Heat Toss Bears Thanks to Agostino and Win Fifth-Straight at Home Thanks to Johnson
January 24, 2016 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Stockton Heat News Release
Stockton, Calif. - It took just over 28 minutes, but the Stockton Heat faithful that jammed Stockton Arena Saturday night were eventually able to launch their teddy bears onto the ice thanks to Kenny Agostino's 10th goal of the season that led to a 3-2 Heat win in overtime over the Manitoba Moose. While Agostino's goal may have been the highlight of the night, as thousands of stuffed animals blanketed the ice, Heat captain Aaron Johnson netted the game-winner in overtime with a textbook forehand-backhand move that fooled the goaltender and helped the team collect their fifth-straight win on home-ice. The Stockton Heat now look ahead to a midweek clash with the Ontario Reign, as the Heat will look to extend their modest three-game winning streak.
1st Period
Manitoba goal: F Scott Kosmachuk (7) puck is walked out from below the nearside faceoff circle and is put high above the goaltender's glove and into the net (Brassard, Olsen assists), 13:55 (PP)
Shots: STK - 18 | MB - 9
2nd Period
HEAT GOAL: F Kenny Agostino (10) one-timer from the farside point goes through the five-hole and into the net unleashing the teddy bear toss (Johnson, Grant assists), 8:03 (PP)
HEAT GOAL: F Garnet Hathaway (5) turnover in the neutral zone springs a breakaway opportunity that is put high past the goaltender on the glove side (Hamilton assists), 12:50 (SH)
Shots: STK - 15 | MB - 7
3rd Period
Manitoba goal: F Matt Fraser (3) rebound at the top of the crease is put over the goaltender's outstretched pad and into the net (Albert, Morrissey assists), 18:42
Shots: STK - 13 | MB - 8
Overtime
HEAT GOAL: D Aaron Johnson (3) breakaway leads to a forehand-backhand move that is roofed over the goaltender's outstretched glove (Grant, Poulin assists), 0:35
Shots: STK - 1 | MB - 2
GOALIES
W: Kevin Poulin (26 shots, 24 saves)
L: Jussi Olkinuora (47 shots, 44 saves)
NOTABLE STATISTICS
Three Stars: 1- Aaron Johnson (1 goal, 1 assist) 2- Kenny Agostino (1 goal) 3- Garnet Hathaway (1 goal)
Final Shots: STK - 47 | MB - 26
Power Plays: STK - 1/5 | MB - 1/4
Stockton has won three-straight games but have won their last five games at home dating back to January 2
The Heat are 7-2-1-0 in their last 10 games
Aaron Johnson (1 goal, 1 assist) scores the first overtime winner in Stockton Heat team history
Freddie Hamilton (1 assist) now has at least one point in back-to-back games (2 assists)
Kenny Agostino (1 goal) scored the goal that launched the first Teddy Bear Toss in Stockton Heat history
Derek Grant (2 assists) earns his 10th multi-point game of the season
Kevin Poulin earned the first assist by a goaltender in Stockton Heat history
This is the 11th time that Teddy Bear Toss has been hosted at Stockton Arena with the Stockton Thunder (ECHL) and Stockton Heat (AHL). Stockton is 6-2-3 in Teddy Bear Toss games
It was the third time a teddy bear toss goal was scored in the second period at Stockton Arena
The count for the Teddy Bears will take place on Monday at the United Way of San Joaquin County.
In the first 10 years of the event 45,339 bears were collected and donated. The goal is that the count on Monday will prove higher then the previous high of 5,835 bears collected on January 22, 2011 in a game between the Stockton Thunder and Ontario Reign (ECHL)
QUOTES
"It was a really cool experience for sure. It was a great win on the draw by [Derek Grant] and [Aaron Johnson] made a great pass right in my sweet-spot. I was able to get it on net and have it go through the five-hole. It was a really cool feeling to see all those teddy bears come down." - Kenny Agostino on scoring the goal that launched thousands of stuffed animals to the ice.
"These kinds of wins are great for our confidence - especially these close, gritty games. These are the wins that bring teams closer together and they're certainly momentum builders for us." - Agostino on what these back-to-back wins mean to his team.
"It was a great block by Freddie [Hamilton] that started the play. I thought we had really good special teams tonight - especially the penalty kill. It felt good to get that one in after being out for about a month. It was nice to sort of get that off my back." - Garnet Hathaway on his shorthanded goal in the second.
"I think blocked shots are huge for us and if you look at this little stretch we're on, I think we've blocked more shots during it than we have at any other point this season. That leads to opportunities because you gain momentum when you kill a penalty like that." - Hathaway on the success the penalty kill has had recently.
"It was a big save by [Kevin Poulin] on the other end and a nice play by [Derek] Grant to get the puck up to me on kind of a 'touchdown' pass. I was able to cradle and really just try to get it up on net." - Aaron Johnson on his overtime game-winner.
"We have to just continue playing the way we're playing. We know we have a big homestand here and our goal right now is to play well in our own building. We've had some good games here the last two nights and we need to keep it going during this next little bit." - Johnson on stringing together some wins at home.
"Goaltending on both sides was good again. Two nights in a row we gave up late goals, but we found a way in overtime to stick with it and get the win. That's what was important for our group tonight - getting back to that .500 level and we're playing better as a team." - Head Coach Ryan Huska on his feelings on tonight's win.
"Our only focus now is Ontario. I think they're a good team that we have a tough time against because they're very structured and they play the game the right way. We have to be energized and be prepared to play in a tight game." - Coach Huska on looking ahead to next week's games, beginning with Ontario.
NEXT HOME GAME
STOCKTON HEAT vs. Ontario Reign
January 27 @ Stockton Arena
First 1,000 fans receive a Joni Ortio oversized trading card
Doors @ 6:00 p.m., Puck drop @ 7:00 p.m.
American Hockey League Stories from January 24, 2016
- Rampage Outshined by Stars 6-1 - San Antonio Rampage
- Rallo, Hulak and Faksa Lead Stars to 6-1 Win - Texas Stars
- Wolf Pack Stun Pirates in Second Period to Win 4-1 - Portland Pirates
- Toronto Marlies Post Game Notes - Toronto Marlies
- Wolf Pack Win Seventh in a Row 4-1 - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Pens Stifle Bruins Power Play But Still Fall, 5-2 - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- P-Bruins Get Complete Team Effort in 5-2 Win over Penguins - Providence Bruins
- Comets Overpowered by Marlies - Utica Comets
- Condors Assigned Three from Edmonton - Bakersfield Condors
- Red Wings Recall Tangradi and Jensen, Assign Andersson to Griffins - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Coyotes Recall Thomas from Springfield - Springfield Falcons
- Heat Toss Bears Thanks to Agostino and Win Fifth-Straight at Home Thanks to Johnson - Stockton Heat
- Leighton Collects 3rd Shutout, Nears All-Time AHL Record - Rockford IceHogs
- Manitoba Moose Post-Game Report - Manitoba at Stockton - January 23 - Manitoba Moose
- Barracuda Fall 2-1 to the Reign in Final Home Game of January - San Jose Barracuda
- Dowd and Backman Lead Reign over Barracuda - Ontario Reign
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.
