HGD 19: Stockton kicks off a road swing in sunny Tucson (7:00 p.m. MT)

Fresh off a 10–1 beatdown of the San Jose Barracuda on Tuesday, the Stockton Heat will try for their 15th win in just 19 games this season when they take on the Tucson Roadrunners at 7:00 p.m. MT on Friday.

@Byron Froese and @Glenn Gawdin both notched hat tricks in the rout of San Jose, while @Matthew Phillips picked up two goals and an assist in his return to the lineup from COVID protocol.

@Eetu Tuulola and @Connor Zary also scored for Stockton in the 10–1 win; @Jakob Pelletier posted the first three-assist game of his American Hockey League career.

@Dustin Wolf made 24 saves for Stockton to improve to 10–0–2 on the season. His .937 save percentage ranks second in the entire AHL, behind only Utica Comets goaltender Akira Schmid (8–0–2, .944 SV%).

While Stockton’s 14–2–2 record is the best in the AHL’s Pacific Division by a considerable margin, Tucson’s 8–7–1 line places them fourth — and within two points of five of their division rivals.

@Matias Maccelli has been Tucson’s offensive leader through the first part of the season, posting six goals and 18 points in his first 16 AHL games. Arizona Coyotes 2021 second-round pick @Janis Moser has also impressed, having amassed five goals and 12 points.

Stockton will be without team captain @Byron Froese (recalled to the NHL) in Tucson. Conversely, @Juuso Valimaki was reassigned to Stockton on Thursday and could figure into Friday’s game.

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

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

@Dustin Wolf
@Adam Werner

@Matias Maccelli – @Jan Jenik – @Ben McCartney
@Michael Carcone – @Cameron Hebig – @Hudson Fasching
@Bokondji Imama – @Ryan McGregor – Lewis Zerter-Gossage
@Travis Barron – @Hudson Elynuik – @Tyson Empey

@Janis Moser – @Victor Soderstrom
@Vladislav Provolnev – @Ty Emberson
@Cole Hults – @Cameron Crotty

@Ivan Prosvetov
@Josef Korenar

Stockton — @Jakob Pelletier (seven goals, 22 points); @Glenn Gawdin (eight goals, 21 points); @Matthew Phillips (seven goals, 16 points); @Nick DeSimone (one goal, 12 points); @Andy Welinski (zero goals, 12 points).

Tucson — @Matias Maccelli (six goals, 18 points); @Janis Moser (five goals, 12 points); @Michael Carcone (four goals, 11 points); @Hudson Fasching (four goals, 10 points); @Jan Jenik (four goals, nine points).

Stockton — He’s back! @Matthew Phillips returned from COVID-19 protocols with a vengeance on Tuesday, scoring the opening goal for the Heat and adding another in the second period en route to his first three-point game of the season. Phillips now sits in a tie for 30th in league scoring — alongside @Adam Ruzicka, who also has 16 points in two fewer AHL games — and will once again occupy his No. 1 RW spot tonight in Tucson.

Friday’s game in Tucson 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.