5 Things: Heat vs. Tucson
April 20, 2022 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Stockton Heat News Release
STOCKTON HEAT (43-14-4-2) vs. TUCSON ROADRUNNERS (21-36-5-1)
6:30 p.m. PDT | Broadcast: AHLTV, Fox Sports 1280, Spreaker
Leading Scorers
Heat:
Goals - Matthew Phillips (29)
Points - Matthew Phillips (64)
Roadrunners:
Goals - Michael Carcone (24)
Points - Matias Maccelli (55)
Special Teams
Heat:
PP - 50-for-261, 19.2% (t-15th)/PK - 236-for-272, 86.8% (1st)
Roadrunners:
PP - 55-for-260, 21.2% (6th)/PK - 183-for-244, 75.0% (30th)
1. HEAT INDEX
A change of scenery and change of opponent awaits the Stockton Heat, who look to inch closer to the elusive division title. Stockton stands six points shy of locking up that top spot, a combination of points accumulated by the Heat and left unbanked by the Reign, as Stockton prepares to face off against the Tucson Roadrunners, a club that sits eighth in the Pacific and has been eliminated from playoff contention. Stockton is 4-1-1-1 on the year against Tucson and has won three of four coming into Wednesday.
2. THIS, THAT, THE OTHER
THIS... Two-game skids have been rare for the Heat this season, the current cold front being only the third time all year that the Heat have dropped consecutive contests. Stockton answered a two-game hiccup in March with five consecutive wins, then another with four straight. The Heat have faced Tucson in four bounce-back games this year and have won all four. THAT... Response has been the word of the day for the Stockton Heat all year, and one consistent is strong starts following losses. Starting on time has been a key to victory against the Roadrunners this year, a club that is 13-5-4-0 on the year when leading through 20 minutes but just 8-31-1-1 when tied or trailing after the opening frame. The team that has scored the first goal has gone on to win in all seven games of the season series. THE OTHER... Wednesday's matchup could be just what the doctor ordered for Stockton, the Heat owning the AHL's best home record facing the Roadrunners, who limp into the matchup at 9-19-3-0 in road games, 30th out of 31 in the league. Tucson has won a game at Stockton Arena this year, though, the season opener in which the Roadrunners earned a 1-0 decision in overtime.
3. PLAYERS TO WATCH
Heat - Martin Pospisil
The forward has nine points in the last 12 games, strong production since returning to the lineup after missing a month due to injury. He has three assists in six games against Tucson this year.
Roadrunners - Matias Maccelli
Maccelli rejoined the Roadrunners yesterday and is their leading scorer with 55 points on the year. He has four points in five games against Stockton this year.
4. MILESTONES WITHIN REACH
Justin Kirkland is two points shy of 150 in his AHL career.
Matthew Phillips is one goal shy of becoming Stockton's first-ever 30-goal scorer. He'd be the first Flames-affiliated AHL player to reach 30 goals in a season since 2008-09.
Luke Philp is two goals shy of 50 in his AHL career.
Phillips is five assists shy of Stockton's single-season assist record of 40, held by Linden Vey.
5. QUOTABLE
"It was a good wake-up call. It's good. We just have to learn from it. We have to move forward. I know we have such a good team, and if we learn, move forward, we'll be ready for the next game." - Pospisil on moving on from the weekend
American Hockey League Stories from April 20, 2022
- IceHogs Fall to Griffins as the Playoff Clinch Waits Another Game - Rockford IceHogs
- Admirals Fall to Texas - Milwaukee Admirals
- Kawaguchi's Two Goals Lead Stars to a Win in Milwaukee - Texas Stars
- Monsters Tripped up in Third Period for 4-3 Loss to Comets - Cleveland Monsters
- Comets Clinch North Division with Win over Monsters - Utica Comets
- San Diego Gulls Sign Forward Logan Nijhoff to ATO - San Diego Gulls
- Marlies Visit Senators for Battle of Ontario - Toronto Marlies
- Two Minutes for Thoughts: April 20th, 2022 - Hartford Wolf Pack
- 5 Things: Heat vs. Tucson - Stockton Heat
- Morning Skate: Chase for Division Title Continues Wednesday - Stockton Heat
- Checkers Prepping for High-Stakes Weekend - Charlotte Checkers
- Högberg Recalled to Flyers - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- San Jose Sharks Assign Forward Daniil Gushchin to San Jose Barracuda - San Jose Barracuda
- Barracuda Announce Multiple Transactions - San Jose Barracuda
- Goaltender Daws Returns to Comets, Okhotiuk Recalled - Utica Comets
- Colin Felix Signs with Phantoms - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- Greer Returns to Comets Lineup - Utica Comets
- Detroit Returns Riley Barber - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Bears Sign Trio of Washington Draft Picks to Tryout Agreements - Hershey Bears
- T-Birds Playoff Tickets on Sale Now - Springfield Thunderbirds
- IceHogs Have Chance to Clinch Playoffs on Home Ice Tonight - Rockford IceHogs
- Game #64: Tucson at Stockton - Tucson Roadrunners
- Silver Knights Win in OT against the Gulls - Henderson Silver Knights
- Nappier Blanks Bears, Penguins Win 3-0 - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Gulls Earn a Point in Shootout Loss at Henderson - San Diego Gulls
- Smallman's Heroics Not Enough for Wolves - Chicago Wolves
- Griffins Drop Valuable Points at Iowa - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Hardman, Morris Lead Hogs over Wolves as Rockford Looks to Punch Ticket to Playoffs Tomorrow Night - Rockford IceHogs
- Swaney Tallies Four Points in 5-2 Win over Griffins - Iowa Wild
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