The Abbotsford Heat hosted the Rochester Americans in a rare morning game this week, and outlasted the visitors 3-2 in front of an energetic school aged crowd. Danny Taylor made 17 stops, earning his eighth win in his last 11 starts. Both defenseman Brett Carson and forward Ben Street had a goal and an assist in the victory.

With the win, the Heat maintained their position atop the North Division, two points clear of second-place Lake Erie Monsters. They now have 55 points in 46 games, and are the only team remaining in the AHL to have allowed fewer than 100 goals on the season thus far.

Pucked in the Head was at the AESC, and is happy to file this game report. Post-game quotes and photo gallery after the jump.

Of particular interest on this day was Brett Carson, who earned first star honours thanks to his two-point performance. He now has seven points in his first eight games with the Heat, just one shy of his production in 34 AHL games last season.

“So much of this game is about confidence,” said Carson in the post-game press conference. “Not just when the puck goes in, but even when it gets through traffic, when it gets through to the net, it builds that confidence. You start to see the lanes opening up a little bit more, and you feel better about taking shots you might not otherwise take. Luckily pucks have been getting through for me lately, and a few of them are going in as well.”

Also prominent in the photo gallery is Surrey-born centre Kevin Sundher, a rookie with the Rochester Americans this season after five successful years with WHL teams in Chilliwack, Victoria and Brandon. A point-per-game man in his last two seasons of junior, Sundher has taken some time to find a rhythm in the AHL, but find it he has of late. While he had a five-game point streak snapped in the loss, he now has three goals and two assists in his last six games for the Americans.

See the official game sheet here.