[GDT] Stockton @ San Jose: Game 5 of a best of 5, 8PM MT

[bigrangy]

The Stockton Heat staved off elimination in game 4 on Sunday and look to take their first round series against the San Jose Barracuda tonight at 8PM. Stockton entered the playoffs as the 4th seed in the Pacific division while the Barracuda was first in the Western conference and 2nd in the league. It was a very lopsided matchup, and during the 4 games played so far, it has looked that way at times. However, Stockton (and David Rittich) have managed to steal 2 games so far and it's down to one final deciding game tonight.

Stockton Lineup (probable)

Mangiapane-Jankowski-Hathaway
Shinkaruk-Vey-Frattin
Bollig-Angelidis-Devane
Macpherson-Aagaard-Carroll

Wotherspoon-Kostka
Kulak-Andersson
Kylington-Doetzel

Rittich
Gillies

Heat regulars Lomberg and Klimchuk are out injured, while everyone else seeems to be a healthy scratch.

You can listen to the game here: http://stocktonheat.com/gameday/listen-watch-live/ or on The Fan 960 after tonight's NHL games are over

You can watch the game on AHL Live if you have it or you can buy it on PPV for $9.99 here: http://ahl.neulion.com/ahl/schedule?day=today

Go Heat Go!

Mods, you can move or delete this if it doesn't fit here

[midniteowl]

Go heat go ))))))))))))

[David Struch]

If David Rittich wins this evening (plays well) you'd have to think Calgary will surely re-sign him. (RFA)

He just win nest seasons back-up job for the Flames tonight!

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by David Struch

If David Rittich wins this evening (plays well) you'd have to think Calgary will surely re-sign him. (RFA)

He just win nest seasons back-up job for the Flames tonight!

Where's he going to play though? Parsons and Gillies have to be the odds on favorites to play for the Heat next season and the way things have gone for the big club I would think they may opt for a more experience backup goaltender.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by David Struch

If David Rittich wins this evening (plays well) you'd have to think Calgary will surely re-sign him. (RFA)

He just win nest seasons back-up job for the Flames tonight!

31 starts, 2.27 GAA, 0.924 save percentage.

Bring a guy over and he has a rookie AHL season like that, I really don't see how he wasn't already getting re-signed. I mean, if not, what was the point in bringing him over in the first place?

The only ways I don't see him back in the org next year are:

1. He decides he wants to go back to Europe
2. Flames trade his rights to another NHL team

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

31 starts, 2.27 GAA, 0.924 save percentage.

Bring a guy over and he has a rookie AHL season like that, I really don't see how he wasn't already getting re-signed. I mean, if not, what was the point in bringing him over in the first place?

The only ways I don't see him back in the org next year are:

1. He decides he wants to go back to Europe
2. Flames trade his rights to another NHL team

There's no doubt that he's been better than Gillies but the politics dictate that teams typically stick with the guys they have drafted and developed. He may only want a one way deal and I don't know if the Flames will offer him that although for all we know Treliving and Co. have been extremely impressed and are willing to let him back up the new starting goaltender. Lots of goaltending question marks in this organization right now.

[Robbob]

Any word if Dube has joined the team?

[bigrangy]

Originally Posted by Robbob

Any word if Dube has joined the team?

He joined on an ATO yesterday.

[sureLoss]

@kiskerbc: It’s Rittich vs. Grosenick in the Winner-Take-All Game 5 here in SJ. Dillon Dube on the ice for warmups and is expected to make his debut.

[Samonadreau]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

@kiskerbc: It’s Rittich vs. Grosenick in the Winner-Take-All Game 5 here in SJ. Dillon Dube on the ice for warmups and is expected to make his debut.

Wow, unexpected but good for him.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

31 starts, 2.27 GAA, 0.924 save percentage.

Bring a guy over and he has a rookie AHL season like that, I really don't see how he wasn't already getting re-signed. I mean, if not, what was the point in bringing him over in the first place?

The only ways I don't see him back in the org next year are:

1. He decides he wants to go back to Europe
2. Flames trade his rights to another NHL team

Unless they signed Rittich to do what he just did - help get them to the playoffs.
Playoffs are good

[sureLoss]

Heat scratch:

Morrison
Kanzig
Phillips
Aagaard
Poirier
Pollock
Smith
Parsons
Healey

[trublmaker]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

Unless they signed Rittich to do what he just did - help get them to the playoffs.
Playoffs are good

Didn't they sign rittich because they need a goalie to expose in the draft?

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by trublmaker

Didn't they sign rittich because they need a goalie to expose in the draft?

No.. That was McCollum

[sureLoss]

Shinkaruk almost scored, but put it wide

Hathaway denied on the breakaway

[jg13]

Shinkaruk misses a golden opportunity, had the entire left side of the net wide open.

Hathaway misses on a breakaway

Stockton carrying the play thus far

[jg13]

Not quite as effective as LED panels around a stadium pulsing "GET LOUD" but it'll do.

[bigrangy]

2nd PK coming up

[jg13]

Heat kill off back to back penalties. Rittich looking good

[calgaryblood]

Just reading Hathaway's name makes me mad that he was sent down in favour of dead weight. Could have really helped the Flames in the playoffs.

Glad to see he's playing well for the Heat.