Heat Look to Push Point Streak to Five Games in Ontario Tonight
January 8, 2016 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Stockton Heat News Release
TONIGHT
The Stockton Heat had their winning streak halted by the San Jose Barracuda on Wednesday in San Jose in overtime, however the team looks to get back in the win column, and push their point-streak to five-straight.
The Heat's current spell of good hockey began in this barn on New Years Eve when the Heat pulled a 4-1 win in the final game of 2015.
LAST TIME VS. ONTARIO
The Heat were looking for their first win against the Ontario Reign this season and started off right as a point shot made its way through where Kenny Agostino put the rebound past goaltender Peter Budaj.
Both teams were held off the scoresheet in the second but the Heat tacked on three more in the third thanks to Emile Poirier, Bryce Van Brabant and Brett Kulak's empty netter while Ontario mustered just one goal in the Heat's 4-1 victory.
It was the first victory for a Stockton hockey team in Ontario since the Stockton Thunder swept the Reign back in April of the 2014 Kelly Cup Playoffs (ECHL).
WHO TO WATCH
He may have missed six games due to injury but he picked off right where he left off on Wednesday in San Jose. Of course we're talking about Drew Shore who made his return to the lineup after missing some time with an upper body injury.
Shore, who last played on the road in San Jose before the holidays, had a goal and two assists in back-to-back games and pushed his points streak to three games in his return as he once again picked up two assists to retake the team lead in assists (14) and to ensure his point streak continues (3 games, 1-4-5).
Look for Shore to get better and better as he continues to make his way back into the lineup after missing some time.
SYRACUSE BOUND
With the AHL announcing their All-Star selections for the 2016 Toyota AHL All-Star Classic, Heat forward Derek Grant was selected for the first time in his pro career.
Grant is having a career season, leading the team with 15 goals and 21 points while playing in just 21 games for the Heat and 9 additional games for the Calgary Flames during this campaign. Grant's 15 goals actually place him in a six-way tie for second in the AHL.
Grant will be joined by Ontario's Peter Budaj, Michael Mersch and Vincent LoVerde on the Pacific Division team while Ontario Head Coach Mike Stothers will be the team's coach during the All-Star competition.
The All-Star festivities kicks off on January 31 with a skills competition followed by a round robin tournament comprised of All-Star teams from each division.
WELL IT'S NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN
After missing 15 games due to a lower body injury, goalie Kevin Poulin is back in the mix for the Stockton Heat and could receive the nod to go against the team he suffered his freak injury against back on November 21, the San Jose Barracuda, however, in a different building.
Poulin, who was acquired by the Calgary Flames in a trade back in November with the Tampa Bay Lightning, played his first game of the season on November 13 for the Heat in San Antonio, losing in the shootout, but rattled off two straight wins, including a 21-save shutout against the San Diego Gulls, before getting his fourth-straight start against the Barracuda on November 21.
The goaltender got the nod on Wednesday in San Jose and stopped 32 shots but the San Jose Barracuda forced overtime and won it in the three-on-three session. Poulin now is 2-0-2 this season having not lost in regulation yet. He provides the Heat a veteran option in net to give Ortio, who had started every game in Poulin's absence, a breather.
INTERESTING FACT
Morgan Klimchuk scored his second pro goal and notched his fourth pro point on Wednesday in San Jose. Coincidentally all four of his points this season have come against the San Jose Barracuda at the SAP Center.
The first round pick of the Calgary Flames in 2013 will look to score in a different building tonight and begin his first pro point streak.
Arena: Citizens Business Bank Arena
Date: January 8, 2016
Time: 7:00 p.m. PST
Broadcast: AHL Live, Spreaker & iHeartRadio beginning at 6:45 p.m. PST
Leading Scorer: STOCKTON: F Derek Grant (21GP, 15-6-21)
ONTARIO: F Sean Backman (29GP, 6-17-23)
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 Garnet Hathaway puck.
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