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AHL Stockton Heat

Heat Open Covanta Easy Being Green Weekend at 7:30 Tonight vs. San Diego

April 9, 2016 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Stockton Heat News Release


Saturday, April 9, 2016

Arena: Stockton Arena

Date: April 9, 2016

Time: 7:30 p.m. PST (Doors at 6:30 p.m.)

Broadcast: AHL Live, Spreaker & iHeartRadio beginning at 7:15 p.m. PST

Giveaway: First 1000 fans age 13 & older receive a Heat tote bag

Leading Scorer: STOCKTON: F Kenny Agostino (60GP, 20-30-50)

SAN DIEGO: D Brandon Montour (64GP, 12-43-55)

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 Nick Schneider puck.

TRAFFIC ADVISORY FOR TONIGHT

While the Heat host the San Diego Gulls at 7:30 p.m., the Stockton Ports will host the Modesto Nuts beginning at 7:10 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 open up a weekend double-header against San Diego, as the Gulls travel north to Stockton Arena for the penultimate meeting between the two clubs.

Stockton enters tonight's game in need of a victory, as they are coming off a loss to Ontario that further pushed away their opportunity at a playoff spot this past Wednesday.

San Diego is coming off an overtime victory against the Bakersfield Condors that saw the Gulls score four unanswered goals, including the overtime winner, to gain two points and officially clinch their spot in the playoffs.

LAST TIME VS. SAN DIEGO

Just this past Sunday on April 3rd, the Heat traveled south to face San Diego at the Valley View Casino Center and skated away with an impressive 2-1 overtime win in what was a defensive battle throughout.

Nick Schneider and Matt Hackett took part in a thrilling goaltender battle that saw each goalie only allow a single puck behind them in 60 minutes of regulation time.

However, it only took 12 seconds of the overtime frame for Kenny Agostino to light the lamp behind the Gulls net and earn the two points for the Heat.

WHO TO WATCH

Another exciting young prospect in the Calgary Flames organization will make his pro debut tonight for the Stockton Heat, as Brett Pollock joins the team for his first pro game off the heels of a career year in the WHL with the Edmonton Oil Kings.

Pollock, 20, put up regular-season career numbers in games played (72), assists (48), points (78) and plus-minus (21) on top of dressing for six WHL playoff games and registering a pair of goals and a pair of assists.

The second-round pick of the Dallas Stars in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft came to the Flames along with defenseman Jyrki Jokipakka and a conditional second-round pick in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft in exchange for defenseman Kris Russell back on Trade Deadline Day and now gets his first shot at the pro game with Stockton.

It will be exciting to see what Pollock can bring to the table tonight in his pro debut, as the most recent two players to do so, Mark Jankowski and Nick Schneider, have made an indelible mark on the Heat lineup in recent weeks.

Will Pollock be the next to do so? We can't wait to find out!

CALL-UPS EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES IN STOCKTON

Yesterday was a big day for three players that have donned the Stockton Heat sweater all season long, as Turner Elson, Pat Sieloff and Oliver Kylington all received call-ups to Calgary and will be making their NHL debuts this evening with the Flames in Calgary.

What does that mean for Stockton?

A void in the lineup...sure. However, it also means that a few young guys like Keegan Kanzig and newcomer Brett Pollock will get extended ice time as they fill those spots and attempt to take advantage of the opportunity provided by the call-ups.

All three of the departing players occupied vital roles on special teams as well, so there will be ample ice time allotted on the penalty kill and power play to players that wouldn't normally have that chance.

There will very likely be a hungry Stockton Heat team on the ice tonight, as they are not only fighting for the final playoff spot, but also have plenty of younger players looking to prove their worth within the Calgary Flames organization.

EVERY GAME A GAME 7 FROM HERE ON OUT

In the two days of practice leading up to tonight's game against San Diego, the Stockton Heat have prepared as if they're preparing for the deciding game of a playoff series - that's how important this weekend's games are to the Heat.

They are all aware of what it will take for them to reach the postseason and know that they need a little help from other teams to get there, but they are solely focused on what they can control.

What they can control is winning their games.

Taking things one game at a time may be cliché to say, but it's the truth for the Heat right now, as they fight for their playoff lives one "game 7" at a time.

PLAYOFF PRIMER

With the Heat in the thick of the playoff chase, we take a look at what tonight's game against the San Diego Gulls can do for both teams.

Starting the day the Heat are tied for fifth in the Pacific with a .508 points-percentage while San Diego enters Saturday as the second-place team in the Pacific at .617 and have already clinched a spot in the playoffs.

Starting with Stockton, if the Heat can pull the victory in regulation the team can get to .516 with two points tonight. In the event the Heat pick up just one point the team will remain at .508 while a regulation loss would send the team back to .500.

As for San Diego, a win would get them to .623 while an extra-time loss would drop the team to .615. A loss would put the Gulls at .608, but they would not fall from second in the Pacific.

Keep an eye on the AHL's Playoff Primer updated every morning with the latest standings and magic numbers.

INTERESTING FACT

With tonight being the final game of the 2015-16 season for the Calgary Flames, the Heat will end the 2015-16 campaign having had 15 players called-up to Calgary throughout the season.

After tonight five of those 15 (Jakub Nakladal, Garnet Hathaway, Turner Elson, Pat Sieloff and Oliver Kylington) will have made their NHL debuts this season after beginning the year with Stockton.

Check out the Stockton Heat Statistics



American Hockey League Stories from April 9, 2016


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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