5 Things: Heat at Ontario
April 10, 2022 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Stockton Heat News Release
STOCKTON HEAT (42-12-4-1) at ONTARIO REIGN (36-15-5-4)
3:00 p.m. PDT | Broadcast: AHLTV, Fox Sports 1280, Spreaker
Leading Scorers
Heat:
Goals - Matthew Phillips (28)
Points - Matthew Phillips (62)
Ontario Reign:
Goals - Martin Frk (33)
Points - T.J. Tynan (86)
Special Teams
Heat:
PP - 47-for-239, 19.7% (t-12th)/PK - 222-for-254, 87.4% (1st)
Reign:
PP - 62-for-234, 26.5% (1st)/PK - 178-for-236, 75.4% (29th)
1. HEAT INDEX
It's there for the taking now. The Stockton Heat can put a stranglehold on the divisional race with another win Sunday at Ontario, a would-be weekend sweep of the second-place team in the westernmost grouping in the AHL. With Friday's win, the Heat have a division-clinching Magic Number of just nine points, a three-point swing after winning in a shootout in the front end of the twin bill. Ontario will look to put an end to a three-game skid in the matinee.
2. THIS, THAT, THE OTHER
THIS... The final meeting between the top two teams in the division carries heavy Pacific championship race implications, especially if Stockton is to win. It's the final chance for the Reign to force a four-point swing on their own end, so a desperate club is likely from the home side. Should Stockton win in regulation, the Heat would have a magic number of just five points with three games coming up against Henderson, then two home games against Tucson and Abbotsford, then hitting the road again for a pair against Bakersfield sandwiched around a game at San Diego. A regulation win today for Stockton means that even a perfect run to close the regular season from Ontario would not get the Reign to the top if the Heat finished just 2-5-1, which would be their worst stretch of hockey of the season. THAT... Byron Froese became the seventh Heat skater to 30 points on the year with an assist on Matthew Phillips' goal Friday. Seven matches Ontario and San Diego as the deepest scoring group in the Pacific Division. To reach eight, Eetu Tuulola and Connor Zary have the shortest path needing seven points in the final nine games of the year. THE OTHER... A Heat win Sunday would match Ontario's longest home losing streak at three games. The Reign, who rank third in the AHL with a home points percentage of .750, has sputtered down the stretch at Toyota Arena with losses in five of their last seven, going 2-3-2-0. Their lone three-game skid came on March 9, 18 and 20, an overtime loss to San Jose and regulation setbacks against Bakersfield and Abbotsford. It's the first time Stockton has made the trek to the inland empire since January 9, a 5-4 overtime win.
3. PLAYERS TO WATCH
Heat - Luke Philp
After being held off the score sheet in Friday's game, Philp now has six points in seven games against Ontario this season. The every-situation forward plays a key role in this series, helping the Heat limit the impact of the Reign's potent power play.
Reign - Martin Frk
The leading goal scorer for the top offense in the AHL was held off the board on Friday, continuing a trend for the Heat in frustrating the forward. Frk has just three points and one goal in six games against Stockton this year, so he'll look to step up as the Reign look to snap out of a tough stretch.
4. MILESTONES WITHIN REACH
Glenn Gawdin is one assist shy of 100 in his AHL career.
Jakob Pelletier is one point shy of sole possession of the Heat's rookie season scoring record and two goals shy of tying Stockton's single-season goal record, held by Matthew Phillips.
Luke Philp is two goals shy of 50 in his AHL career.
5. QUOTABLE
"It's going to be another really good game. (Toyota Arena) is a tough building to play in. Obviously (Ontario is) going to be hungry and looking for a bounce-back effort. We know how we need to play to hopefully get another win." - Matthew Phillips on Sunday's game
American Hockey League Stories from April 10, 2022
- Reign Strikes Back in a Shootout - Ontario Reign
- Heat Earn Point, Split Weekend with Ontario - Stockton Heat
- Wild Blank Stars to Complete Weekend Sweep - Texas Stars
- Mcintyre Sparkles, Iowa Downs Texas 3-0 - Iowa Wild
- Roadrunners Comeback Attempt Comes up Short in Series Finale with IceHogs - Tucson Roadrunners
- Morelli Overtime Strike Wins Weekend for Hershey - Hershey Bears
- Griffins Split Weekend at Toronto - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Soderblom Holds off Roadrunners Late Rally as Hogs Sweep Tucson - Rockford IceHogs
- T-Birds Rally to Get Point against Hershey - Springfield Thunderbirds
- Noesen, Wolves Whiz Past Monsters - Chicago Wolves
- Monsters Second Period Push Not Enough in 5-2 Loss to Wolves - Cleveland Monsters
- Henderson Sweeps San Jose, 7-3 - Henderson Silver Knights
- MacLean's Shorty Propels Islanders past Phantoms - Bridgeport Islanders
- Phantoms Crank up Season-High 44 Shots in 4-2 Setback - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- 5 Things: Heat at Ontario - Stockton Heat
- Maxim Letunov the Overtime Hero as Wolf Pack Beat Checkers 4-3 - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Checkers Snag Point, Fall to Wolf Pack in OT - Charlotte Checkers
- Canucks Stay Hot and Extend Win Streak to Four, Defeat Gulls 5-2 - Abbotsford Canucks
- Tucson Roadrunners' Bokondji Imama Suspended for One Game - AHL
- Anaheim Ducks Sign Blake McLaughlin to Two-Year Entry-Level Contract - San Diego Gulls
- Heat, Reign Cap Regular Season Series Sunday - Stockton Heat
- Hodgson Returned to Phantoms - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- Toronto Marlies Look to Wrap up Weekend with Win vs. Grand Rapids - Toronto Marlies
- IceHogs Going for Series Sweep against Roadrunners on Pucks and Paws Night - Rockford IceHogs
- Wolf Pack and Checkers Conclude Three-Game Miniseries - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Game Preview: Thunderbirds at Bears, 5 p.m. - Hershey Bears
- Game #61: Tucson at Rockford - Tucson Roadrunners
- Slow Start Costs Gulls - San Diego Gulls
- Amerks Power Play Makes the Difference as Belleville Sens Fall 6-2 - Belleville Senators
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