HEAT TAKE FRONT END OF WEEKEND SET WITH REIGN, 3-2
The Stockton Heat (42-12-4-1) earned their team-record 23rd home win of the season, taking the extra point in a 3-2 shootout victory over the Ontario Reign (36-15-5-4) Friday night at Stockton Arena. Matthew Phillips started the scoring 7:12 into the action, setting another team record with his 28th marker of the campaign, the most by a Flames farm hand since 2013-14. Ontario answered back before the end of the opening frame, Frederic Allard pulling the Reign even in the final minute before the break for a 1-1 score.
Emilio Pettersen then gave the Heat the edge once again near the midway point of the second, a puck redirecting off the forward and into the net at the 9:31 mark of the middle frame. Thomas Hickey responded for the visitors, evening the game yet again with 3:33 to go in the period.
The teams then played to a scoreless draw in the third and the five-minute overtime set to push the game to a shootout, when Justin Kirkland and Phillips each found the back of the net and Dustin Wolf slammed the door with a two-for-two performance on the other end to seal the win.
NOTABLE
- Matthew Phillips’ power play goal to start the scoring was his 28th marker of the season, a Stockton Heat record. It’s the first time a Flames farmhand has lit the lamp 28 times in a campaign since Ben Street of the Abbotsford Heat in 2013-14. He now owns team records for most career points, most career goals, most single-season points and most single-season goals.
- Byron Froese reached the 30-point mark on the season with an assist on Phillips’ goal. He’s the seventh Stockton skater to reach 30 points this season.
- Emilio Pettersen became the 10th Heat skater to reach double-digit goals for the season with his score in the second.
SPECIAL TEAMS
STK PP – 1-for-5
STK PK – 2-for-2
THREE STARS
First – Dustin Wolf (24 svs)
Second – Matthew Phillips (1g)
Third – Emilio Pettersen (1g)
GOALIES
W – Dustin Wolf (24 saves on 26 shots faced, 2 stops on 2 shootout attempts)
SOL – Matthew Villalta (35 saves on 37 shots faced, 0 stops on 2 shootout attempts)