Heat Stage Late Comeback But Fall Just Short in Winnipeg
March 23, 2016 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Stockton Heat News Release
Winnipeg, MB, CAN - After giving up three goals in the first two periods, the Stockton Heat staged a furious comeback in the final frame, but fall short as the Heat drop their second-straight game to the Manitoba Moose by a final score of 3-2 Wednesday night at the MTS Centre. Mitchell Heard and Kenny Agostino provided the offense for the Heat with a goal each, while Kevin Poulin made big save after big save in a losing effort. Unfortuantely for the Heat, Manitoba goaltender Connor Hellebuyck slammed the door late and collected his second win in as many games against the Heat. The Stockton Heat will now look forward to a day of travelling, as they head to Ontario to face the Reign for a weekend double-header to closeout their road trip.
SCORING SUMMARY
1st Period
Manitoba goal: F Jake Baker (1) shot from the top of the nearside faceoff circle goes off the goaltender's pad and into the net (Kichton, Harris assists), 12:24 (PP)
Shots: STK - 6 | MB - 12
2nd Period
Manitoba goal: F Darren Kramer (6) shots from the high slot is redirected in front of the goaltender and the puck goes into the net (Harstad, Walker assists), 12:46
Manitoba goal: F John Albert (12) puck takes a weird bounce off a blocked shot and ends up on the doorstep and is chipped into the net (Cormier, MacWilliam assists), 19:46
Shots: STK - 5 | MB - 9
3rd Period
HEAT GOAL: F Mitchell Heard (3) shot off a rush is pushed past the goaltender on the blocker side and into the net (Smith assist), 8:20
HEAT GOAL: F Kenny Agostino (19) centering pass to the slot leads to a catch-and-shoot opportunity that beats the goaltender and gets into the net (Shore, Sieloff assists), 9:47
Shots: STK - 10 | MB - 4
GOALIES
W: Connor Hellebuyck (21 shots, 19 saves)
L: Kevin Poulin (25 shots, 22 saves)
NOTABLE STATISTICS
Three Stars: 1- John Albert (1 goal) 2- Jake Baker (1 goal) 3- Darren Kramer (1 goal)
Final Shots: STK - 21 | MB - 25
Power Plays: STK - 0/4 | MB - 1/4
Kenny Agostino (1 goal) moves into a tie for the team-lead in points with Hunter Shinkaruk (47)
The Stockton Heat fall to 1-2-0-0 on their five-game road trip
QUOTES
"We gave ourselves a good chance to tie things up in the third, but there was no excuse for that start. We can't not show up for two periods against a team like this." - Kenny Agostino with his overall thoughts of tonight's game.
"[Kevin Poulin] has been our rock all season. He's kept up in games that we had no business being in and he came up big for us again tonight. He kept us in it tonight and allowed us to make that push in the third." - Agostino on the play of goaltender Kevin Poulin tonight.
"That was a tough game. We got down 3-0 and I think we could've played better. For me it was an 'ok' night - I mean you always want to allow two or less goals against. I'm sure I'll look at one or two of those and think I should've stopped it, but I think as a team we just need to refocus and play some good games down the stretch of the season." - Kevin Poulin with his thoughts on tonight's game.
"I picked the puck up in the neutral zone and tried to beat my guy to the outside. The defenseman kind of scrambled a bit and that allowed me to get a step on him. Fortunately I was able to put the shot past the goalie low blocker." - Mitchell Heard on his goal that put the Heat on the board in the third.
"That's what our line has been trying to do over this last little while. We have to bring energy and physicality and try to be an upbeat line. Getting that one as a line was a good spark I thought for the bench and hopefully it's another momentum builder for us moving forward." - Heard on the play of his line with Hunter Smith and Blair Riley.
"We didn't have the work or the identity that we needed to have tonight to get a win. [The Manitoba Moose] were much hungrier than we were. We played like individuals instead of as a team and when you do that frustration creeps in and it's not good for anybody." - Head Coach Ryan Huska with his thoughts on tonight's game.
"That's the way [Kevin Poulin] is - he gives us chances to win. You cannot fault him for these couple games here. He's done what he has to do." - Coach Huska on the play of his goaltender tonight.
NEXT HOME GAME
STOCKTON HEAT vs. San Diego Gulls
March 30 @ Stockton Arena
First 1000 fans receive an Oversized Trading Card
Doors @ 6:00 p.m., Puck drop @ 7:00 p.m.
American Hockey League Stories from March 23, 2016
- Heat Stage Late Comeback But Fall Just Short in Winnipeg - Stockton Heat
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- Wolves Can't Solve Checkers - Chicago Wolves
- Bridgeport has five game winning streak snapped - Bridgeport Islanders
- Admirals Shoot Down Stars, Take over First Place - Milwaukee Admirals
- Checkers' Offense Comes Alive in Chicago - Charlotte Checkers
- Highest Output of Year Helps Bears Blast Phantoms - Hershey Bears
- Special Teams Doom Pack in OT Loss - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Pens Pull Together for Decisive 5-0 Win, Jarry's Fifth Shutout - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Phantoms Sellout Streak Reaches 9 Straight Amidst Rivalry Showdown - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- Comets Lose Fourth Straight - Utica Comets
- IceCaps Edged by Americans 6-5 - St. John's IceCaps
- Crunch Down Comets, 3-1 - Syracuse Crunch
- Khokhlachev Scores Twice in Overtime Win - Providence Bruins
- B-Sens Win Streak Snapped in 5-0 Loss - Binghamton Senators
- Blackhawks Issue Statement on Garret Ross - Rockford IceHogs
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- LA Kings Prospect Matt Schmalz Joins Reign - Ontario Reign
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- Griffins Welcome New Staff Member - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Wolves Sign Mark Cooper - Chicago Wolves
- Checkers' Seventh Annual Pooch Party Set for April 10 - Charlotte Checkers
- Heat and Moose Closeout Season Series with Final Game in Winnipeg - Stockton Heat
- Flames Sign Prospect Andrew Mangiapane - Stockton Heat
- Red Hot B-Sens Return Home Friday & Saturday - Binghamton Senators
- Mattson Recalled to Rockford, Star Wars Jersey up for Auction - Rockford IceHogs
- Islanders Sign McAdam to Entry-Level Contract - Bridgeport Islanders
- Moose Sign Breton and Wilson - Manitoba Moose
- Bears Recall Mark Dekanich from Stingrays - Hershey Bears
- Early Goals Doom Condors against Ontario - Bakersfield Condors
- Reign Pluck Condors 5-2 in Bakersfield - Ontario Reign
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