While I haven't had time to do PBP or constant updates, I do watch all of the games (at some point). Figured I'd start this up as it is one thing I can keep up with.
STOCKTON HEAT OCTOBER RECAP
(All information taken from the November 1, 2015 AHL Daily Report)
Graphs behind spoilers for size
Overall Record:
For a team with two shutouts and playing a less condensed schedule, I honestly expected more. All things considered with playing less games, sitting 22nd in the league is still not where you want to be to start the season. The San Antonio Rampage, who also have only played 6 games, are currently 1st in the AHL. With a number of returning defencemen and forwards, it's not starting from scratch like it was in Adirondack last year with so many new kids on the roster. Once again, Huska has put this team in an uphill battle with another slow start to the season. While it's no secret I'm not the biggest Huska fan, it's frustrating to watch the same patterns develop all over again this season.
Goals Against and Goals For:
While the goaltending is inconsistent, we are doing a good job keeping the puck out of the net. We aren't allowing an obscene amount of goals and we've only had one blow out game that probably inflated those numbers a little. Putting the puck in the net appears the issue. While only 7 Heat players still remain pointless, we still are a very low scoring team. Outside of the 7-0 victory to start the year, the Heat have only managed 7 goals in the last 5 games after that. Not surprisingly, they are 1-4 during that stretch as well. The 2.33 GF is probably pretty generous since that 7-0 victory factors in and doesn't appear to accurately reflect the teams scoring ability. Huska needs to find a way to get the goals going to compliment the goaltending he is getting from Jon Gillies. Hathaway, Kilmchuk and Smith have been invisible for the team to start the year and have yet to register a point. Poirier, Elson and Agostino are all still looking for their first goals. I'll cut Klimchuk and Smith some slack as they are rookies, but the rest don't really have an excuse for the slow start.
PP and PK:
The numbers for the PP are deceiving because while it looks good in my little chart there, it's the PP that's cost us the last two games. Twice this weekend they have blown FULL 2 minute 5-on-3 power plays. Twice. Both games this weekend they have been given this gift in the first period of the game and nothing. Both games were also 1 goal losses to San Diego. To add insult to injury, San Diego was playing a TERRIBLE discipline game both nights and gave them 13 PP opportunities and they could only capitalize on 1. If you don't count the first game of the season where they went 3/7, the rest of the month they went 3/26.
On the flip side, there isn't much bad I can say about the PK. Until this weekend, we had not allowed another team to score on the powerplay. 4 games at 100% PK is pretty good. The PK started to breakdown on Friday as we allowed 2 and then Saturday we allowed 1. The San Diego games are hopefully an anomaly and we will return to our strong PK ways as this was something the Adirondack Flames were good at last year.
PIM'S:
When you don't have career Neanderthal Trevor Gillies and pre-"Oh wait, I can actually play hockey" David Wolf on your team, your PIM's don't seem to rack up. Go figure. The Heat only have 2 fighting majors this year (Sieloff and Smith) and again, outside of the San Diego games, have been playing better disciplined hockey than the other team.
Scoring Leaders:
You might have a scoring problem if....your goals leader has been up with the NHL for a week, only has 3 goals and STILL remains the goal leader. Hamilton has been a pleasant surprise with his recent offence outburst and it appears Agostino continues where he left off last season. He sets them up so others can knock them down.
Goalies
Not a ton to say on this. Gillies has started every game this season and play almost every minute of every game. He was pulled once in San Antonio to start the 3rd period and Karri Ramo saw 20 minutes of playing time. Gillies two shutouts is good for 2nd in the AHL for shutouts.
Player of the Month:
Jon Gillies - I guess this one is easy-ish as 2 shutouts is hard to ignore. Jon Gillies has been decent in net when he has a good game, but he's also still inconsistent. He needs to find and keep that mode he has when he plays the shutout games. You can see he's still learning to adjust to the AHL game after years of NCAA action. Still, it's hard to find a lot of fault when you post 2 SO in 5GP.
Honourable Mention:
Freddie Hamilton - I didn't even know Dougie had a brother until we traded for him. Nevermind one who could do this. 3G in 6GP is a good way to make an impression with a new team.