5 Things: Heat vs Bakersfield
Published on December 15, 2021 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Stockton Heat News Release
STOCKTON HEAT (15-2-2-1) vs BAKERSFIELD CONDORS (6-8-1-2)
6:30 p.m. PST | Broadcast: AHLTV, Fox Sports 1280, Spreaker
Leading Scorers
Heat:
Goals - Adam Ruzicka (10)
Points - Jakob Pelletier (25)
Condors:
Goals - Seth Griffith/Cooper Marody/Brad Malone (6)
Points - Seth Griffith (18)
Special Teams
Heat:
PP - 18-for-81, 22.2% (4th)/PK - 78-for-87, 89.7% (1st)
Condors:
PP - 15-for-75, 20.0% (t-12th)/PK - 55-for-67, 82.1% (t-11th)
1. HEAT INDEX
The Stockton Heat are on fire heading into Wednesday's tilt against the Bakersfield Condors, winners of four of the last five and owners of a five-game point streak coming into the midweek contest. Stockton won its last bout by a 5-1 final against Tucson, sealing a series split and banking three of a possible four points in the desert. Wednesday's contest is the first of a three-games-in-four-nights sprint at Stockton Arena, as the Heat will host the Colorado Eagles Friday and Saturday.
2. THIS, THAT, THE OTHER
THIS... If the top line sets the tone, Stockton is in great hands. Since the formation of the Jakob Pelletier-Glenn Gawdin-Matthew Phillips grouping at the top of the depth chart, the trio has combined for 20 points in three games, split evenly with 10 goals and 10 assists. The trio is also a combined plus-21 in the past three contests. Pelletier, Gawdin and Phillips lead active Heat skaters in scoring in the season series against Bakersfield thus far with three points apiece. THAT... Special teams have been a boost for Stockton so far this season, the Heat entering the week as the lone club in the top five on both the power play and the penalty kill. The Heat enter tonight's game coming in fourth on the man-advantage while operating at a 22.2-percent clip and have diffused opponent power plays at an 89.7-percent rate, tops in the AHL. That's not to say Stockton has not excelled at 5-on-5 either this season, with the Heat owning a 22-11 advantage at full strength on home ice and a 48-32 edge overall. THE OTHER... With a point tonight, the Heat will once again rewrite the record books. Stockton enters tonight's tilt having already matched the club record for longest home point streak at 10 games, starting the season 8-0-2-0 on the year. Stockton has outscored opponents 37-19 on home ice, has a 23.8-percent power play conversion rate and is killing 91.8-percent of opponent power plays. The Heat have won the past three home games in regulation and have allowed opponents to bank only five of a possible 40 points at Stockton Arena this year.
3. PLAYERS TO WATCH
Heat - Glenn Gawdin
Gawdin has lit it up of late with six goals and four assists in a five-game scoring streak. The forward has three helpers against the Condors this season and has five goals and six points in his last two home games.
Condors - Brad Malone
Malone has two goals and two assists in two games against the Heat, tied with Cooper Marody for the team lead in the season series.
4. MILESTONES WITHIN REACH
Kevin Gravel is one goal shy of 20 in his AHL career.
Matthew Phillips is four goals shy of 50 in his AHL career.
5. QUOTABLE
"Our guys played some good hockey. We had a season-high 51 shots on Friday evening, scored four goals. Unfortunately we gave up four goals on some mental lapses defensively, then you get to a shootout and you never know. I really liked our team's response on Saturday night. We had a lot of purpose to our game, generated offensively and were really sharp defensively in terms of limiting (Tucson's) opportunities and chances. As a whole, I was impressed." - Mitch Love on the weekend series against Tucson
American Hockey League Stories from December 15, 2021
- Voyer's Shorthanded Goal, Grosenick's 27 Saves Lead Providence Bruins to 2-1 Shootout Win - Providence Bruins
- Silver Knights Shutout Roadrunners, 3-0 - Henderson Silver Knights
- Bruins Sneak by Islanders in a Shootout - Bridgeport Islanders
- Amerks Drop Second Straight to Checkers - Rochester Americans
- Wilson, Hutsko Score Twice in 4-2 Win - Charlotte Checkers
- Crunch Surpass Marlies, 4-2 - Syracuse Crunch
- Eagles Reassign Burzan to ECHL's Utah Grizzlies - Colorado Eagles
- 5 Things: Heat vs Bakersfield - Stockton Heat
- Jordan Gross Recalled by Colorado Avalanche - Colorado Eagles
- Belleville Sens Respond to 50% Capacity Reduction at Home Games Beginning Saturday - Belleville Senators
- Capitals Re-Assign Brett Leason to Hershey - Hershey Bears
- Detroit Recalls Kyle Criscuolo, Taro Hirose - Grand Rapids Griffins
- San Diego Gulls Name Greg Pateryn Team Captain - San Diego Gulls
- Marlies Look to Get Back in Win Column vs. Syracuse Crunch - Toronto Marlies
- American Hockey League Postpones Tonight's Belleville-Lehigh Valley Game - AHL
- Phantoms Game Postponed - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- Senators Game at Lehigh Valley Postponed Due to COVID-19 Protocols - Belleville Senators
- Anaheim Ducks Recall Larsson - San Diego Gulls
- Helge Grans Joins Sweden for World Junior Championship - Ontario Reign
- Rochester Americans Game Preview: Wednesday, December 15 at Charlotte - Rochester Americans
- Syracuse Crunch Announce Rescheduled Games - Syracuse Crunch
- Heat, Condors Battle Wednesday at Stockton Arena - Stockton Heat
- Amerks Announce Schedule Updates - Rochester Americans
- Stars Assign Goaltender Colton Point to Idaho Steelheads - Texas Stars
- Game #20: Henderson at Tucson - Tucson Roadrunners
- Islanders Finish up Five-Game Homestand Tonight - Bridgeport Islanders
- Wild Drop Series Finale to Milwaukee, 6-3 - Iowa Wild
- Barron Scores Two Goals As Roadrunners Fall In Overtime To Henderson Silver Knights 4-3 - Tucson Roadrunners
- Silver Knights Defeat Roadrunners in OT, 4-3 - Henderson Silver Knights
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