Heat Playoff Game Day: Going for the sweep in Colorado (7:05 p.m. MT)

Photo credit:Graphic by Mike Gould

1 year ago

The Stockton Heat have yet to allow a single goal in the Pacific Division Final.

Heat goaltender @Dustin Wolf has stopped all 50 Colorado Eagles shots he’s faced as his team has taken a 2–0 series lead in the third round of the 2022 Calder Cup Playoffs.

As the series shifts to Loveland, CO for Game 3, the Heat need just one more win to take the best-of-five series and advance to the Western Conference Final.

Four different members of the Heat have beaten Eagles goaltender @Justus Annunen thus far in this series: @Justin Kirkland, @Andy Welinski, @Eetu Tuulola, and @Matthew Phillips.

Stockton won Game 1 on Monday by a 5–0 score before scoring the only goal in Game 2 the following night. Kirkland has half of Stockton’s goals in the series, including back-to-back winners.

It remains to be seen whether @Glenn Gawdin will return to the Heat lineup on Friday after missing the first two games of the series while attending to a family matter. Rory Kerins has filled in on Stockton’s top line during Gawdin’s absence.

After being eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Thursday, the Calgary Flames assigned @Adam Ruzicka, @Connor Mackey, @Juuso Valimaki, and @Adam Werner back to Stockton. They’re not expected back in time for Game 3.

Projected lineups

These combinations are based, in part, on those used in these teams’ previous games.

Stockton Heat

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

@Kevin Gravel – @Nick DeSimone
Greg Moro – @Colton Poolman
@Ilya Solovyov – @Andy Welinski

@Dustin Wolf
@Daniil Chechelev

Colorado Eagles

@Dylan Sikura – @Mikhail Maltsev – @Kiefer Sherwood
@Jean-Luc Foudy – @Jayson Megna – @Martin Kaut
@Stefan Matteau – Ryan Wagner – @Alex Beaucage
@Sampo Ranto – Andreas Wingerli – Cal Burke

@Jacob MacDonald – @Roland McKeown
@Andreas Englund – @Jordan Gross
Wyatt Aamodt – @Keaton Middleton

@Justus Annunen
@Hunter Miska

Playoff scoring stars

This section excludes players recalled to the NHL or on assignment to other leagues.

Stockton Heat

Justin Kirkland — 5 GP, 4 G, 5 P
Emilio Pettersen — 5 GP, 2 G, 4 P
Jakob Pelletier — 5 GP, 2 G, 4 P
Glenn Gawdin — 3 GP, 1 G, 4 P
Matthew Phillips — 5 GP, 1 G, 4 P

Colorado Eagles

Jayson Megna — 7 GP, 6 G, 8 P
Kiefer Sherwood — 6 GP, 3 G, 8 P
Jordan Gross — 7 GP, 1 G, 7 P
Mikhail Maltsev — 7 GP, 4 G, 6 P
Jean-Luc Foudy — 7 GP, 3 G, 6 P

Heating up

We mentioned him here after Game 1. We’re mentioning him again after Game 2.

Justin Kirkland is on fire. The big winger emerged as a legit goal-scoring threat in the regular season (25 in 66 games) and has continued firing away in the playoffs.

Kirkland, 25, has four goals in five post-season games this year. He scored his second consecutive game-winning tally in Stockton’s 1–0 victory over Colorado in Tuesday’s Game 2.

How to watch

Game 3 in Loveland, CO will be broadcast on AHL TV (subscription required) and on Spreaker (audio only), with the opening puck-drop set for 7:05 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

Uncategorized