The Abbotsford Heat will have to wait until the weekend in their pursuit of top spot in the West Division after dropping a 2-1 decision on Monday afternoon in San Antonio.

Playing a Martin Luther King Day matinée for their third game in 48 hours, the Heat played without a full roster, but had the game knotted at 1-1 after 40 minutes, only to fall back 2-1 in the third.

The San Antonio Rampage scored first on Monday, as a tipped shot in the slot on the power play snapped the Heat's streak of consecutive penalties killed at 29. The goal was the first allowed on the man advantage by the Heat since Jan. 6, but the club remains the top penalty killers in the AHL.

At 18: 38 of the opening period, the Heat would equalize as a Jordan Henry point shot was stopped, but the rebound caromed off the skate of Akim Aliu and into the Rampage net. The goal was discussed by the four on-ice officials working the game, but stood, and is the fourth goal for Aliu in nine games since joining the Heat; Quintin Laing also drew an assist. A scoreless second period saw the Heat erase a 17-second five-on-three man-advantage for the Rampage, and the game went to the third frame all-square at a goal apiece.

The game-winning goal banked in off a skate of a San Antonio forward in the slot and gave the home team the lead. Monday's win for the Rampage was the first time in five meetings between the clubs that the home team has won.

With the loss, the Heat remain two points back of the Oklahoma City Barons for top spot in the Western Conference.

Up next for the Heat is a pair of home stands that will see the Heat host the Charlotte Checkers (Carolina Hurricanes) this Friday and Saturday, before their first home series with the Chicago Wolves (Vancouver Canucks) on Tuesday Jan. 24 and Wednesday Jan. 25 at the AESC.

All four games start at 7 p.m.