip on Thursday with a visit to the Houston Aeros.