Playing his first game since November 25th, Cedrick Desjardins tied a season high with 38 saves as he returned between the pipes for the Lake Erie Monsters (11-12-1-1), but it was not enough to prevent the Abbotsford Heat (17-8-1-1) from earning a 2-0 victory over the Monsters in Abbotsford, British Columbia Friday night. Desjardins had missed the previous five games with an injury. The Monsters are now 0-3 against the Heat so far this season.

Krys Kolanos scored the eventual game-winning goal, his 12th of the season, when he streaked up the left side of the ice and beat Desjardins on a low shot to the far side of the net at the 15:50 mark of the opening period.

Dustin Sylvester, who has three games played for the Monsters in his professional career, scored the insurance tally for the Heat at 10:31 of the second period to give Abbotsford the 2-0 advantage. The Monsters outshot Abbotsford 14-10 in the third period, but were unable to solve Heat goalie Danny Taylor.

Desjardins (5-3-1) stopped 38 of 40 shots in the loss; his 38 saves tie a team and personal high this season. Taylor (7-3-0) stopped all 38 Monsters shots sent his way in the game. The Monsters and Heat will battle again on Saturday night at 10:00 PM Eastern. All the action can be heard live on ESPN 850 WKNR.

NOTES: Greg Mauldin was sick and unable to play, so his five-game point streak stays intact… Luke Walker’s three-game assist streak was snapped; Walker played his 100th professional game Friday… The game marked the sixth time this season the Monsters have been shut out, and the Heat is the only team to blank the Monsters twice this year… Justin Mercier (169) is now four games behind Ray Macias (173) on the Monsters all-time games played list.