STOCKTON, Calif. – The Stockton Heat (15-16-3-0) finished the weekend games with only a pair of points. Friday night they hosted the Tucson Roadrunners (18-9-3-1) and despite a late game attempt to claw their way back up, the Roadrunners took the final points with a 7-5 win. Saturday’s game, the Heat hosted the Colorado Eagles (16-13-3-1), for their first time in Stockton, and managed to hold onto the game after taking the lead late in the first period, with a final score of 7-6.
Stockton had a chance to get back to .500 over the weekend, but are still just shy of that even marker with 15-16-3-0 for the season.
In Friday’s game, Tucson took an early commanding lead scoring three goals in the first period, and three more in the second period. Robbie Russon, Nick Merkely, and Cam Dineen all scored in the first period to give Tucson the 3-0 lead going into the first intermission. The Heat had some difficulties staying out of the penalty box. In the first period alone, Tucson had 5 powerplay opportunities. The first two goals were during powerplays.
Stockton’s Goaltender Tyler Parsons got the start of the game, after Jon Gillies received a call-up to the Flames earlier in the week. However, following the intermission, Ryan Faragher replaced Parson’s in the net for the duration of the game.
Matteo Gennaro scored early in the second period for the Roadrunners, before Ryan Lomberg was finally able to put the Heat on the board. Tucson’s Jens Looke and Giovanni Fiore scored another pair before Keven Tansey scored his first AHL goal at 12:32. Tyler Graovac scored again for the Heat, but that would be the last goal of the second period and the Heat would go to the third period trailing 6-3.
The Heat’s Anthony Peluso scored at 3:05. The Roadrunner’s Lane Pederson scored another powerplay goal at 10:22. The Roadrunners would hold on the lead and ultimately the game, despite a goal with only 7 seconds remaining off the stick of Spencer Foo for a final 7-5 score.
By the end of the game, the Heat had only two man advantage opportunities, but were not able to capitalize, while the Roadrunners capitalized on three of nine chances.
On Saturday, the Heat reversed the previous night’s momentum. Colorado’s Dominic Toninato scored the first goal of the game at 3:46. Stockton’s Ryan Lomberg evened the score at 7:38, with his second goal of the weekend. Colorado’s Andrew Agozzino scored his 14th goal of the season just over a minute later, but that would ultimately be their last lead of the game. Rob Hamilton scored the first of his two goals in under 2 minutes, to even the score at 15:27, then Curtis Lazar scored about thirty seconds later. At the end of the first period, the Heat held the lead at 4-2.
Stockton Heat forward Spencer Foo (15) looks for a pass in front of Eagles goalie Pavel Francouz as Anton Lindholm (54) defends- Photo by Jack Lima
Ryan Lomberg (41) scores Stockton’s first goal with a shot past goalie Pavel Francouz – Photo by Jack Lima
The second period, the Heat’s Matthew Phillips earned his 10th goal of the season. Buddy Robinson scored midway through the period to put the Heat up to 6-2. Nicolas Meloche closed the spread with his goal assisted by Agozzino.
Glenn Dawdin scored the Heats final goal of the night, at 3:49, with an assist from Kevin Tansey and Alan Quine. The Eagles worked the net to try to mount the full comeback, but fell short. Goals from Michael Joy, Meloche and Agozzino put them within a single goal, with just under a minute and half remaining. Pavel Francouz was pulled with 2:16 remaining in the game, but the Heat held on for the win.
Ryan Lomberg (41) scores Stockton’s first goal with a shot past goalie Pavel Francouz – Photo by Jack Lima
Tyler Parsons served the Stockton net for the entire game, stopping 23 shots on net for the win. Francouz had 39 saves for the Eagles loss in the net.
Ryan Lomberg (41) dives for the puck as Sergei Boikov (42) defends- Photo by Jack Lima
As noted above, the Heat had some difficulties staying out of the penalty box, but this night it was a little more balanced, where both teams had four powerplay chances, the Heat managed to capitalize on one, which the Eagles scored three goals with the advantage.
Heat defenseman Kevin Tansey (47) tries to control the puck- Photo by Jack Lima
Stockton will host the San Diego Gulls later this week.
Eagles defenseman Anton Lindholm (Left) fights Spencer Foo (15) for the puck – Photo by Jack Lima
Eagles Center Dominic Toninato (47) opens the scoring with a first period goal past Heat goalie Tyler Parsons – Photo by Jack Lima
Eagles Captain Mark Alt (Left) collides with Heat forward John McCarron (48) – Photo by Jack Lima
Colorado Eagles goalie Pavel Francouz directs a shot on goal into the corner – Photo by Jack Lima
Buddy Robinson (10) drives to control the puck – Photo by Jack Lima
Andrew Agozzino (26) scores his second goal of the game late in the third period – Photo by Jack Lima
Andrew Agozzino (26) scores his first of two goals of the game during first period action – Photo by Jack Lima
Andrew Agozzino (26) fights with Heat defenseman Kevin Tansey (47) for position in front of Heat goalie Tyler Parsons – Photo by Jack Lima
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