HGD 39: Heat host Reign looking to preserve perfect record after losses (7pm MT)

The Stockton Heat are 11–0–0 after losses this season. They’ll look to extend that streak to a perfect dozen on Saturday when they take on the Ontario Reign at Stockton Arena.

The Heat have outscored their opponents 42–18 in those post-loss contests. Their most recent such game came on Jan. 29, also against Ontario at the Stockton Arena, when @Dustin Wolf made 32 saves and @Matthew Phillips scored the winning goal in a 2–1 Heat victory.

Stockton’s top line will look to rebound on Saturday after being entirely shut out in Friday’s 5–2 loss to the Reign at home. Phillips led the way with a team-high five shots, with @Glenn Gawdin and @Emilio Pettersen each registering three, but Reign goaltender Matthew Villalta stood tall. The 22-year-old netminder made 33 saves on 35 shots in the Ontario win.

It remains to be seen whether @Dustin Wolf will get the opportunity to redeem himself after being pulled on Friday for just the second time in his professional career. The 20-year-old rookie allowed four goals on 30 shots before being replaced by @Adam Werner for the third period. Wolf is 19–3–3 with a .931 save percentage this season.

The good news: @Emilio Pettersen enters Saturday’s game having just snapped one of the longest goal-scoring droughts of his professional career. He opened the scoring for Stockton just 2:06 into the first period on Friday, deflecting a long-range shot by @Justin Kirkland past Villalta for his first goal in exactly two months.

Heat defenceman @Juuso Valimaki could make his return on Saturday after missing the team’s previous three games while serving a suspension for physical abuse of officials.

Saturday’s game will be Stockton’s sixth against the Reign this season. The Heat boast a 3–2–0 record against Ontario to date.

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

@Connor Mackey – @Nick DeSimone
@Kevin Gravel – @Colton Poolman
@Ilya Solovyov – @Johannes Kinnvall
@Juuso Valimaki

@Adam Werner
@Dustin Wolf

@Jaret Anderson-Dolan – T.J. Tynan – @Martin Frk
@Gabriel Vilardi – @Alex Turcotte – @Samuel Fagemo
@Tyler Madden – @Rasmus Kupari – @Akil Thomas
@Austin Wagner – @Brett Sutter – @Jacob Doty

@Cameron Gaunce – @Jordan Spence
@Jacob Moverare – @Helge Grans
@Christian Wolanin – @Austin Strand

@Jacob Ingham
Matthew Villalta

Stockton — @Matthew Phillips (18 goals, 37 points); @Jakob Pelletier (14 goals, 36 points); @Glenn Gawdin (12 goals, 35 points); @Luke Philp (11 goals, 23 points); @Connor Mackey (five goals, 21 points).

Ontario — T.J. Tynan (eight goals, 50 points); @Martin Frk (21 goals, 42 points); @Jaret Anderson-Dolan (17 goals, 29 points); @Jordan Spence (two goals, 29 points); @Gabriel Vilardi (11 goals, 27 points).

Stockton — It’s been a trying season for Emilio Pettersen. The 21-year-old forward has just two goals and 10 points in 31 games with the Heat in 2021–22 and has spent much of the year in a bottom-six role. Make no mistake: Pettersen belongs higher in the lineup, and he spent much of Friday’s game on Stockton’s second line. The Norwegian winger had six goals and 14 points in 29 games with the Heat in 2020–21.

Saturday’s game in Stockton will be broadcast on AHL TV (subscription required) and on Spreaker (audio only), with the opening puck-drop set for 7:00 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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