HGD 9: Zary returns for Stockton in clash against Bakersfield (7:30 p.m. MT)

@Connor Zary will make his season debut with the Stockton Heat on Wednesday as his team aims for an eighth consecutive win.

The 20-year-old forward appeared in nine games with the Heat in the 2020–21 season, collecting three goals and seven points while playing left wing on the top line with @Matthew Phillips and @Adam Ruzicka.

@Jakob Pelletier now occupies that spot on Stockton’s first unit. Will Zary slot in as the No. 2 centre, pushing @Glenn Gawdin to the wing or to the third line? Will he play on Gawdin’s left side? We’ll find out tonight.

Phillips scored the game-winning goal for Stockton (7-0-1) in its 2-1 victory over the Abbotsford Canucks on Nov. 6. @Eetu Tuulola also tallied for the Heat in the game, with @Adam Werner making 25 saves on 26 shots.

Bakersfield currently ranks fourth in the AHL Pacific Division with a 4-4-1, most recently falling 6-3 to the Ontario Reign on Nov. 6.

@Jakob Pelletier – @Adam Ruzicka – @Matthew Phillips
@Connor Zary – @Glenn Gawdin – @Luke Philp
@Emilio Pettersen – @Martin Pospisil – @Eetu Tuulola
@Justin Kirkland – @Byron Froese – @Alex Gallant

@Connor Mackey – @Andy Welinski
@Kevin Gravel – @Nick DeSimone
@Yan Kuznetsov – @Colton Poolman

@Dustin Wolf
@Adam Werner

@James Hamblin – Brad Malone – @Seth Griffith
@Tim Schaller – @Luke Esposito – @Cooper Marody
@Ostap Safin – @Adam Cracknell – @Dino Kambeitz
@Graham McPhee – @Raphael Lavoie

@Markus Niemelainen – @Philip Kemp
@Philip Broberg – @Michael Kesselring
@William Lagesson – @Vincent Desharnais
@Dmitry Samorukov

Stockton — @Adam Ruzicka (seven goals, 11 points); @Jakob Pelletier (two goals, nine points); @Glenn Gawdin (one goal, eight points); @Matthew Phillips (three goals, seven points); @Nick DeSimone (one goal, six points).

Bakersfield — @Seth Griffith (five goals, 12 points); @Adam Cracknell (three goals, 11 points); @Cooper Marody (three goals, seven points); @Brad Malone (two goals, six points); @Philip Broberg (zero goals, six points).

Stockton — @Glenn Gawdin. Last season, Zary made Phillips and Ruzicka look a lot better. Can he do the same this season if he plays with Gawdin? The 24-year-old centre already has eight points in six games this year, but only one of those points is a goal. Zary is a terrific distributor and could help Gawdin increase that total.

Bakersfield — @Brad Malone. Condors standout @Ryan McLeod has been recalled to the Edmonton Oilers, throwing the AHL lineup into disarray. Malone is the most likely candidate to occupy Bakersfield’s top-line centre spot in McLeod’s absence. The 32-year-old forward has two goals and six points in nine games with the Condors this season.

This game will be broadcast on AHL TV (subscription required) and on Spreaker (audio only), with the opening puck-drop set for 7:30 pm MT.

FlamesNation contributor Paige Siewert will provide live game updates on her Twitter account. Additionally, you’ll be able to follow along at TheAHL.com.