Heat Complete Season Series with San Antonio Today Starting at 4PM
February 28, 2016 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Stockton Heat News Release
TONIGHT
The Stockton Heat close out their series with the San Antonio Rampage tonight at Stockton Arena as the Heat, who've already ensured that they've won the season series with a 3-1-0-1 record. After last Sunday's setback against the San Jose Barracuda, the Heat finish February looking to win back-to-back games at home with a victory tonight.
For Stockton this is the final game at home until the Heat open up their final tied season-long homestand of four games beginning on March 9 as the team takes to the road for three to start the month. As for San Antonio who've been on a 11-game, and nearly month long, road trip, they will return home for a five-game homestand.
The Rampage still have three games against Ontario and one game remaining against Bakersfield, San Jose and San Diego on their schedule.
LAST TIME VS. SAN ANTONIO
Freddie Hamilton got things going for the Heat in the second period and just 42 seconds later, Kenny Agostino made it 2-0 before the Rampage would get one back in the third to halt what could have been the second straight shutout bid by Kevin Poulin.
However both of Stockton's goal scorers added a second and Elson scored in the empty net to power the Heat to the 5-1 win. Stockton shot a season high 55 times on San Antonio netminder Spencer Martin.
It was the Heat's ninth-straight win at home (for a streak that would go to 10) and their third-straight victory over the Rampage.
WHO TO WATCH
With Monday's trade deadline looming and plenty of speculation as to who may be moved and who could be ripe for a promotion to the NHL either with the Calgary Flames or via a trading partner, it's safe to say that all players for both teams have something at stake in today's game.
However one player who's been in a bit of a scoring slump that could propel himself into a look with the big club is one of those first round picks in 2013. Emile Poirier has gone his last seven games without a point, as the last time the speedy forward notched a point was back on February 6 when a coast-to-coast effort that ended up in the back of the Condors net showcased the speed and ability that made Poirier a first rounder in the first place.
However since then the points have seemingly gone dry for the winger. Before this streak, Poirier had not gone more than four games without a point this season, and in his brief AHL career, hadn't gone more than five games without a point (12/5/14 - 12/20/14).
Look for Poirier to breakout of that slump tonight against San Antonio as he has 2 goals and 2 assists in 5 games against the Rampage this season.
ITALIAN STALLION GALLOPING INTO SECOND HALF OF THE SEASON
New Jersey born Kenny Agostino has really came to play in the second half of the season and in his last 10 games, he has 7 goals and 7 assists for 14 points.
In fact, since the calendar turned to 2016, Agostino has 12 goals, 12 assists for 24 points in 20 games. He's the team leader in assists and his 39 points ties Hunter Shinkaruk for the most points this season on the team despite Shinkaruk recording all 39 for the Utica Comets.
However it's not just Agostino who's benefiting from some hot play right now as linemates Freddie Hamilton and Garnet Hathaway are gelling together.
In the last five games, Hamilton (5-4-9), Agostino (4-5-9) and Hathaway (1-5-6) have paced the Heat offensively. All three players rank in the top three in points against San Antonio too as Hamilton leads with 9 points, Agostino second with 8 points and Hathaway tied with Elson for third with 5 points.
PLAYOFF PRIMER
With the Heat in the thick of the playoff chase, we take a look at what tonight's game against the San Antonio Rampage can do for both teams. Starting the day the Heat are sixth in the Pacific with a .511 win-percentage while San Antonio enters Sunday in last in the Pacific at .491
Starting with Stockton, if the Heat can pull the victory in regulation the team would move them closer to the Condors in fifth (.530) as the Heat can get to .521 with the two-points tonight. In the event the Heat pick up just one point the team will stay at .511 while a regulation loss would send the team back to .500.
As for San Antonio, a win would get them back to .500 while an extra-time loss would keep the team at .491. A loss would put the Rampage two-games back of .500 at .483.
There are no other teams in the Pacific Division in action tonight.
Keep an eye on the AHL's Playoff Primer updated every morning with the latest standings and magic numbers.
INTERESTING FACT
Freddie Hamilton hasn't just been red hot lately, he's also got his name penciled into the Heat Record book as his goal 21 seconds into the game on Wednesday was the fastest Heat goal to start a game this season.
In addition, Wednesday's 47-save performance by Kevin Poulin was the most saves made by a Heat goaltender this season, beating Joni Ortio's 42-save performance on December 29th's loss to the Ontario Reign.
Sunday, February 28, 2016
Arena: Stockton Arena
Date: February 28, 2016
Time: 4:00 p.m. PST (Doors at 3:00 p.m. PST)
Giveaway: First 500 kids 12-years-old and younger receive black Heat replica jersey
Broadcast: AHL Live, Spreaker, iHeartRadio & Sportsnet 960 The Fan in Calgary beginning at 3:45 p.m. PST
Leading Scorer: STOCKTON: F Kenny Agostino/Hunter Shinkaruk (45GP 17-22-39 )/(45GP, 21-18-39)
SAN ANTONIO: F Mikko Rantanen (38GP 20-27-47)
For the live, in-game tweets, follow @AHLHeatPR. Stay tuned at the end of the game for the Chase Chevrolet Big Moment of the Game with your chance to win an autographed Kenny Agostino puck.
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American Hockey League Stories from February 28, 2016
- Goals 19-Seconds Apart in Second Give Heat 3-2 Victory in San Antonio Finale - Stockton Heat
- Rampage Come up Short at Stockton 3-2 - San Antonio Rampage
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- Ryan Bourque Traded to Washington for Chris Brown - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Crunch Come Back to Defeat Senators, 5-4, in Five-Round Shootout - Syracuse Crunch
- Comeback Kids...Again: Phantoms Rally in 3rd at Hartford - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- Lehigh Valley Breaks Wolf Pack Hex, 2-1 - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Miele's OT Goal Caps Rally, Makes it Five Straight for Griffins - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Syracuse Grabs Bonus Point with Shootout Win - Binghamton Senators
- Bridgeport drops Sunday decision to Albany - Bridgeport Islanders
- Bears Cruise Past Comets, Claim Division Lead - Hershey Bears
- Devils Continue to Find Success, Down Sound Tigers 4-1 - Albany Devils
- Manitoba Moose Post-Game Report - Manitoba vs. Charlotte - February 28 - Manitoba Moose
- Comets Fall Short of Three-In-Three Sweep - Utica Comets
- Wolves Clipped by Griffins in Overtime - Chicago Wolves
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- Captain Strikes Twice, Altshuller Shines in 2-1 Win - Charlotte Checkers
- Providence Bruins Ice WBS Penguins, 3-2 - Providence Bruins
- Falcons Sunk in Third Period, Lose to Pirates - Springfield Falcons
- Blackhawks Agree to Terms with Carruth - Rockford IceHogs
- Rangers Assign Marek Hrivik to Hartford - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Heat Complete Season Series with San Antonio Today Starting at 4PM - Stockton Heat
- Jesper Pettersson Reassinged to Lehigh Valley - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- Wolves Welcome Back Copley And Schmaltz - Chicago Wolves
- Manitoba Moose Post-Game Report - Manitoba vs. Charlotte - February 27 - Manitoba Moose
- Condors Can't Hang On, Fall in OT, 4-3 - Bakersfield Condors
- Agozzino's Overtime Winner Lifts Rampage over Condors - San Antonio Rampage
- Rockford Rallies to Earn Point in 3-2 OT Loss to Monsters - Rockford IceHogs
- Reign Complete Regular-Season Series Sweep of Stars with 5-2 Win - Ontario Reign
- Barracuda Drop Final Game of Road Trip - San Jose Barracuda
- Gulls Close out Big February with 5-2 Win over San Jose - San Diego Gulls
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