Heat stamp ticket to playoffs

STOCKTON, Calif. – The Stockton Heat are headed to the post season, following a 2-1 victory over the Bakersfield Condors Friday night. This appearance will mark their first opportunity for the Calder Cup in Stockton’s history.

“It’s a big moment. I think it’s a really important thing for our group. But the players, the way they found a way to get themselves in, it’s pretty remarkable when you think about it. The ups and downs that our group went through, with the great start, a really horrible middle portion of the season, where it looked like we were out of the mix, and then, to the way we got ourselves into the playoffs here,” Heat Coach Ryan Huska said. “We were on a good run to get ourselves in, so I’m real proud of the no quit in our group and the way we stuck with it when things didn’t look so great.”

Oliver Kylington (4) celebrates his first period goal with Ryan Lomberg (41) and Garnet Hathaway (9) – Photo by Jack Lima

The Heat had been virtually tied with the Condors for several weeks now, battling for that last spot. Last night’s game was a hard fought match, with both teams needing points. Stockton needed only a single point for the clinch, and the Condors needed to win in their last two games to cause the tie between the teams for the fourth and final position, in which Bakersfield would have advanced since they have a better head-to-head record with the Heat. Stockton will play the first place San Jose Barracuda, while the San Diego Gulls and Ontario Reign will face-off in the Calder Cup’s first-round playoffs.

Oliver Kylington scored the first goal of the night, when he beat Nick Ellis in Condor’s net on a rush, unassisted, at 12:31 of the first period.

Griffin Reinhart scored the solo goal for the Condors, mid-way through the second period, when his shot went top-shelf past David Rittich. Scott Allen was credited with the assist.

The two teams remained tied until late in the third period, when Bakersfield pulled Ellis from the net for the man-advantage. Stockton battled hard ultimately catching a loose puck and sent it down the ice, only to be intercepted just shy of the net. Several Condors players tried frantically to defend their net in while Stockton battled. Ultimately, Ryan Lomberg’s shot after a wraparound went between the pipes sending the 6,372 fans to their feet in celebration.

“We’re obviously thrilled,” Lomberg said following the game. “That’s goal one; the big one now obviously is the trophy, but mission accomplished for sure. It’s a tight-knit group in there. We’ve been through a lot of highs and lows, and stuck together and that just shows the character and leadership of the group so I’m proud of everyone.”

Lomberg’s goal demonstrates why the Flames recently signed him to a two-year contract.

Ryan Lomberg (41) scores an empty net goal late in the third period to give Stockton the win – Photo by Jack Lima

Rittich did another outstanding job in the net, though he said following the game that he was not completely satisfied, despite the win.

“I gave up so many rebounds that were my fault and [my teammates] cleared it. I need to say thank you to my team,” Rittich said.

A Czech Republic native and Calgary Flames prospect, Rittich has played in 31 games for the Heat and is 15-11-4-5 with a .922 save percentage in the net. Rittich had 33 saves for the win. Rittich has helped the team win in regulation in his last six appearances for the Heat.

Scott Allen (29) checks Morgan Klimchuk (18) into the Condors’ bench – Photo by Jack Lima

The Heat advancement also marks the first time all three of Calgary’s affiliate teams, NHL, AHL and ECHL made it to the post-season since 2006-07, when the Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights and Las Vegas Wranglers were part of the organization.

The Heat have one more game before the regular season ends, but this will likely be an opportunity to let some of the newer additions to the team, like forward Cam Braes and defensemen Josh Healey and Adam Olias Mattsson when they face Tucson at home Saturday.