Heat Wave: Pacific Leaders!

Record: 28-13-3-3 (.660%), 1st Pacific Division, 3rd Western Conference

Team Leaders:

Goals

Byron Froese (18), Luke Philp (17), Buddy Robinson (16)

Assists

Alan Quine (32), Glenn Gawdin (27), Zac Leslie (23)

Points

Alan Quine (45), Glenn Gawdin (42), Byron Froese (38)

Goaltending

Jon Gillies (12-9-3), 2.64 GAA .907 SV%

Artyom Zagidulin (16-4-3), 3.07 GAA .898 SV%

Summary

Extended games was the flavour of the week for the Calgary Flames AHL affiliate. The Heat compiled a 3-1-0 record, with all 3 wins coming in overtime or the shootout.

Exactly 7 days ago last Wednesday, Stockton managed to avoid a disappointing loss to division-worst San Jose. Down 3-1 going into the third period, the Captain came in clutch, as Byron Froese added his second of the game midway through the third to cut the deficit to one. Alan Quine got one through Barracuda goaltender Josef Korenar with 1:25 remaining, and the two teams would go to overtime. Luke Philp continued his great rookie season, potting the winner in the extra frame. Jon Gillies was lights out in the third and overtime, and finished the night with 38 saves.

The rookie trend continued into Friday’s game against the Ontario Reign. Adam Ruzicka and Eetu Tuulola both posted a goal and an assist, in what would be a 6-3 loss. Ruzicka has been red hot of late, and this game extended his point streak to 4.. Byron Froese extended his point streak to 8 games with an assist on Alan Quine’s third period goal, but the streak would end next game. Jon Gillies took the loss, making 24 saves on 29 shots.

The Heat’s second ranked powerplay in the AHL saved the day on Saturday, against the Tucson Roadrunners. The biggest positive however, was the return of Matthew Phillips to the lineup after being out since December 28th with a fractured kneecap.

The Heat won the game 4-3 in a shootout, with all three goals coming on the powerplay. Adam Ruzicka scored for a second straight game, to bring his point streak to a career high 5 games. Rob Hamilton and Zac Leslie scored the other two goals, and Glenn Gawdin had two assists. Both Austin Czarnik and Justin Kirkland scored in the shootout, and Artyom Zagidulin stopped two of three shooters to earn the victory.

The successful week would end with another overtime win, this time against San Diego on President’s Day/Family Day Monday. From a Flames fan perspective, it isn’t a very interesting boxscore, as all three goals were scored by AHL contract players. Corey Schueneman scored a shorthanded goal in the first period, and Josh McCarron increased the lead to 2 30 seconds into the third period. The Gulls were able to tie the game, before Rob Hamilton scored for the second straight game in overtime. Phillips assisted on the overtime goal, for his first point in two games since returning.

Fast facts:

-Alan Quine is on a ridiculous 10 game point streak, over which he has posted 5 goals and 9 assists. He joins Mark Jankowski and Andrew Mangiapane as the only two Heat players in team history to have a 10+ game point streak

-Despite having the second fewest powerplay chances in the Western Conference, the Heat have the second best powerplay in the west, at 26%. That percentage is second overall in the league as well.

-The Heat are 5-3 in overtime this season, and 2-3 in the shootout

-Alan Quine is now 11th in AHL scoring with 45 points, despite only playing 36 games. The average games played of the top 10 is 47.8.

-Glenn Gawdin earned his first NHL summons

Heat Player of the Week: 

Byron Froese 4 GP: 2 G, 3 A, 5 Pts

Up Next: Feb 19 @ San Diego Gulls

by Gordie Taylor