Heat Face Must-Win Home Game vs. San Diego at 4:00 p.m.
April 10, 2016 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Stockton Heat News Release
Sunday, April 10, 2016
Arena: Stockton Arena
Date: April 10, 2016
Time: 4:00 p.m. PST (Doors at 3:00 p.m.)
Broadcast: AHL Live, Spreaker & iHeartRadio beginning at 3:45 p.m. PST
Giveaway: First 1000 fans age 13 & older receive a Heat tote bag
Leading Scorer: STOCKTON: F Kenny Agostino (61GP, 21-30-51)
SAN DIEGO: Brandon Montour & Chris Mueller are tied with 55
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 Turner Elson puck.
TRAFFIC ADVISORY FOR TONIGHT
While the Heat host the San Diego Gulls at 4:00 p.m., the Stockton Ports will host the Modesto Nuts beginning at 2:09 p.m.
This means that the North Lot in front of the ballpark WILL NOT be available to those attending the Stockton Heat game at Stockton Arena.
Parking for those attending the Heat game are encouraged to park in the following lots:
Fremont West Lot on Fremont and Lincoln
Fremont East Lot on Fremont and Madison
Fremont Garage on Fremont and Van Buren
EDD Lot on Fremont and Commerce
Civic Lot on Commerce and Oak
TONIGHT
The Stockton Heat and the San Diego Gulls closeout their weekend double-header, as well as their season series, as the two teams faceoff for the final time of the 2015-16 regular season.
Stockton enters tonight's game needing a win or else their playoff hopes are dashed. They've lost back-to-back games at home, though, during their current three-game homestand.
San Diego comes in off the heels of a win over the Heat last night and since they've already clinched a playoff spot, the Gulls will presumably continue to use these games as preparation for their first playoff series.
LAST TIME VS. SAN DIEGO
Less than 24 hours ago, the Heat suffered a loss at the hands of the Gulls in decisive 6-2 fashion.
Mark Jankowski had a solid night for the Heat, earning his first multi-point game of the season with a pair of assists to help setup Kenny Agostino's and Garnet Hathaway's goals respectively.
Unfortunately, it wasn't enough as the Heat fell to the Gulls and made it even more difficult on themselves to reach the playoffs.
WHO TO WATCH
After allowing 10 goals in their last two games, Stockton is searching for answers along the blueline to help tighten up their play in their own zone.
That answer may be coming tonight in the form of defenseman Dustin Stevenson, who returns from his three-game suspension just in time.
Stevenson has been a solid leader all year long on the backend and with Aaron Johnson out of the lineup, he becomes the top veteran presence among the defensive core.
His leadership on the blueline cannot be understated. He may not have the offensive prowess from the backend, but he will tighten things up in the defensive zone.
Expect to see a better defensive performance tonight than in the last two home games and much of that credit can go to Stevenson's name being on the lineup card.
JANKOWSKI GAINING CONFIDENCE
Any nervousness or anxiousness Mark Jankowski may have had during his first few games as a pro with the Heat appeared long gone Saturday night.
Jankowski was arguably Stockton's best player on a night that saw him earn two assists - both of which setup the only two goals scored by the Heat.
Is Jankowski a raw prospect? Sure.
However, his skill set lends itself to the pro game and all he appears to need is some time to develop his strength before he's a legitimate threat at any level.
These final four games of the regular season will be a good barometer for what the future could potentially hold for the Providence College product.
ELSON, KYLINGTON, SIELOFF ALL RETURN
A quick, but unforgettable trip to Calgary for three Stockton Heat regulars is over and they will now return to the Heat lineup and rejoin the push for a spot in the Calder Cup Playoffs.
For Sieloff and Elson, they return to Stockton with an extra souvenir, as each of them earned their first NHL point in their NHL debuts last night (Sieloff a goal, Elson an assist).
18-year-old defenseman Kylington also made his debut and while he didn't earn a point, he did play 17:22 and put one shot on net.
Perhaps their experience in Calgary will lend itself to an even higher level of play when they return to Stockton. All three have become vital members of the Heat lineup, especially on special teams.
No doubt their return will be welcomed for the Heat as they fight for a playoff spot.
Also returning to the Heat are forwards Drew Shore and Hunter Shinkaruk; however neither of those two will arrive back in Stockton in time for tonight's game against San Diego.
PLAYOFF PRIMER
This time around, our playoff primer is pretty simple. The Heat cannot lose another game, be it in regulation or overtime, and the Charlotte Checkers have to lose every game in regulation.
If Charlotte picks up one more point, Stockton cannot mathematically catch the Checkers in points percentage - regardless of how many games the Heat win.
Charlotte did their part earlier today, suffering a 4-2 loss to the Milwaukee Admirals. Now it's up to the Heat to do their part and pick up a mandatory win over San Diego tonight.
Stockton has four games remaining including tonight, while Charlotte has a pair of games at Lake Erie next weekend to close out their season.
INTERESTING FACT
Last night, Pat Sieloff became the first call-up in the Calgary organization since David Moss on 12/19/06 at LA to score the game winner with his first goal in his NHL debut.
Sieloff is also the third player to score a goal in his debut in the last five years for the Flames. Josh Jooris was the last to do it on 10/17/14 at CBJ. Mark Cundari was the other when he did it on 4/21/13 at MIN.
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American Hockey League Stories from April 10, 2016
- Heat Stay Alive in the Playoff Chase with Overtime Win over San Diego - Stockton Heat
- Gulls Move Closer to Home Ice with 5-4 OT Loss in Stockton - San Diego Gulls
- Youth Movement Drives 4-1 Win at Bridgeport - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- Newcomers, Makarov Lead Amerks to 2-0 Win over Monsters - Rochester Americans
- Barnes scores lone goal for Bridgeport - Bridgeport Islanders
- Falcons Lose Tight Game against Providence Bruins - Springfield Falcons
- Admirals Capture Central Division Title - Milwaukee Admirals
- Trip to Canada Concludes with 5-4 Loss to Moose - Rockford IceHogs
- Monsters Upended by Amerks, 2-0 - Cleveland Monsters
- Providence Beats Falcons, Clinches Playoff Spot - Providence Bruins
- Penguins Fall Short in Breathtaking Showdown with Bears - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Manitoba Moose Post-Game Report - Manitoba vs. Rockford - April 10/16 - Manitoba Moose
- Bears Win Battle against Penguins - Hershey Bears
- Portland Takes down Pack - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Toronto Marlies Post Game Notes - Toronto Marlies
- Toronto Marlies Use Special Teams to Down Albany Devils - Albany Devils
- IceCaps Dump Comets 7-1 - St. John's IceCaps
- IceCaps Too Much for the Comets - Utica Comets
- Admirals Topple Checkers - Milwaukee Admirals
- Checkers Drop Home Finale to Admirals 4-2 - Charlotte Checkers
- Heat Face Must-Win Home Game vs. San Diego at 4:00 p.m. - Stockton Heat
- Flames Assign Five Players to Stockton - Stockton Heat
- Avalanche Reassigns Andrew Agozzino to Rampage - San Antonio Rampage
- Jets Re-Assign Kichton - Manitoba Moose
- Albany Devils Sign Ryan Rehill to An ATO - Albany Devils
- Red Wings Assign Mantha to Grand Rapids - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Capitals Recall Sill from Hershey - Hershey Bears
- Islanders Recall Johnston - Bridgeport Islanders
- IceHogs Add Two from Indy - Rockford IceHogs
- Game Day: Albany Devils vs. Toronto Marlies, 3 PM - Albany Devils
- Kenins and Zalewski Reassigned to the Comets - Utica Comets
- Penguins Sign Goalie Casey DeSmith - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Hurricanes Assign Woods to Charlotte - Charlotte Checkers
- Youth Is Served in Gulls' 6-2 Victory over Stockton - San Diego Gulls
- Condors Downed by the Reign, 4-2 - Bakersfield Condors
- Jankowski Leads Way Offensively with First Multi-Point Effort but Heat Fall to San Diego - Stockton Heat
- Rampage Stun Wild in Overtime 4-3 - San Antonio Rampage
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