Abbotsford Heat goalie Barry Brust set an American Hockey League record Saturday, extending his scoreless streak to 268 minutes, 17 seconds before allowing a second-period power play goal by the San Antonio Rampage in Texas on Saturday.

The netminder broke the record of 249: 51 established by Johnny Bower of the Cleveland Barons in 1957.

Brust set the mark at 18: 11 of the first period and held the Rampage scoreless until 16: 36 of the second period. It was the second goal allowed by Brust this season. He gave up another 1: 35 later in what became a 3-2 shootout win for the Heat.

"Barry's shutout streak was really a hot issue right after the two Lake Erie games (Nov. 13-14)," said coach Troy Ward.

Since being scored on by Zack Kassian of the Chicago Wolves at 8: 19 into the first period on Oct. 20, Brust won that game 4-1, then shut out the Toronto Marlies on Nov. 1 (3-0). He posted back-to-back, 29-save shutouts against the Lake Erie Monsters on Nov. 13 and 14 (3-0 and 2-0).

"As far as the streak goes, goals against is a team stat and I feel like it's been a nice little feather in our cap, showing how good we've been defensively as a group so far," said Brust.

He now leads the AHL in save percentage (.978) and has allowed just three goals on 134 shots. He has a 5-0-0 record with a goals against average of just 0.59. The Heat are the toughest team to score on in the AHL, averaging just 1.71 goals against per game.

The 29-year-old, Brust, who was born in Manitoba but played his minor hockey in Kelowna, has had a well-travelled career.

He's played for eight teams since 2004, including one season with Straubing of the German league in 2011-12. He won the Calder Cup with Binghamton in 2011 and played 64 ECHL games.

He has 11 NHL games to his credit, all with the Los Angeles Kings during the 2006-07 season. Brust went 2-4-1 with a 3.70 goals-against average and .878 save percentage.

He left the Kings and spent the next three seasons with the Houston Aeros, the AHL affiliate of the Minnesota Wild.

The netminder is hopeful he'll get another chance in the NHL.

"I'd like to think so," Brust told Dave Lozo of NHL.com. "Obviously some things have to break the right way. I think being in the American Hockey League, you're always a break or two away.

"You always want to hold out hope and dream, and all I can do is take care of the way I play. I've done a lot since the time I was in the NHL. I'd like to think I can play there [again)]someday."

JKonda-Witte@abbotsfordtimes.com

- WITH FILES FROM THE PROVINCE