STOCKTON'S SEASON COMES TO A CLOSE

The Stockton Heat's season came to a close on Saturday night, with the Flames' AHL affiliate being edged 2-1 by the San Jose Barracuda.
The loss dashed their hopes of sliding into the playoffs, keeping them in sixth in the AHL's Pacific Division with a 34-28-6 record and a .544 winning percentage.
"It was [an playoff-type game], especially the first period. That was a fast period of hockey. Both teams," head coach Ryan Huska told StocktonHeat.com. "You get two one games when there's a lot on the line and unfortunately, we came out on the wrong end."

Brett Findlay scored Stockton's lone goal and Jon Gillies made 28 saves on Saturday night. Alexander True scored both of San Jose's goals and goaltender Antoine Bibeau stopped 30 of the 31 shots he faced.
"It's heartbreaking. This is one of the best group of guys I have ever played with. It is devastating, I thought we deserved a better fate. Hands down to San Jose I thought they played a good game. It sucks," Findlay told StocktonHeat.com.
"I mean I am sure that every guy in the room there would like to maybe have done something different, but at the end of the day it is what it is. I thought we battled hard to the very end. I thought we gave ourselves every chance to win, but it wasn't our time I guess."
Being that close to a playoff spot and missing out obviously stings but Huska believes it will provide an excellent lesson for long-term success.
"We basically missed out on a playoff opportunity by one game. So there's different stretches over the course regular season, whether that be October, November, December, where I think, looking back at it now, a better understanding that every time you step on the ice matters. One of those games, that's the difference right now for us."

STOCKTON 2017-18 SCORING LEADERS

LW Andrew Mangiapane - 21 goals, 46 points in 39 games
LW Morgan Klimchuk - 19 goals, 40 points in 62 games
RW Spencer Foo - 20 goals, 39 points in 62 games
D Rasmus Andersson - 9 goals, 39 points in 56 games
D Tyler Wotherspoon - 7 goals, 37 points in 67 games

STOCKTON 2017-18 GOALTENDING LEADERS

Jon Gillies - 17-16-5 record with a 2.53 GAA and a .917 save percentage
David Rittich - 7-5-0 record with a 3.18 GAA and a .889 save percentage
Mason McDonald - 3-1-0 record with a 3.48 GAA and a .875 save percentage
Tyler Parsons - 1-3-0 record with a 4.39 GAA and a .856 save percentage