Corban Knight scores winner as Abbotsford Heat beat Charlotte Checkers 4-3

ABBOTSFORD, B.C. – Corban Knight scored the winner late in the third period in the Abbotsford Heat’s 4-3 win over the Charlotte Checkers in American Hockey League action Wednesday night.

Ben Street put a shot on net from the slot and Knight was parked in front of goaltender Mike Murphy to slide the rebound in to break a 3-3 tie with his 13th goal of the season and fourth in four games.

Street also scored for the second straight night, while Sven Baertschi and Markus Granlund tallied for Abbotsford (30-14-4), which won its third in a row. Brett Olson had three assists.

In their past four games the Heat outscored the opposition 21-5.

Olivier Roy stopped 32 shots for the Heat.

Dan Biega scored his first two professional goals and Zach Boychuk also tallied for Charlotte (22-22-1).

Murphy made 24 saves for the Checkers.

The Heat opened the scoring when Baertschi buried his third goal of the season, taking a feed from Corey Locke and backhanding the puck over the outstretched glove of Murphy at 12:43 of the first period.

However, the Checkers tied the game a few minutes later. Charlotte broke out on a four-on-one rush and Biega finished a give and go with Brett Sutter, beating Roy five-hole.

Granlund put the Heat back up by one just 1:21 into the second period, finish off a two-on-one with Brett Olson while shorthanded. Granlund beat Murphy for his team-leading 21st of the season and fifth in as many games.

The Checkers drew even again at 15:26 of the second period. Boychuk skated in and wired a shot past Roy from the top of the circle, blocker side, for his team-leading 22nd of the year.

Street put the Heat back by one at 9:30 of the third. With the puck lost in a maze of skates at the right face-off dot, Street spun around and fired the puck past Murphy for his 19th.

However, Biega once again knotted the game up for the visitors, driving out of the corner towards the net before sliding the puck under Roy at 11:11.

Heat defenceman Tyler Wotherspoon thought he had the winner on his stick with less than six minutes to go when he got open in the slot. However, Murphy kicked his left pad up into the air to deny him of the sure goal.

Knight, however, put the Heat up for good at 16:27.