HGD 28: Can I offer you a nice win in this trying time? (12:00 pm MT, AHL TV)

The Stockton Heat have just three games left to play before the end of the regular season.

They’re currently in the midst of a five-game losing streak and have dropped 15 of their last 17 decisions. Most recently, the Heat fell by a 3-0 score at the hands of the Manitoba Moose on Saturday afternoon.

Stockton’s skaters mustered just 13 shots over that 60-minute contest; Heat goaltender Garret Sparks allowed three goals but made 43 saves along the way.

With a .389 points percentage through 27 games, the Heat now rank as the fourth-worst team in the American Hockey League and can fall bellow the Ontario Reign with a loss on Monday.

Their opponent? Once again, the Moose team that has now beaten them on three consecutive occasions. Stockton started its season series against Manitoba with three-straight wins of their own, including two in overtime.

Dmitry Zavgorodniy – Luke Philp – Matthew Phillips
Emilio Pettersen – Adam Ruzicka – Eetu Tuulola
Kris Bennett – Mark Simpson – Colton Beck
Alex Gallant – Giorgio Estephan – Walker Duehr

Connor Mackey – Alex Petrovic
Yan Kuznetsov – Zac Leslie
C.J. Lerby – Alexander Yelesin

Tyler Parsons
Garret Sparks

Jeff Malott – David Gustafsson – Nathan Todd
Dominic Toninato – Cole Perfetti – Kristian Reichel
Joona Luoto – Cole Maier – Nick Jones
Skyler McKenzie – Ty Pelton-Byce – Bobby Lynch

Dylan Samberg – Johnathan Kovacevic
Ville Heinola – Nelson Nogier
Declan Chisholm – Leon Gawanke

Eric Comrie
Cole Kehler

Stockton — Matthew Phillips (eight goals, 20 points in 27 games); Adam Ruzicka (10 goals, 19 points in 25 games); Luke Philp (eight goals, 16 points in 27 games); Connor Mackey (three goals, 16 points in 27 games); Glenn Gawdin (four goals, 13 points in 23 games).

Manitoba — Nathan Todd (eight goals, 23 points in 26 games); Cole Perfetti (eight goals, 21 points in 26 games); Jeff Malott (12 goals, 17 points in 24 games); David Gustafsson (three goals, 12 points in 12 games); Declan Chisholm (two goals, 12 points in 25 games).

Stockton — Adam Ruzicka. Since returning to Stockton after a brief stint on the Calgary Flames’ taxi squad, Ruzicka has scored zero points and has a minus-six rating in three games.

It hasn’t been a great stretch for the 21-year-old centre, who still leads the Heat with 10 goals but has been overtaken by Matthew Phillips in the team points leaderboard.

Ruzicka consistently ranks as one of Stockton’s best volume shooters and has 67 shots in just 25 games this year. In his last three games, Ruzicka has just four shots and has been held without a single one in two of his last six games. Those are the only such instances this season of him being shutout in that department.

Manitoba — Nick Jones. Jones was at the centre of a memorable incident from Saturday’s game, bowling into Sparks on a drive towards Stockton’s crease.

Sparks voiced his displeasure with Jones’ actions after the game.

“I’m just tired of getting run over by guys,” said Sparks. “I’ve already kind of claimed my space in the crease and these guys are just skating full-speed at me, and it’s not like my D are pushing them in. It’s not like they’re making a very quality effort to get out of the way. They know they can take it hard to the net and they’ll live to tell about it. I’m just kind of tired of it.”

Jones has two goals and six points in 25 games with the Moose this season.

This game will be broadcast on AHLTV.com (subscription required), with the opening puck-drop set for 12:00 pm MT. Live game updates can be found on Twitter at @miketgould or online at TheAHL.com.