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Stockton Heat

Heat Wrap up Small Road Trip in San Diego at 7:05 p.m.

March 5, 2016 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Stockton Heat News Release


TONIGHT

The Stockton Heat and the San Diego Gulls face each other for the second time in as many nights, as the Heat will look for redemption after last night's loss to the Gulls.

The Heat come into tonight's contest with losses in their last six games away from Stockton Arena and an overall record of 23-23-1-2 in 49 games.

The San Diego Gulls come into tonight's tilt with a record of 28-20-1-2 in 51 games, good for third in the Pacific Division. They have also put together an impressive run over their last 10 games, going 7-2-0-1 during that span.

LAST TIME VS. SAN DIEGO

Just last night on March 4th, the Heat and the Gulls played each other to a scoreless tie after the opening frame. However, the Gulls would jump out to a 3-0 lead thanks to an early goal in the second that was promptly followed by two power-play goals off a 5-on-3 advantage.

Despite a late push and a good third that included Heat forward Emile Poirier breaking out of his nine-game goal slump, Stockton simply could not muster the opportunities against a stingy defensive team in San Diego.

The hole dug for themselves in the middle frame proved to deep for the Heat to climb out of and the game went to San Diego's liking.

WHO TO WATCH

Perhaps one of the oddest stats to see when scrolling through the Heat lineup card is that forward Turner Elson hasn't earned an assist in 18 games. Now, it is fair to simply right it off and say that Elson is a two-way player that makes his living away from a scoresheet mainly - certainly that wouldn't be an egregious notion.

However, Elson's biggest role with this team is as a leader, both on and off the ice, and the bottom line is that in desperate times teams lean on their leaders.

So with the captain Aaron Johnson still out with that lower-body injury and alternate captain Garnet Hathaway doing his thing with the Calgary Flames, we will look to Elson tonight to have a big game against a team in San Diego that he's had success against.

When a team is struggling to win games on the road, it isn't typically the "skill" players that raise the team from the depths. It's the gritty, grind-it-out guys that don't mind getting their noses dirty in front of the net or in the corners that end up scoring the dirty goal or taking the hit to make a play that livens the bench.

When you think of the players on the Heat roster that fit that last sentence, Turner Elson is likely the first name that comes to mind.

Sure, he's not a big "points" guy - he'll be the first to admit it - but Elson needs just six more points this season to break his previous AHL high that he set last season.

We're calling it tonight! Elson breaks his assist drought against a team in San Diego that forces players like Elson out of the shadows of the scoresheet and into special performances.

AGOSTINO CONTINUES IMPRESSIVE SOPHOMORE RUN

In just about every professional sport there seems to be a trend of the sophomore slump that lessens an individuals output in their second season as a pro at any level.

Kenny Agostino doesn't seem to care about any of that, as he finds himself in his second season as a pro and just one point away from tying his points total from last season - a point total that led the Adirondack Flames in 2014-15.

His total of 43 points last season was achieved in 67 games. This season's total of 42 has been reached in just 48 games.

Agostino is also the only player on the Heat roster with over 40 games played in a Stockton sweater with a plus/minus rating not in the negatives (Hunter Shinkaruk has over 40 games played and a plus-3 rating, but the majority of those games were with Utica).

The second-year prospect out of Yale is undoubtedly the offensive leader of this team at this point of the season while Derek Grant is out with an injury and Hunter Shinkaruk adjusts to the lineup. But even with both of those guys healthy and clicking, Agostino is a vital piece that makes Stockton engine go.

It's safe to say, provided he remains in the lineup, that Agostino will torch his previous career high in points. The question will be just how many can he collect as he and his teammates push for a playoff spot in the Pacific.

POIRIER BREAKS HIS DROUGHT

Emile Poirier has been sort of the opposite of Agostino when it comes to the sophomore slump. Poirier currently has 20-less points than he earned during his rookie season with just nine-less games played, but that doesn't necessarily make his season a bust.

Has he struggled to score this season? Sure. However, the 21-year-old still shows signs in just about every game that point to his deserving of that first-round selection in 2013.

Poirier's speed is unquestionable and has shown an ability to play a gritty style along the half-walls on forechecks that have caused opposing defensemen and wingers to turn pucks over.

When you look at his low shooting percentage when compared to last season, the shots and the chances are there for Poirier. It may just be a matter of his confidence waning due to a slower start for his standards.

Last night was the first time Poirier lit the lamp in nine games and as Coach Huska said postgame, Poirier seems to find a way to score in bunches, so he may be one to watch tonight too.

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 sixth in the Pacific with a .500 win-percentage while San Diego enters Saturday in third in the Pacific at .578.

Starting with Stockton, the Heat can get to .510 with the two-points tonight. In the event the Heat pick up just one point the team will stay at .500 while a regulation loss would send the team back to .490.

As for San Diego, a win would get them to .587 while an extra-time loss would drop the team at .577. A loss would put the Gulls at .567, but they would not fall from fourth in the Pacific.

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

INTERESTING FACT

The Stockton Heat have recorded power-play goals in three-straight games. However, the team has also allowed at least one power-play goal against during that same stretch.

Saturday, March 5, 2016

Arena: Valley View Casino Center

Date: March 5, 2016

Time: 7:05 p.m. PST

Broadcast: AHL Live, Spreaker & iHeartRadio beginning at 6:50 p.m. PST

Leading Scorer: STOCKTON: F Kenny Agostino (48GP, 17-25-42)

SAN DIEGO: D Brandon Montour (51GP, 9-33-42)

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 Aaron Johnson puck.

Check out the Stockton Heat Statistics

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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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