STOCKTON, Calif. – Dustin Wolf pitched in a career-best 42 saves and Justin Kirkland continued his torrid pace on the offensive end with a pair of goals to help the Stockton Heat (44-14-4-2) snap a two-game skid with a 3-1 win Wednesday over the Tucson Roadrunners (21-37-5-1) at Stockton Arena.
The Heat started strong with two goals in the opening frame, Connor Zary lighting the lamp first 15:37 into the contest then Kirkland doubling the lead with just 36 seconds to go in the period, a power play strike for a 2-0 edge.
Tucson cut the gap to one with a power play score 1:59 into the second, Ben McCartney finding the back of the net, before Kirkland restored the two-goal cushion with his second power play goal of the tilt with 5:03 remaining in the middle frame.
Stockton then sealed the win with a scoreless third, Wolf keeping a clean sheet on 15 shots faced in the final frame.
/by Brandon Weiss
