Heat Wave: Tough Divisional Losses End Winning Streak

Record: 23-10-2-3 (.671%), 2nd Pacific Division, 3rd Western Conference

Team Leaders:

Goals

Philp (15), Robinson (15), Phillips (14)

Assists

Gawdin (24), Quine (24), Leslie (19)

Points

Gawdin (36), Quine (33), Phillips (30)

Goaltending

Jon Gillies (10-6-3), 2.49 GAA .909 SV%

Artyom Zagidulin (13-4-2), 3.12 GAA .897 SV%

Summary

The Heat finished off a strong weekend series against the San Jose Barracuda on Sunday afternoon. Already on a two game winning streak, including a shutout victory against the Barracuda Saturday night, the Heat extended their streak to 3, with a 2-1 victory.

Austin Czarnik scored two goals roughly 10 minutes apart in the second period, and Artyom Zagidulin never gave up another goal after surrendering one to Trevor Carrick midway through the first. The Russian netminder ended with 27 saves for his 13th victory of the season. Alan Quine had two assists.

The rest of the week was ugly for the Heat.

After being in San Jose for the weekend, the team returned to Stockton to face the Anaheim Ducks affiliate, the San Diego Gulls. Former Flyers goaltender Anthony Stolarz was superb. He stopped 36 shots, only yielding one in the second to Mason Morelli.

Morelli’s goal tied the game after Kiefer Sherwood gave the Gulls the lead, scoring shorthanded on Jon Gillies in the first period. Brent Gates scored just 3 minutes after Morelli, giving the Gulls the lead going into the third. Sherwood and Alex Broadhurst added empty net goals to seal the victory. Gillies made 19 saves in the loss.

Despite putting 51 shots on goal, the Heat once again ran into solid goaltending in the form of Cal Petersen of the Ontario Reign. The game Friday night saw the Heat get thumped 5-1, giving up 3 goals in the first period alone, and then 2 responses to the Heat’s lone marker. Artyom Zagidulin was pulled after giving up 4 goals on 14 shots. Glenn Gawdin scored Stockton’s only goal.

Saturday saw the team return to Stockton for the team’s annual teddy bear toss game. After Logan O’Connor gave the Colorado Eagles the lead, Austin Czarnik scored his 3rd goal in 4 games to bring down the bears in the first period.

The Heat fell into trouble, when Ryan Wagner scored the only goal of the second period, before O’Connor added his second of the game 4 minutes into the third. Alex Gallant brought Stockton back within a goal just a few moments later. Alan Quine improbably tied the game with just over 2 to go, scoring his 9th off a pass from Czarnik.

Sadly, Dan Renouf scored with under a minute to go to void the comeback, and hand the Heat their third straight regulation loss. Jon Gillies made 25 stops in the loss. The Heat put 41 shots on Hunter Miska.

Fast facts:

– Former Flame Lance Bouma, now on the Reign, scored on Gillies in the third period of Friday’s game

-Zagidulin’s regulation loss Friday was only his 4th of the season, compared to 13 wins

– The Heat lost regulation games consecutively for the first time all season, and have now lost 3

-Alexander Yelesin was returned to the team after his call-up

Heat Player of the Week: 

Austin Czarnik 2GP: 3G, 1A, 4Pts

Up Next: Jan 20 vs Colorado Eagles

by Gordie Taylor