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AHL Stockton Heat

Nowick's Two-Point Night Not Enough to Get Heat Past San Antonio

March 30, 2018 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Stockton Heat News Release


SAN ANTONIO, TEX. - Darren Nowick led the way for the Heat both in the effort, and points department, picking up a pair of assists in the game, but ultimately a couple of early goals against bit the Heat on the road in San Antonio as the club falls 5-3. After being shutout on Wednesday, the Heat captain ensured the Heat wouldn't be shutout in a second-straight game, ripping a wrist shot past goalie Ville Husso to put the Heat up in the game within the first five minutes. However, the Rampage would respond, scoring just 48 seconds later and then taking their first lead moments later. Early in the second period, San Antonio added a pair of tallies to take a three-goal lead, but toward the end of the period, the Heat would get one back thanks to a terrific play from Nowick who chased the puck down, won a puck battle and started the play that eventually resulted in Emile Poirier's goal. Nowick added his second assist but would need Brett Findlay to make a terrific play around a defenseman to get into position to unleash the wristshot, but in the end San Antonio were able to hold the Heat off and add an empty netter to seal the win. The Heat road trip through the Lone Star State continues tomorrow night at 5:00 p.m. PST against the Rampage at the AT&T Center. Then it's off to Austin where the Heat battle the Texas Stars in a pivotal matchup on Wednesday, April 4 at 5:30 p.m. PST. Watch the Heat push for the playoffs on AHL Live by purchasing a single game pass for just $7.99! The Heat are set to return home to kick off a home-and-home series with the San Jose Barracuda on Friday, April 6, a 7:00 p.m. start from Stockton Arena. The following day, the Heat head over to the SAP Center in San Jose for an afternoon matinee starting at 1:15 p.m. Fans can purchase a four pack of tickets featuring four hats, four hot dogs and 4 sodas for just $44 for any of our remaining three home games by visiting stocktonheat.com/finalfourpack or by 209.373.1500.

SCORING SUMMARY

1st Period

HEAT GOAL: F Rod Pelley (3) pass from the slot is taken in the left circle and wristed past the goalie's blocker hand on the short side (Shinkaruk, Yevenko assists), 4:47

San Antonio Goal: F Brendan Ranford (4) turnover at the blue line leads to a rush that is toe-dragged around the diving defenseman and shot past the goalie's blocker hand in the slot (Unassisted), 5:35

San Antonio Goal: F Conner Bleackley (1) pressure in the offensive zone leads to a pass from the right corner to the high slot and to the winger coming onto the ice from the bench, who shoots one past the goaltender and in (Kostin, Vannelli assists), 8:17

Shots: STK - 6 | SA - 7

2nd Period

San Antonio Goal: F Sam Blais (15) dekes around a player at the blueline, steps into the top of the left circle and wrists one over the shoulder of the goalie (Belzile, Butler assists), (PP), 1:04

San Antonio Goal: F Rocco Grimaldi (15) shot from the right circle goes off the diving defenseman's stick and caroms off the end boards where the winger finds the loose puck on the left post and pushes it into the open net (Kostin assist), 2:34

HEAT GOAL: F Emile Poirier (5) puck is chipped into the offensive zone, tracked down in the left corner and eventually worked out front where it's jammed past the pad of the goaltender in tight (McMurtry, Nowick assists), 13:21

Shots: STK - 3 | SA - 10

3rd Period

HEAT GOAL: F Brett Findlay (10) pass in the neutral zone is carried into the offensive zone where the centerman makes a move to his forhand around a defender and wrists a shot over the goalie's left pad (Nowick assist), 9:40

San Antonio Goal: F Zach Sanford (3) shot from the neutral zone goes into the empty net (Agozzino, Geertsen assists), (EN), 19:59

Shots: STK - 10 | SA - 6

GOALIES

W: Ville Husso (19 shots, 16 saves)

L: David Rittich (22 shots, 18 saves)

NOTABLE STATISTICS

Three Stars: 1- Conner Bleackley (SA) (1 goal) 2- Klim Kostin (SA) (2 assists) 3- Rocco Grimaldi (SA) (GWG)

Final Shots: STK - 19 | SA - 23

Power Plays: STK - 0/1 | SA - 1/2

Darren Nowick (2 assists) records his first multi-point game of the season and first since April 1, 2017 while playing with Bridgeport

Emile Poirier scores his first goal since February 3, 2018

Stockton was held to a tied-season-low 3 shots in the second period (third time overall and second time in their last two games)

The Heat are 1-1-0-1 in the three meetings with San Antonio this season and 8-3-0-2 all-time against the Rampage

The Heat are 8-4-0-2 in the state of Texas

QUOTES

"The first period we came out a little slow with a couple turnovers, but we worked hard and for the most part I thought we were the better team and I think we deserved a better fate out there. For us we just have to take this as a positive, we obviously didn't win, but we worked hard for 60 minutes and that is all you can ask out of the guys and we need to come out tomorrow with the same mindset." - Brett Findlay on the team's effort tonight

"Nowick made a great play to get it to me in the middle. I was able to get around that D-man there. I have been trying to keep my mind on getting pucks to the net and I was fortunate to get one there." - Findlay on his tenth goal of the year

"We are going to need some help, but we can't worry about that we have to worry about ourselves. Our goal here is to come up with four points in the next two games and go from there. I thought we had a great effort tonight and deserved better." - Findlay on the team's mindset amidst a tight playoff race

"Absolutely. You never want to be eliminated and we are going to claw our way in there." - Findlay on whether or not the team can make the playoffs

"I felt good, it was a team effort. Like Huska said before the game we are a blue-collar team and we have to work to get our chances and I think we did that towards the end there, but it just didn't work out for us." - Darren Nowick on the group's effort

"I was lucky enough to chip it past the defenseman there and beat him in a race and got help from McMurtry there and he made a great play to Poirier and he put it in." - Nowick on his assist to Poirier

"Oh yeah definitely. Like I said, we played well we just didn't get those little bounces, but I think we will get them tomorrow though. I think our work ethic was there, but we didn't finish those chances. We have to forget about it right now and get ready for the next game." - Nowick on moving on to tomorrow's rematch

"It is a tough one to swallow because we did not get the result because at the end of the day that is what we are here for, but the effort with what our guys left on the ice tonight was really good. I was proud of what they brought to the table. We caused ourselves some problems early in the game with a few turnovers and we allowed them to get a few chances on us and they are a good team in transition, but I thought once we cleaned that up I think we played a pretty strong game." - Coach Ryan Huska on the team's effort in the loss

"Darren I thought was excellent tonight, but when you go through and look at our forwards there were only a few of them that were sub-par and the rest of them were at their game or even above their game tonight, it was hard to pick guys out that you would have wanted more of." - Huska on Darren Nowick and the rest of the forwards

"He uses his speed, he puts pucks into areas where he can get them back. He doesn't try to play outside of his game and because he plays the right way he creates turnovers with his energy." - Huska on Nowick's game

"We want a lot of the same effort. There are a few things we can clear up in terms of the self-inflicted chances against. I think the guys should leave here and feel good about their effort and then come back tomorrow looking to get a split and that is what we are going to do." - Huska on the mindset going into tomorrow's rematch

UPCOMING GAMES

STOCKTON HEAT at San Antonio Rampage

Saturday, March 31 @ AT&T Center - 5:00 p.m. PST

Tune in Live on AHL Live, Spreaker & iHeart Radio

STOCKTON HEAT at Texas Stars

Wednesday, April 4 @ H-E-B Center at Cedar Park - 5:30 p.m. PST

Tune in Live on AHL Live, Spreaker & iHeart Radio

STOCKTON HEAT vs. San Jose Barracuda

Friday, April 6 @ Stockton Arena - 7:00 p.m.

Pacific Heats Up// Fry Day presented by Golden State Restaurant Group McDonalds

For tickets call 209.373.1500// stocktonheat.com/pacificheatsup

STOCKTON HEAT at San Jose Barracuda

Saturday, April 7 @ SAP Center - 1:15 p.m. PST

Tune in Live on AHL Live, Spreaker & iHeart Radio

STOCKTON HEAT vs. Ontario Reign

Wednesday, April 11 @ Stockton Arena - 7:00 p.m.

Wing It Wednesday// Recycle and Save with Coca Cola

For tickets call 209.373.1500// stocktonheat.com/finalfourpack

Check out the Stockton Heat Statistics



American Hockey League Stories from March 30, 2018


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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