HGD 21: Amid Calgary COVID crisis, Heat take on Condors (7:30 p.m. MT)

After a three-day break, the Stockton Heat will return to action on Wednesday when they play host to the Bakersfield Condors at 7:30 p.m. MT.

It remains to be seen whether Stockton’s lineup will look any different on Wednesday as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis currently impacting the Calgary Flames.

The Flames currently have a whopping 16 players in the National Hockey League’s COVID-19 protocols. The Flames have already had their games until Dec. 16 postponed and it appears more delays are on the way, meaning recalls from Stockton are likely less imminent — but it’s still something to watch.

While the Flames and Edmonton Oilers are currently neck-and-neck in the NHL’s Pacific Division playoff race, their respective AHL affiliates are separated in the standings by a wide chasm. Stockton currently leads the AHL Pacific with a 15–2–3 record; Bakersfield, at 6–8–3, sits in eighth place.

@Jakob Pelletier – @Glenn Gawdin – @Matthew Phillips
@Emilio Pettersen – @Connor Zary – @Martin Pospisil
@Justin Kirkland – @Luke Philp – @Walker Duehr
@Alex Gallant – @Ryan Olsen – @Eetu Tuulola

@Connor Mackey – @Andy Welinski
@Juuso Valimaki – @Colton Poolman
@Ilya Solovyov – @Nick DeSimone

@Dustin Wolf
@Adam Werner

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

@Philip Broberg – @Vincent Desharnais
@Dmitri Samorukov – @Filip Berglund
@Philip Kemp – @Yanni Kaldis

@Ilya Konovalov
@Olivier Rodrigue

Stockton — @Jakob Pelletier (nine goals, 25 points); @Glenn Gawdin (eight goals, 24 points); @Matthew Phillips (nine goals, 20 points); @Connor Mackey (three goals, 13 points); @Luke Philp (six goals, 12 points).

Bakersfield — @Seth Griffith (six goals, 18 points); @Cooper Marody (six goals, 15 points); @Brad Malone (six goals, 14 points); @Adam Cracknell (four goals, 13 points); @Philip Broberg (zero goals, 10 points).

Stockton — “If @Dustin Wolf is in, the Heat win” … so has been the story of Stockton’s first 20 games of the 2021–22 season. The rookie goaltender currently possesses a preposterous 11–0–2 record and a .939 save percentage through his first 13 games this year.

Bakersfield — Oilers 2019 second-round draft pick @Raphael Lavoie has had a difficult start to his second professional season. Lavoie scored five goals and 10 points in 19 games with the Condors last season but has only three points (all assists) in 17 contests with Bakersfield this year. Perhaps he just needs a rivalry game to get going?

Wednesday’s game in Stockton will be broadcast on AHL TV (subscription required) and on Spreaker (audio only), with the opening puck-drop set for 7:30 p.m. 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.

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