STOCKTON, Calif. – The Stockton Heat moved back into the fourth and final playoff spot, with only five games left in the season, following a 5-3 victory over the San Diego Gulls. The much needed win was secured by Hunter Shinkaruks third career hat trick and the Heats second in history.
Stockton dominated most of the game, keeping the Gulls from making shots, but unfortunately, the few shots found the back of the net, keeping the teams tied until the third period.
Tempers flare late in the game as Ryan Lomberg (41) and Nic Kerdiles (17) shove each other – Photo by Jack Lima
The two teams traded goal for goal though the first period. Shinkaruk netted two goals and Ryan Lomberg scored the other for the Heat. Gulls goals came off the sticks of Austin Ortega, Scott Sabourin and Kalle Kossila.
In the second period, the Heat virtually stopped the Gulls, allowing only a single shot on goal to their thirteen. By the end of the game, the Heat outshot the Gulls 33-19.
Keith Aulie (43) deflects Corey Tropp’s (12) shot as Adam Ollas Mattsson (33) and Antoine Laganiere (28) assist – Photo by Jack Lima
The third period brought back more aggressive play by both teams, with some hard checks on both sides. Mark Jankowski scored his 27 goal of the season for the ultimate game winner at 3:31. Stockton held the lead with the help of some sloppy penalties by the Gulls.
With Gulls goaltender Jhonas Enroth pulled for the extra skater, a loose puck in the Heat’s defensive zone led to Shinkaruks long shot across the ice, from his own blue line, to seal the 5-3 win for the Heat.
Garnet Hathaway (9) looks as Hunter Shinkaruk’s goal (not pictured) eludes Gull’s goalie Jhonas Enroth – Photo by Jack Lima
Shinkaruk said following the game, “It feels good, it’s been a little bit of a slow season for me, so to be turning it up at the right time feels good. This was such a big game, so to be able to help the boys win is a great feeling.”
David Rittich took the win in the net, with 19 saves, to earn his fourteenth win of the season.
Heat Coach Ryan Huska said after the game, “This one was important. The ones before it were all important. I think the situation that we’re in means we have to find a way to win games because we can’t look for Bakersfield to lose any since they’re a good team playing very well right now. I was happy with the way our guys played tonight. I thought we responded well after the first period when the play was a bit loose on both sides but we did a good job of closing things down from that point on.”
Hunter Shinkaruk (center) celebrates his goal with Oliver Kylington (4) and Mark Jankowski (17) – Photo by Jack Lima
It should also be noted that Jankowski’s goal tied him for the Heats all-time record of most goals scored in a single season. He was recently named to the 2016-17 AHL All-Rookie Team earlier in the day.
Stockton faces the Barracuda this coming weekend, with a home and away game series. The Barracuda secured the first playoff position in the league in mid-March, and with the Heat being chased closely by the Condors, the last five games of the season are must wins.
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