The Stockton Heat will take their second crack at clinching the American Hockey League’s Pacific Division title on Saturday when they take on the Bakersfield Condors at 8:00 p.m. MT.
The Heat (44–14–7) remain atop the AHL standings with a .731 points percentage. They can clinch the top seed in the Pacific on Saturday with a single point against Bakersfield or an Ontario Reign loss of any kind in Colorado.
Stockton has already faced Bakersfield on eight previous occasions this season, winning six of them and picking up a single point in another. However, the Condors won 5–1 in the two teams’ last meeting (at Stockton Arena on March 16).
Advertisement
Ad
Daniil Chechelev started Stockton’s last game, allowing five goals on 33 shots in a 5–4 overtime loss to the Abbotsford Canucks on Friday. The 21-year-old goaltender could see even more action the rest of the way while @Dustin Wolf gets a look in the NHL; including Saturday’s action, Stockton has three games left in the 2021–22 regular season.
Bakersfield (35–20–10) currently ranks fifth in the Pacific Division and has won seven of its last 10 games. The Condors are virtually guaranteed to play either the Canucks or the Colorado Eagles in the first round of the Calder Cup playoffs.

Projected lineups

These combinations are based, in part, on those used in these teams’ respective previous games. 
Stockton Heat
@Jakob Pelletier – @Glenn Gawdin – @Matthew Phillips
@Justin Kirkland – @Luke Philp – @Martin Pospisil
@Emilio Pettersen – @Connor Zary – @Walker Duehr
Tyrell Goulbourne – @Byron Froese – @Eetu Tuulola
Advertisement
Ad
@Juuso Valimaki – @Colton Poolman
@Kevin Gravel – @Nick DeSimone
@Ilya Solovyov – @Andy Welinski
@Daniil Chechelev
@Adam Werner
Bakersfield Condors
@Cooper Marody – @Luke Esposito – @Seth Griffith
@Tyler Benson – @Brad Malone – @Dino Kambeitz
@Tim Schaller – @Adam Cracknell – @James Hamblin
@Noah Philp – @Devin Brosseau – @Colton Sceviour
Yanni Kaldis – @Vincent Desharnais
@Philip Broberg – @Michael Kesselring
Darien Kielb – @Filip Berglund
@Ilya Konovalov
@Stuart Skinner

Scoring stars

This section excludes players recalled to the NHL or on assignment to other leagues.
Stockton Heat
  1. Matthew Phillips — 62 GP, 30 G, 67 P
  2. Jakob Pelletier — 63 GP, 27 G, 62 P
  3. Glenn Gawdin — 62 GP, 15 G, 50 P
  4. Justin Kirkland — 63 GP, 25 G, 47 P
  5. Luke Philp — 63 GP, 21 G, 44 P
Bakersfield Condors
  1. Seth Griffith — 61 GP, 28 G, 78 P
  2. Cooper Marody — 49 GP, 21 G, 54 P
  3. Adam Cracknell — 55 GP, 20 G, 44 P
  4. Brad Malone — 49 GP, 13 G, 37 P
  5. James Hamblin — 61 GP, 19 G, 33 P

Heating up

Jakob Pelletier popped off in Friday’s game, picking up four assists (one on each Stockton goal) in the 5–4 overtime loss.
The 21-year-old forward now ranks 12th in AHL scoring with 62 points in 63 games. Something will be very, very wrong if Pelletier doesn’t garner significant consideration as the AHL rookie of the year (although Wolf might have a stronger case).
Advertisement
Ad

How to watch

Saturday’s game in Bakersfield 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 contributor Paige Siewert will provide live game updates on her Twitter account. Additionally, you’ll be able to follow along at TheAHL.com.

More from FlamesNation

HEAT GAME PREVIEW BROUGHT TO YOU BY DAILY FACEOFF

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.