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AHL Stockton Heat

Heat in San Diego for Halloween Matinee

October 31, 2015 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Stockton Heat News Release


TONIGHT

Winless in their last two, the Heat look to get things back on track against the San Diego Gulls during an afternoon matinee between the teams.

The pair of squads met up last night at the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, California where it was a real goaltending duel between John Gibson of the Gulls and Jon Gillies of the Heat before Gibson was forced from the game due to injury. The Heat were able to capitalize in the third when Bill Arnold was able to freeze replacement net minder Matt Hacket at the side of the cage and deke around him to score the tying marker in the late stages of the game, and Heat fans got their first taste of 3-on-3 overtime hockey, however neither team could score and in the shootout it'd be Mike Sgarbossa who'd score the lone goal for the Gulls who took the extra point.

WHO TO WATCH

If you watched last nights' game you can easily tell that if today continues like yesterday ended, the player to watch for the Stockton Heat will be forward Drew Shore.

He was a monster (fitting since it's Halloween) on the ice last night, flying around and playing extremely aggressive on the forecheck, which eventually paid off for the penalty killing duo of Shore and Bryce Van Brabant when Van Brabant put a shot that cleanly beat John Gibson for the Heat's first ever shorthanded marker.

Of course that may not happen if it weren't for a good clear by Shore out of the defensive zone and his aggressive forecheck on the PK. He forced a turnover and moved the puck quickly to Van Brabant on the wall, screened the goalie and the shorthanded goal was history.

Not only was Shore fast and exciting to watch, he also led the team in shots last night with five. Look for him tonight to continue what he started and look to him to get himself back on track after a slower start. If he keeps playing like that, the goals will soon follow.

GLAD THAT'S OVER

With the goal at the 15:57 mark of the third period last night, Bill Arnold broke a streak that the Heat really needed to break, as the goal was the first even strength goal the team has scored in quite some time, and it was the goal that put the team over their previous three games output of just one.

It was a great forecheck by team captain Aaron Johnson who went into the corner hard, won a battle and played it around the glass to his defensive partner Brett Kulak. Kulak found Arnold all alone in front of the Gulls goalie Matt Hackett and Arnold make a move to freeze the goalie, deked around him, and tucked in the tying marker.

Not only was it nice to get past that one goal mark that the Heat have put up in games vs. San Jose, in Texas and in San Antonio, but it was also the goal that broke the team's scoring drought while even in strength.

The last 5-on-5 goal was scored by Derek Grant back on October 15 in Stockton against San Jose, when he scored a beautiful tally 6:31 into the third against San Jose. The drought lasted 149:26 before Arnold made it a thing of the past.

IS THERE A THING CALLED THE JOURNALIST CURSE?

Spooky things happen around this time of year and yesterday we had to ask ourselves, is there a way the journalists cursed the Heat?

While it's silly to think about, much was made about the Heat special teams in the week leading up to the games in San Diego with the PK unit killing off 100% of their penalties (15 for 15) and the power play ranking as the fourth best in the league converting at 25% of their chances.

Last night was a tough one for the special teams as the penalty killers allowed 2 goals on four opportunities (however they did score that shorthanded goal) bringing their penalty kill down from first to fifth at 89.5%.

Meanwhile the power play had some brilliant chances but couldn't convert on Gibson and the Gulls. The team had a lengthy power play in the first, including a 2:00 opportunity up two men, and had a power play in overtime, but ultimately couldn't convert on their seven chances.

The power play now sits in the middle of the pack in the AHL at 18.5% success rate.

However don't get too ahead of your self with the stats. The Heat special teams has been excellent this season and one off night doesn't mean the team can't come back tonight against those same goals and reverse their fortunes.

FIRST DOSE OF EXTRA HOCKEY

Last night was the first time Stockton hockey fans got to see their team in action in the 3-on-3 overtime which provided plenty of excitement and drama while it lasted.

Early on a mistake in the neutral zone looked like it'd free the Gulls for a breakaway but Bill Arnold made an excellent diving play to knock the puck to the boards and away from danger. San Diego got free for the breakaway moments later but put the puck over Jon Gillies and the Heat net.

Then it'd be Stockton's turn as they came back with a two-on-one but couldn't beat Hackett. Finally a penalty was called and that did it for our first foray into the 3-on-3 overtime. The Heat once again had chances but as documented above, just couldn't convert.

The teams headed to the skills competition where the goalies were perfect in three rounds but it'd be Mike Sgarbossa who made a good move on Gillies and scored the lone goal in the shootout. The Gulls picked up the extra point and put the Heat winless in their last two, however the team did pick up a point in their come-from-behind effort.

INTERESTING FACT

The Calgary Flames and Stockton Heat's ECHL affiliate, the Adirondack Thunder, made local hockey history last night when they beat the Wheeling Nailers 4-1.

The fact? It was the first time in history that a professional team in Adirondack started a season 6-0.

While forward Rob Bordson leads the league with 11 points, two players that have helped to that great start find themselves in Stockton with the potential to see action tonight for the Heat.

Forward Ryan Lomberg left the team while leading the squad in shots and also scoring 4 goals and adding an assist in 5 games. The other player was in the crease as Kent Simpson started and won two games for the Thunder while Karri Ramo found himself assigned to Stockton.

Saturday, October 31, 2015

Arena: Valley View Casino Center

Date: October 31, 2015

Time: 5:35 p.m. PST

Broadcast: AHL Live, Spreaker & iHeartRadio beginning at 5:20 p.m. PST

Leading Scorer: STOCKTON: LW Kenny Agostino (4GP, 0-4-4)

SAN DIEGO: LW Nick Ritchie (5GP, 5-1-6)

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 Jakub Nakladal puck.

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American Hockey League Stories from October 31, 2015


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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