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Calgary Flames

Heat ready for post-All Star Playoff push

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Summary

The Heat went a respectable 2-1-1 leading up to the recent All Star break. They kicked the week off behind an incredible performance from Tyler Parsons, who made 49 saves on 51 shots, setting a Heat single game record for saves. The team held off the opposing Texas Stars, with both Alan Quine and Glenn Gawdin recording a goal and an assist. Rinat Valiev scored his first goal with the team into the empty cage.

Tyler Parsons again came to play against the Colorado Eagles, 2 days later. He allowed just 1 goal on 31 shots, but could only stop 2/5 in the shootout, as the Heat fell 2-1. Glenn Gawdin scored the Heat’s lone goal, as he has started to gain traction in the AHL, since being a healthy scratch.

Stockton almost completed an impressive comeback, but Texas got their revenge against the Heat and Parsons, on January 26th. Roope Hintz’s goals midway through the third gave Texas a 4-2 lead. 5 minutes later, the Heat received 2 goals just over a minute apart from Spencer Foo and Curtis Lazar. That tie only lasted 28 seconds before Texas dealt the Heat a fatal blow, with Nicholas Caamano’s 5-4 goal ending up as the winner. The Heat also received goals from Andrew Mangiapane in his first game back in Stockton, and Buddy Robinson.

Juuso Valimaki made his AHL debut, and first action since he went down with a high ankle sprain against the Vegas Golden Knights in early November. He recorded 1 shot on goal, and going -1.

The Heat’s last game before the All Star game was a dramatic one.

A tight 1-1 affair going into the third, the Heat found themselves down 3-2, when Mitch Reinke took an interference penalty with 2:18 to go in regulation. Buddy Robinson received a lucky bounce off a blocked Matthew Phillips shot, which he chipped over San Antonio goalie Jared Coreau with just over a minute left in regulation. Juuso Valimaki recorded his first AHL point on the goal. In even more dramatic fashion, Curtis Lazar stole the puck in the Rampage zone, dished to Rinat Valiev, who slid it cross crease to Kerby Rychel for the OT winner with under 1 second to play in overtime. Jon Gillies earned the W with 27 saves.

Fast facts:

-Alan Quine has recorded 16 points in his last 10 games

-The only goalie to have played more than 10 games with a sub 3.00 (incredibly even sub 4.00) GAA, is Nick Schneider, with a 2.45 average. Jon Gillies has a 4.05 GAA through 27 games, while Tyler Parsons is at 4.09, albeit in only 12 games

-Glenn Gawdin has 5 points in his last 4 games, as he gets used to the AHL game. He ranks 7th among Stockton skaters, and second amongst Stockton rookies with 10 goals and 21 points.

Lazar Participates in first All Star Game

Curtis Lazar has enjoyed a successful comeback campaign in the AHL this season, and was rewarded as the Heat’s lone representative in last weeks’ All Star festivities. Lazar participated for Team West in the Hardest shot competition, and blasted a 92.9 mph shot. He also went 0-1 in the breakaway challenge.

Lazar and Team Pacific came out strong for the first of their three 3v3 games, beating Team North 4-2. Unfortunately they dropped their next two games by scores of 5-2 (Atlantic) and 5-3 (Central). Lazar didn’t record any points in the 3 games.

Lazar has recorded 14 goals and 33 points in 42 games with the Heat this season, as he tries to earn a call-up from the big club. If not, he’ll certainly be part of the “Black Aces” squad during Calgary’s playoff season.

Heat Player of the Week: Andrew Mangiapane

Games: 2 (2 Goals, 1 Assist)

Up Next: Feb 1 vs San Jose

Record: 18-20-4-1, 6th Pacific

Team Leaders:

Alan Quine GP: 28 (13-23-36)

Kerby Rychel GP: 30 (19-16-35)

Tyler Graovac GP: 29 (15-20-35)

by Gordie Taylor