Gillies, Heat Shut Out Barracuda in New Year’s Eve Win
STOCKTON, Calif. – Behind a 29-save shutout from Jon Gillies and a three-goal third period, the Stockton Heat closed out 2019 in style with a 4-0 win over San Jose Tuesday at Stockton Arena. The sixth win of the season over the Barracuda, Stockton got on top early as Glenn Gawdin took a lengthy feed from Rob Hamilton and found the back of the net to break a stalemate just shy of the halfway point of the opening frame. After a scoreless second that saw Stockton kill three penalties, a Buddy Robinson shorthanded goal just 31 seconds into the third opened the floodgates, the first of three tallies for the home side in a span of just 4:43 to seize complete control of the game at 4-0. The Heat finished the night a perfect 7-for-7 on the penalty kill en route to Gillies’ shutout, the first for the Heat since January 17, 2018, also against San Jose. The Heat will return to action this weekend with a pair of divisional games against the Ontario Reign.
SCORING AND PENALTY SUMMARY
GOALIES
W: Jon Gillies (29 shots, 29 saves)
L: Josef Korenar (26 shots, 22 saves)
NOTABLE STATISTICS
Three Stars: First – Jon Gillies (29 svs), Second – Glenn Gawdin (1g,1a), Third – Buddy Robinson (1g)
Shots On Goal: STK – 26, SJ – 29
Power Plays: STK – 0-3, SJ – 0-7
– Jon Gillies recorded his eighth-career shutout, Stockton’s first shutout since January 17, 2018, which also came against San Jose. Gillies was also in net that night for the Heat and stopped 32 shots.
– Glenn Gawdin’s first-period goal extended his scoring streak to four games (3g,5a), and his two-point night (1g,1a) brought his season total to nine points (2g,7a) in six games against San Jose.
– Buddy Robinson’s shorthanded goal 31 seconds into the third extended Stockton’s lead to two. It was his second SHG of the season, his first since opening night on October 4.
– Austin Czarnik extended his goal-scoring streak to five games, longest in the AHL, with his third period marker. He has at least a point in six consecutive games played, now at five goals and four assists in that span.
– Eetu Tuulola’s marker was his first since November 27 and snapped a seven-game scoreless skid.
– The Heat are now 6-0 on the year against San Jose.
– The win was head coach Cail MacLean’s 50th with the Heat.
UP NEXT
Stockton will host the Ontario Reign in a pair of Pacific Division bouts this weekend at Stockton Arena, Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 6 p.m.
