Heat best the Gulls in special teams match up

STOCKTON, Calif. – Stockton’s Spencer Foo scored his first professional goal against the San Diego Gulls in a 4-2 win for the Heat.

Foo’s goal came at 5:30 into the first period, during a power play when he found an opening to slip the puck past Gulls Kevin Boyle in the net.

“It feels great. It’s been a lot of hard work and to finally get that one,” Foo said following the game. “I’ve been just trying to stick with it. So it’s good to get that first one.”

Spencer Foo (15) scores his first professional goal to open the scoring in the first period – Photo by Jack Lima

A few minutes later former Gulls player, Joseph Cramarossa found the net for a shorthanded goal from the lower circle to give the Heat the 2-0 lead going into the intermission.

This was definitely a game where the special teams were on the ice a lot, including 8 penalties for the Heat and seven against the Gulls. Near the end of the first period, Stockton had to kill a nearly six minute consecutive penalty, after Rod Pelley was assessed a double minor for high-sticking. Emile Poirier slashing penalty came after ten seconds of full strength.

Joseph Cramarossa (L) is checked by Kevin Roy – Photo by Jack Lima

In the second period, Gull’s Kalle Kossila scored a power play goal early when a screen kept Jon Gillies from seeing the puck in time, beat him glove side. Mark Jankowski scored his fifth goal of the season near the end of the period.

Kossila scored his second power play goal of the night to close the gap 3-2, but the empty net goal by Morgan Klimchuk with five seconds remaining helped the Heat seal the deal.

Heat goalie Jon Gillies (32) stops a scoring attempt by Austin Ortega (16) – Photo by Jack Lima

Again, there seemed to be plenty of penalties, on both sides, and both teams found ways to capitalize in some way.

Coach Huska spoke about the high number of penalties by both teams after the game.

“It was one of those games where the referees ware calling everything. The players are smart enough to recognize what the standard will be, so they have to be mindful of their stick and not put their team in a bad spot. It’s something we have to do a better job of in the dressing room, keeping the players out of the box.”

Heat goalie Jon Gillies (32) makes a kick save on a shot from Giovanni Fiore (13) – Photo by Jack Lima

Certainly some work to do here, before these two teams come back Saturday night. These two teams will face each other seven more times this season, and this is only one of a three game series.

In other Heat news, Hunter Smith and Kayle Doetzel were both assigned to the Kansas City earlier in the week.