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AHL Stockton Heat

Heat Continue Homestand with Chance to Tie Second Longest Home Winning Streak in AHL

February 21, 2016 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Stockton Heat News Release


TONIGHT

After surviving a scare last night to the San Jose Barracuda, coming away with an overtime win courtesy of Mason Raymond after San Jose scored three in the final 9:42 of the game to push their win streak to double digits, Stockton hopes to once again be on the winning side of another home match-up with the Barracuda to tie the second longest home winning streak this season in the AHL tying the Albany Devils who accomplished this from November 25 to January 13.

AUTOGRAPHS AT THE HOTEL POSTGAME

The Stockton Heat will have another partial team autograph session tonight at the University Plaza Waterfront Hotel next door after the game. No need to rush over as the guys have workouts to tend to after the game, but once it's all done, the boys will head over to meet the fans, sign autographs and take pictures.

While this list is subject to change, and it had already as both Tyler Wotherspoon and Jakub Nakladal are in Calgary, the following players are scheduled to appear tonight:

Kenny Agostino - #15

Freddie Hamilton - #11

Garnet Hathaway - #9

Aaron Johnson - #45

Kevin Poulin - #29

Drew Shore - #23

Bryce Van Brabant - #48

Mike Vernace - #29

Gabriel Verpaelst - #14

LAST TIME VS. SAN JOSE

While Barclay Goodrow opened the scoring up for the Barracuda, Stockton would tie the game and take the lead before the midway mark of the first with goals from the two Kenn(e)y's, Kenny Agostino and a power-play goal from Kenney Morrison.

After the teams trading goals in the second, Stockton added to their lead in the third with another from Agostino and from Mason Raymond to build up a 5-2 lead in the first 44:21 of the game. However, San Jose scored three straight in the final 9:42 seconds (including two in the final 1:11) to tie the game.

In overtime Mason Raymond forced a turnover at the Heat blueline and pushed the puck forward for the breakaway. Having pushed the puck a hair too far in front of him, Raymond forced goaltender Troy Grosenick to decide to play the puck or not and when he decided to, Raymond took the puck away from the desperate netminder and put it in the empty net for his second goal of the night.

WHO TO WATCH

After a game like last night you could go in a number of different directions for who to watch tonight. Certainly whoever may go between the pipes for either team will look to keep the score lower than last night's 6-5 final. You could also keep an eye on Stockton's two newest defenseman who saw plenty of playing time last night. How about the guys who led the offense last night in Kenny Agostino, Freddie Hamilton and Mason Raymond?

All fine choices but today we go with a guy who logged a TON of ice time last night, and deservedly so. He just so happens to also be the same player we went with yesterday.

While you can say yesterday the PR staff had a feeling about Kenney Morrison having a good game, it was Morrison himself who delivered a spectacular performance on the Heat blueline, without a doubt his best game as a member of the Heat.

Morrison was extremely mobile, keeping his head on a swivel, and continually found the right passes to clear the zone, start the breakout, or help kick start the offense. His game started wonderfully as he made the right read to find Garnet Hathaway on the right-wing boards. Hathaway would drop to Hamilton who'd throw it across to Agostino for the tying goal just 1:47 after Goodrow opened the scoring. He didn't get an assist on that one, but if he doesn't make that read, the Heat don't get that goal.

Then the Heat go on the power play and with time ticking down, he blasted a clapper past Troy Grosenick with 4:00 gone in the game (and just :02 left on the power-play time) to score his first in a Heat uniform and first since April 11, 2015 for the Adirondack Flames.

The remainder of his game was all about defense as Morrison was extremely consistent for the Stockton Heat, finishing as the only defenseman to finish the game +2.

Look it's unprecedented for us to pick the same player two games in a row, but after a game like yesterdays, we think Kenney Mo' deserves the nod once again.

PTO's LOG BIG TIME WITH HEAT

With Stockton down to four regular defenseman contracted by either the NHL club or the AHL club (Kulak, Culkin, Johnson, Morrison), the Heat dipped to the ECHL pool of players to call up two while the Heat try to get healthy.

The veteran option for the Heat was Brampton Beast defenseman Mike Vernace, who had played 438 AHL games to go along with 22 NHL games prior to last night's return to the American Hockey League. Vernace was used primarily on a pairing with Morrison but saw time on the penalty kill (Stockton only had one last night) and played a game that gave Morrison the confidence to go out and have a game like he did. Morrison knew that if he got into a hairy situation, Vernace would be there to help out, and he did just that.

On the flip side of 439 AHL games, the Heat called up Gabriel Verpaelst from the Norfolk Admirals who made his AHL debut last night with the Heat. Playing with Ryan Culkin, his AHL career didn't get off to a glowing start as Goodrow scored the opening goal with his line out on the ice, but he would make up for that quick minus by being out there for the tying goal and settled down into his own, playing with more and more confidence as the game wore on.

Verpaelst also got his "Welcome to the AHL" moment in the second period as he dropped the gloves with Micheal Haley in a quick bout that would send him to the penalty box for the first time as an AHL'er. The former Bakersfield Condor (ECHL) had played at Stockton Arena many times before and is no stranger to the physical part of the game, fighting three Stockton Thunder players in 2014-15.

After the game, it was noticeable how the pair were treated in the dressing room, not as ECHL players getting an opportunity, but rather as teammates who stepped into an opportunity and helped the Heat to the win. They'll certainly see more ice today against the Barracuda.

SHORE ENOUGH

After returning from injury against the Barracuda on January 6, Shore had a 10-game stretch where he recorded just a goal and 3 assists. However in his last six, Shore has recorded a point, scoring twice and adding 4 assists for his longest point streak of the season.

With a point in tonight's game, Shore can match not only Derek Grant's team-high seven-game point streak (6-6-12) but also match his own personal best of a point in seven-straight games. That point streak went from November 21, 2014 to December 9, 2014 and saw Shore pick up 4 goals and 10 assists for 14 points.

Prior to this season, Shore had never played the San Jose Sharks affiliate in the AHL but has gone nearly a point-per-game in his first six games against the Sharks main affiliate this season, recording 5 assists.

INTERESTING FACT

During the Heat's current 10-game win streak at home, the special teams has been outstanding, scoring on 30.8% of their power-play chances (12-39) while also killing off 91.4% of penalties taken (32-35).

Sunday, February 21, 2016

Arena: Stockton Arena

Date: February 21, 2016

Time: 4:00 p.m. PST (Doors at 3:00 p.m. PST)

Giveaway: First 1000 fans receive a Freddy Hamilton oversized trading card

Broadcast: AHL Live, Spreaker & iHeartRadio beginning at 3:45 p.m. PST

Leading Scorer: STOCKTON: F Derek Grant (30GP, 23-15-38)

SAN JOSE: F Ryan Carpenter (45GP, 11-26-37)

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 Aaron Johnson puck.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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