<p>The Stockton Heat lost forwards Glenn Gawdin and Byron Froese to the Calgary Flames&#8217; NHL taxi squad early on Saturday morning.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Mere hours later, the depleted Heat mustered just 13 shots while allowing 46 to the Manitoba Moose in a matinee game at BellMTS Iceplex in Winnipeg. Stockton deployed 11 forwards and seven defensemen in the contest.</p>
<p>Garret Sparks made 43 saves but the Heat ultimately fell by a 3-0 score. At the other end, Eric Comrie made 13 saves for a shutout and <a href="https://twitter.com/ManitobaMoose/status/1386059874312785924">moved ahead of Cory Schneider</a> as the winningest goaltender in Moose franchise history.</p>
<p>Cole Perfetti scored the game-winner for Manitoba and Dominic Toninato added his first two goals of the season. These two teams will return to action on Monday afternoon.</p>
<h2><strong>The rundown</strong></h2>
<p>The Moose got the party started early in the first period. The home side limited the Heat to just three shots in the entire opening frame while registering 17 of their own.</p>
<p>Cole Perfetti registered three of those shots for Manitoba and scored the only goal in the first 20 minutes. The 10th pick from the 2020 draft picked up a rebound to Sparks&#8217; left and slammed it into the yawning cage for his eighth goal of the season.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">This is what (clean faceoff win) dreeeaams are made of! </p>
<p>🚨:<a href="https://twitter.com/ColePerfetti91?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ColePerfetti91</a> <br />🍎: Chisholm <a href="https://t.co/QRsi7NzmzV">pic.twitter.com/QRsi7NzmzV</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Manitoba Moose (@ManitobaMoose) <a href="https://twitter.com/ManitobaMoose/status/1386024401678766085?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2021</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Manitoba continued to dominate in the second period, forcing Sparks to stay sharp.</p>
<p>The 2018 Calder Cup champion came up large early in the middle frame with a terrific glove save against third-year Moose forward Kristian Reichel.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Sparks makes an excellent glove save on Kristian Reichel. MB outshooting the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AHLHeat?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AHLHeat</a> 20-4. It&#39;s still 1-0. <a href="https://t.co/tfjDevbrrr">pic.twitter.com/tfjDevbrrr</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Mike Gould (@miketgould) <a href="https://twitter.com/miketgould/status/1386034575734804481?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2021</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Fresh off a three-point effort on Thursday, Moose leading scorer Nathan Todd had a fantastic opportunity to double his team&#8217;s lead on a power play near the halfway mark of the second period.</p>
<p>Sparks managed to get across and make a ten-bell pad save.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Sparks with another great save, this time to rob Nathan Todd. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AHLHeat?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AHLHeat</a> <a href="https://t.co/wf4Au9QDE4">pic.twitter.com/wf4Au9QDE4</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Mike Gould (@miketgould) <a href="https://twitter.com/miketgould/status/1386037024239493125?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2021</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Later in the second, Moose forward Nick Jones came streaking down the right side in the offensive zone before slamming into Sparks at full speed.</p>
<p>After the two players fell to the ice, an enraged Sparks got to his knees and started throwing punches at Jones&#8217; head. The Heat goaltender then stood, turned, and dropped Cole Maier with a blocker strike.</p>
<p>Jones then engaged with Heat defenseman Zac Leslie in a spirited fight along the boards. Leslie and Jones both served five minutes for fighting, while Sparks and Moose forward Joona Luoto received two-minute roughing infractions.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AHLHeat?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AHLHeat</a> goaltender Garret Sparks is furious after being barreled into by Moose forward Nick Jones.</p>
<p>Sparks threw multiple blocker punches at Jones before standing up and decking Cole Maier (and, inadvertently, an official) with a right.</p>
<p>Zac Leslie ended up fighting Jones, too. <a href="https://t.co/4EAzVBrf6I">pic.twitter.com/4EAzVBrf6I</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Mike Gould (@miketgould) <a href="https://twitter.com/miketgould/status/1386041761282228228?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2021</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Perfetti got back on the scoresheet in the dying minutes of the second period, setting up Dominic Toninato for a one-timer goal at the 18:27 mark of the frame.</p>
<p>Toninato, 27, scored 11 points in 46 games with the Florida Panthers last season but has only played two games with the Moose this year.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Dominic Toninato gives the Moose a 2-0 lead. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AHLHeat?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AHLHeat</a> <a href="https://t.co/v1en0ZEGpF">pic.twitter.com/v1en0ZEGpF</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Mike Gould (@miketgould) <a href="https://twitter.com/miketgould/status/1386042225591685121?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2021</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Toninato doubled his goal total in the third period, converting on another one-timer pass by Cole Perfetti to increase the Manitoba lead to 3-0.</p>
<p>Perfetti&#8217;s assist gave him three points—all primary—in the game and pushed his season totals up to 21 points (eight goals, 13 assists) in 26 games. As a reminder, Perfetti was born on Jan. 1, 2002 and, in normal times, would not be eligible to play AHL hockey this year <em>or </em>next.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Toninato makes it 3-0 for the Moose. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AHLHeat?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AHLHeat</a> <a href="https://t.co/7xtlIznni5">pic.twitter.com/7xtlIznni5</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Mike Gould (@miketgould) <a href="https://twitter.com/miketgould/status/1386049496979689475?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2021</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Jeff Malott, who leads the Moose with 12 goals, had two excellent opportunities to increase his team&#8217;s lead near the halfway mark of the third period.</p>
<p>First, Malott broke down against Sparks on a partial breakaway from the left side. Heat defenseman Alex Petrovic impeded Malott&#8217;s progress, resulting in a penalty shot being awarded to the Moose forward.</p>
<p>Sparks denied Malott on the one-on-one opportunity.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Jeff Malott gets hooked on a breakaway and earns a penalty shot.</p>
<p>Sparks comes up big. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AHLHeat?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AHLHeat</a> still trail 3-0, being outshot 41-10. <a href="https://t.co/fekYNsCimR">pic.twitter.com/fekYNsCimR</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Mike Gould (@miketgould) <a href="https://twitter.com/miketgould/status/1386051320335925248?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2021</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Manitoba ultimately emerged victorious by a 3-0 score and outshot Stockton by a 46-13 margin.</p>
<h2><strong>Line combinations</strong></h2>
<p><strong>Stockton</strong></p>
<p>Dmitry Zavgorodniy – Luke Philp – Matthew Phillips<br />
Emilio Pettersen – Adam Ruzicka – Eetu Tuulola<br />
Alex Gallant – Mark Simpson – Giorgio Estephan<br />
Colton Beck – Walker Duehr</p>
<p>Connor Mackey – Alex Petrovic<br />
Yan Kuznetsov – Zac Leslie<br />
C.J. Lerby – Rob Hamilton<br />
Colton Poolman</p>
<p>Garret Sparks<br />
Andrew Shortridge</p>
<p><strong>Manitoba</strong></p>
<p>Jeff Malott – David Gustafsson – Nathan Todd<br />
Dominic Toninato – Cole Perfetti – Kristian Reichel<br />
Joona Luoto – Cole Maier – Nick Jones<br />
Skyler McKenzie – Ty Pelton-Byce – Bobby Lynch</p>
<p>Dylan Samberg – Johnathan Kovacevic<br />
Ville Heinola – Nelson Nogier<br />
Declan Chisholm – Leon Gawanke</p>
<p>Eric Comrie<br />
Cole Kehler</p>
<h2><strong>Why the Heat lost</strong></h2>
<p>Well, did you see the shot totals? Manitoba led 17-3 in the first period, 13-6 in the second, and 16-4 in the third. It was never even close.</p>
<p>Stockton received two power play opportunities. They mustered just two total shots with the man-advantage; for comparison&#8217;s sake, Manitoba recorded one shorthanded opportunity.</p>
<h2><strong>The hottest Heat</strong></h2>
<p>How could it not be <strong>Garret Sparks</strong>? He made 43 saves, including one on a penalty shot, and was the only member of the Heat to show up consistently through all three periods.</p>
<p>Sparks&#8217; 5-9-0 record this season looks less than stellar, but he&#8217;s managed to pair it with a solid .913 save percentage. The 27-year-old goaltender is currently with the Heat on an AHL deal but might be able to parlay his performance this season into an NHL contract for 2021-22.</p>
<h2><strong>Post-game assessments</strong></h2>
<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper"><span class="embed-youtube" style="text-align:center; display: block;"><iframe class='youtube-player' type='text/html' width='1424' height='801' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/m3EpFre5QHQ?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;fs=1&#038;autohide=2&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;wmode=transparent' allowfullscreen='true' style='border:0;'></iframe></span></div>
<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper"><span class="embed-youtube" style="text-align:center; display: block;"><iframe class='youtube-player' type='text/html' width='1424' height='801' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/GZG4CYyGVLU?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;fs=1&#038;autohide=2&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;wmode=transparent' allowfullscreen='true' style='border:0;'></iframe></span></div>
<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper"><span class="embed-youtube" style="text-align:center; display: block;"><iframe class='youtube-player' type='text/html' width='1424' height='801' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ze2zIcdNXYo?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;fs=1&#038;autohide=2&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;wmode=transparent' allowfullscreen='true' style='border:0;'></iframe></span></div>
<h2><strong>Up next</strong></h2>
<p>The Heat will continue their season-ending five-game series against Manitoba on Monday at 12:00 pm MT. You can catch that game on AHL TV; I’ll be posting updates on Twitter at @miketgould.</p>

The Stockton Heat lost forwards Glenn Gawdin and Byron Froese to the Calgary Flames' NHL taxi squad early on Saturday morning.



Mere hours later, the depleted Heat mustered just 13 shots while allowing 46 to the Manitoba Moose in a matinee game at BellMTS Iceplex in Winnipeg. Stockton deployed 11 forwards and seven defensemen in the contest.

Garret Sparks made 43 saves but the Heat ultimately fell by a 3-0 score. At the other end, Eric Comrie made 13 saves for a shutout and <a href="https://twitter.com/ManitobaMoose/status/1386059874312785924">moved ahead of Cory Schneider</a> as the winningest goaltender in Moose franchise history.

Cole Perfetti scored the game-winner for Manitoba and Dominic Toninato added his first two goals of the season. These two teams will return to action on Monday afternoon.
<h2><strong>The rundown</strong></h2>
The Moose got the party started early in the first period. The home side limited the Heat to just three shots in the entire opening frame while registering 17 of their own.

Cole Perfetti registered three of those shots for Manitoba and scored the only goal in the first 20 minutes. The 10th pick from the 2020 draft picked up a rebound to Sparks' left and slammed it into the yawning cage for his eighth goal of the season.

https://twitter.com/ManitobaMoose/status/1386024401678766085

Manitoba continued to dominate in the second period, forcing Sparks to stay sharp.

The 2018 Calder Cup champion came up large early in the middle frame with a terrific glove save against third-year Moose forward Kristian Reichel.

https://twitter.com/miketgould/status/1386034575734804481

Fresh off a three-point effort on Thursday, Moose leading scorer Nathan Todd had a fantastic opportunity to double his team's lead on a power play near the halfway mark of the second period.

Sparks managed to get across and make a ten-bell pad save.

https://twitter.com/miketgould/status/1386037024239493125

Later in the second, Moose forward Nick Jones came streaking down the right side in the offensive zone before slamming into Sparks at full speed.

After the two players fell to the ice, an enraged Sparks got to his knees and started throwing punches at Jones' head. The Heat goaltender then stood, turned, and dropped Cole Maier with a blocker strike.

Jones then engaged with Heat defenseman Zac Leslie in a spirited fight along the boards. Leslie and Jones both served five minutes for fighting, while Sparks and Moose forward Joona Luoto received two-minute roughing infractions.

https://twitter.com/miketgould/status/1386041761282228228

Perfetti got back on the scoresheet in the dying minutes of the second period, setting up Dominic Toninato for a one-timer goal at the 18:27 mark of the frame.

Toninato, 27, scored 11 points in 46 games with the Florida Panthers last season but has only played two games with the Moose this year.

https://twitter.com/miketgould/status/1386042225591685121

Toninato doubled his goal total in the third period, converting on another one-timer pass by Cole Perfetti to increase the Manitoba lead to 3-0.

Perfetti's assist gave him three points—all primary—in the game and pushed his season totals up to 21 points (eight goals, 13 assists) in 26 games. As a reminder, Perfetti was born on Jan. 1, 2002 and, in normal times, would not be eligible to play AHL hockey this year <em>or </em>next.

https://twitter.com/miketgould/status/1386049496979689475

Jeff Malott, who leads the Moose with 12 goals, had two excellent opportunities to increase his team's lead near the halfway mark of the third period.

First, Malott broke down against Sparks on a partial breakaway from the left side. Heat defenseman Alex Petrovic impeded Malott's progress, resulting in a penalty shot being awarded to the Moose forward.

Sparks denied Malott on the one-on-one opportunity.

https://twitter.com/miketgould/status/1386051320335925248

Manitoba ultimately emerged victorious by a 3-0 score and outshot Stockton by a 46-13 margin.
<h2><strong>Line combinations</strong></h2>
<strong>Stockton</strong>

Dmitry Zavgorodniy – Luke Philp – Matthew Phillips
Emilio Pettersen – Adam Ruzicka – Eetu Tuulola
Alex Gallant – Mark Simpson – Giorgio Estephan
Colton Beck – Walker Duehr

Connor Mackey – Alex Petrovic
Yan Kuznetsov – Zac Leslie
C.J. Lerby – Rob Hamilton
Colton Poolman

Garret Sparks
Andrew Shortridge

<strong>Manitoba</strong>

Jeff Malott – David Gustafsson – Nathan Todd
Dominic Toninato – Cole Perfetti – Kristian Reichel
Joona Luoto – Cole Maier – Nick Jones
Skyler McKenzie – Ty Pelton-Byce – Bobby Lynch

Dylan Samberg – Johnathan Kovacevic
Ville Heinola – Nelson Nogier
Declan Chisholm – Leon Gawanke

Eric Comrie
Cole Kehler
<h2><strong>Why the Heat lost</strong></h2>
Well, did you see the shot totals? Manitoba led 17-3 in the first period, 13-6 in the second, and 16-4 in the third. It was never even close.

Stockton received two power play opportunities. They mustered just two total shots with the man-advantage; for comparison's sake, Manitoba recorded one shorthanded opportunity.
<h2><strong>The hottest Heat</strong></h2>
How could it not be <strong>Garret Sparks</strong>? He made 43 saves, including one on a penalty shot, and was the only member of the Heat to show up consistently through all three periods.

Sparks' 5-9-0 record this season looks less than stellar, but he's managed to pair it with a solid .913 save percentage. The 27-year-old goaltender is currently with the Heat on an AHL deal but might be able to parlay his performance this season into an NHL contract for 2021-22.
<h2><strong>Post-game assessments</strong></h2>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3EpFre5QHQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZG4CYyGVLU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ze2zIcdNXYo
<h2><strong>Up next</strong></h2>
The Heat will continue their season-ending five-game series against Manitoba on Monday at 12:00 pm MT. You can catch that game on AHL TV; I’ll be posting updates on Twitter at @miketgould.

Post-Game: Heat record just 13 shots in Moose shutout victory

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