With smells of Christmas turkey drifting into their memories and a good dose of family time behind them, the Abbotsford Heat return to regular AHL duties Thursday night.

Hosting the Texas Stars Thursday night at the Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre, the Heat won the match 5-3, extending their home points earning streak to five home games.

In the win forward Krys Kolanos continues to be red hot for the Heat, netting one goal and two assists. That brings his season totals to 16 goals and 17 assists in 23 games since returning to AHL action on Oct. 28, after 22 months recovery time from microfracture hip surgery. He also is in seventh overall in AHL scoring standings.

To say Kolanos has made his mark in Heat stats would be grossly understating the facts. He leads the team in goals, power play goals, 33 points, and 111 shots on goal. In addition he leads the AHL in game opening goals, with seven.

His goal at 11:35 of the first period followed up team captain Quintin Laing's power play marker at 6:56, put the Heat out to a 2-1 lead.

Also marking a milestone in Heat franchise standings was Jon Rheault, who earned three assists Thursday and took over all-time top spot in team points with 63.

Heat head coach Troy Ward was pleased with Rheault's performance and milestone.

"He's been a big part of the organization since he's been here," Ward said. "He shows marked consistency because he takes care of himself mentally and physically."

"He puts himself in position to achieve these types of records, I'm happy for him."

New acquisition Akim Aliu netted his first goal in his first game in a Heat jersey, and was also assessed two of the team's six penalties for the night, one for hooking in the first period and a high sticking infraction in the third.

Also earning his first goal of the season was 6' 6" defenseman Chris Breen, while Guillaume Desbiens netted his second goal of the season.

Despite being out shot 45-29, netminder Danny Taylor turned aside 42 shots en route to the victory, his sixth in eight starts.

Trailing the Oklahoma City Barons by only two points, the Heat were poised to move into a tie with a Friday night win for the overall lead in the AHL. The Barons had games scheduled for New Year's Eve and New Year's Day against San Antonio and Huston.

Friday nights rematch match was after the Times production deadline.

Ice Chips

On Friday the Calgary Flames sent Joe Piskula to Abbotsford and recalled fellow defenseman Clay Wilson, with six Heat goals and 14 assists, to the NHL club.

The Heat signed a game-day (Dec. 29) Professional Tryout Contract (PTO), with Lethbridge Alberta born, Judd Blackwater from the Las Vegas Wranglers in the ECHL on Thursday. He scored 13, picked up 24 assists in 31 games while earning 26 minutes in penalty time.

The previous day, Okene, Nigeria, native Akim Aliu came to the Heat on loan from the St. John's IceCaps, the AHL affiliate for the new Winnipeg Jets. The veteran AHL and ECHL player has played with the Rockford Ice Hogs, Chicago Wolves and Peoria Rivermen in the AHL and Colorado Eagles, Gwinnett Gladiators and Toledo Walleye in the ECHL.