Heat Playoff Game Day: Stockton’s last stand? (8:00 p.m. MT)
By Mike Gould
1 year agoThe Stockton Heat are on the brink of elimination for the first time in the 2022 Calder Cup Playoffs.
Down 3–0 to the Chicago Wolves in the Western Conference Final, the Heat will return to action on Friday night in what could be their last game at the Stockton Arena.
The Flames’ American Hockey League affiliate is set to relocate to Calgary for the 2022–23 season, leaving Stockton without a professional hockey team for the first time in more than 15 years.
The Heat have given their California fans plenty of reasons to cheer in their last go-round, posting a 45–16–7 record in the regular season before dispatching the Bakersfield Condors and Colorado Eagles from the playoffs with relative ease.
Stockton’s luck may have run out in this series against the Wolves, however. After losing two one-goal games in heartbreaking fashion to begin the Western Conference Final, the Heat couldn’t muster up a single goal in Wednesday’s Game 3.
So, here we are. The Heat need four more wins to capture the Western Conference Final. The Wolves need just one. Will Stockton make its last stand tonight?
Projected lineups
These combinations are based, in part, on those used in these teams’ previous games.
Stockton Heat
@Jakob Pelletier – @Adam Ruzicka – @Matthew Phillips
@Justin Kirkland – @Luke Philp – @Martin Pospisil
@Connor Zary – @Glenn Gawdin – @Eetu Tuulola
@Alex Gallant – @Byron Froese – @Walker Duehr
@Justin Kirkland – @Luke Philp – @Martin Pospisil
@Connor Zary – @Glenn Gawdin – @Eetu Tuulola
@Alex Gallant – @Byron Froese – @Walker Duehr
@Connor Mackey – @Andy Welinski
@Juuso Valimaki – @Colton Poolman
@Kevin Gravel – @Nick DeSimone
@Juuso Valimaki – @Colton Poolman
@Kevin Gravel – @Nick DeSimone
@Dustin Wolf
@Adam Werner
@Adam Werner
Chicago Wolves
CJ Smith – @Andrew Poturalski – @Stefan Noesen
@Josh Leivo – @Jack Drury – David Gust
@Noel Gunler – Vasili Ponomarev – @Richard Panik
Stelio Mattheos – @Jamieson Rees – Spencer Smallman
@Josh Leivo – @Jack Drury – David Gust
@Noel Gunler – Vasili Ponomarev – @Richard Panik
Stelio Mattheos – @Jamieson Rees – Spencer Smallman
Max Lajoie – @Jalen Chatfield
Jesper Sellgren – @Joey Keane
Cavan Fitzgerald – Josh Jacobs
Jesper Sellgren – @Joey Keane
Cavan Fitzgerald – Josh Jacobs
@Alex Lyon
@Pyotr Kochetkov
@Pyotr Kochetkov
Playoff scoring stars
This section excludes players recalled to the NHL or on assignment to other leagues.
Stockton Heat
- Justin Kirkland — 10 GP, 6 G, 9 P
- Matthew Phillips — 10 GP, 3 G, 7 P
- Jakob Pelletier — 10 GP, 3 G, 6 P
- Andy Welinski — 10 GP, 1 G, 6 P
- Byron Froese — 10 GP, 1 G, 6 P
Chicago Wolves
- Josh Leivo — 10 GP, 9 G, 17 P
- Stefan Noesen — 10 GP, 7 G, 13 P
- Jack Drury — 10 GP, 6 G, 13 P
- Andrew Poturalski — 10 GP, 3 G, 10 P
- David Gust — 10 GP, 3 G, 9 P
Heating up
Dustin Wolf did what he could in Stockton’s Game 3 loss to Chicago, stopping 27 of the 29 shots he faced on home ice.
Wolf has made numerous sharp saves all series long, including this breakaway save on Josh Leivo late in the second period of Game 2. Unfortunately, he just hasn’t quite gotten enough run support.
How to watch
Game 4 in Stockton will be broadcast on AHL TV (subscription required) and on Spreaker (audio only), with the opening puck-drop set for 8:00 p.m. MT.
FlamesNation contributors Paige Siewert and Mike Gould will provide live game updates on Twitter. Additionally, you’ll be able to follow along at TheAHL.com.
HEAT GAME PREVIEW BROUGHT TO YOU BY DAILYFACEOFF
Looking to up your fantasy hockey game? DailyFaceoff has the tools you need for both daily and season-long fantasy leagues, including a lineup optimizer, daily projections, and a whole lot more. Sign up for the DailyFaceoff tools here.
More from FlamesNation
Recent articles from Mike Gould
