Sunday saw two impressive milestones reached by the Heat’s dynamic duo upfront. Ben Walter eclipsed 400 career AHL points, while Krys Kolanos posted his first ever five-point game in the AHL. Both feats deserve further analysis.
Walter’s 400 points have come over stints with five different teams since the 2005-06 season and put him on pace for some special numbers. While current AHL active career points leaders include Keith Aucoin (777), Darren Haydar (720) and Alexandre Giroux (700) way up in the 700′s just 70 men ever have cracked 500 career points in the 76-year history of the league, which Walter is currently on pace to hit late in 2013-14, or early in 2014-15. Elite company to be sure, though predicting the future in the AHL is akin to reading a Farmer’s Almanac for next years weather.
Kolanos meanwhile has amassed 247 points in 265 games in the AHL, but has never recorded a five-point game before. The sniper opened the season with a four-point game and now has ten multi-point contests in his 40 appearances this season. Kolanos is one of less than a dozen AHLers averaging over a point per game this season, and has been integral to the club’s success.
Walter and Kolanos have been a match made in heaven, perfect compliments to each others games. Kolanos credited Walter for his All-Star nod this season sharing the news with his centre before anybody else. Walter distributes the puck with precision and Kolanos is the consumate finisher, leading the team in shots by a wide margin despite missing nearly 30 games this season. Kolanos has 200 shots in just 40 games, which is just 21 shy of 3rd in the entire league. The duo are a combined plus-16 on the season.
With Kolanos and Walter each inked to another year of service in the organization on their current two-way NHL deals, it a distinct possibility fans in Abbotsford will get to see plenty more Walter to Kolanos scoring plays. Don’t take their stellar skills for granted, they’re a rare combination in the AHL.
