The Stockton Heat are on the brink of elimination for the first time in the 2022 Calder Cup Playoffs.

Down 3–0 to the Chicago Wolves in the Western Conference Final, the Heat will return to action on Friday night in what could be their last game at the Stockton Arena.
The Flames&#8217; American Hockey League affiliate is set to relocate to Calgary for the 2022–23 season, leaving Stockton without a professional hockey team for the first time in more than 15 years.
The Heat have given their California fans plenty of reasons to cheer in their last go-round, posting a 45–16–7 record in the regular season before dispatching the Bakersfield Condors and Colorado Eagles from the playoffs with relative ease.
Stockton&#8217;s luck may have run out in this series against the Wolves, however. After losing two one-goal games in heartbreaking fashion to begin the Western Conference Final, the Heat couldn&#8217;t muster up a single goal in Wednesday&#8217;s Game 3.
So, here we are. The Heat need four more wins to capture the Western Conference Final. The Wolves need just one. Will Stockton make its last stand tonight?
<h2>Projected lineups</h2>
These combinations are based, in part, on those used in these teams’ previous games. 
Stockton Heat
@Jakob Pelletier – @Adam Ruzicka – @Matthew Phillips 
@Justin Kirkland – @Luke Philp – @Martin Pospisil 
@Connor Zary – @Glenn Gawdin – @Eetu Tuulola 
@Alex Gallant – @Byron Froese – @Walker Duehr
@Connor Mackey – @Andy Welinski 
@Juuso Valimaki – @Colton Poolman 
@Kevin Gravel – @Nick DeSimone
@Dustin Wolf 
@Adam Werner
Chicago Wolves
CJ Smith – @Andrew Poturalski – @Stefan Noesen 
@Josh Leivo – @Jack Drury – David Gust 
@Noel Gunler – Vasili Ponomarev – @Richard Panik 
Stelio Mattheos – @Jamieson Rees – Spencer Smallman
Max Lajoie – @Jalen Chatfield 
Jesper Sellgren – @Joey Keane 
Cavan Fitzgerald – Josh Jacobs
@Alex Lyon 
@Pyotr Kochetkov
<h2>Playoff scoring stars</h2>
This section excludes players recalled to the NHL or on assignment to other leagues.
Stockton Heat
<ol>
<li>Justin Kirkland — 10 GP, 6 G, 9 P</li>
<li>Matthew Phillips — 10 GP, 3 G, 7 P</li>
<li>Jakob Pelletier — 10 GP, 3 G, 6 P</li>
<li>Andy Welinski — 10 GP, 1 G, 6 P</li>
<li>Byron Froese — 10 GP, 1 G, 6 P</li>
</ol>
Chicago Wolves
<ol>
<li>Josh Leivo — 10 GP, 9 G, 17 P</li>
<li>Stefan Noesen — 10 GP, 7 G, 13 P</li>
<li>Jack Drury — 10 GP, 6 G, 13 P</li>
<li>Andrew Poturalski — 10 GP, 3 G, 10 P</li>
<li>David Gust — 10 GP, 3 G, 9 P</li>
</ol>
<h2>Heating up</h2>
Dustin Wolf did what he could in Stockton&#8217;s Game 3 loss to Chicago, stopping 27 of the 29 shots he faced on home ice.
Wolf has made numerous sharp saves all series long, including this breakaway save on Josh Leivo late in the second period of Game 2. Unfortunately, he just hasn&#8217;t quite gotten enough run support.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<a href="https://t.co/c75EreQQzP">https://t.co/c75EreQQzP</a> <a href="https://t.co/2DjJzRgDgu">pic.twitter.com/2DjJzRgDgu</a>
&mdash; y &#8211; Stockton Heat (@AHLHeat) <a href="https://twitter.com/AHLHeat/status/1533991853720276995?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 7, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<h2>How to watch</h2>
Game 4 in Stockton will be broadcast on <a href="https://www.watchtheahl.com/">AHL TV</a> (subscription required) and on <a href="http://spreaker.com/user/stocktonheat">Spreaker</a> (audio only), with the opening puck-drop set for 8:00 p.m. MT.
FlamesNation contributors Paige Siewert and Mike Gould will provide live game updates on Twitter. Additionally, you&#8217;ll be able to follow along at <a href="https://theahl.com/">TheAHL.com</a>.
<hr />
<h2><a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/purchase-options/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer follow" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/purchase-options/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1637192862258000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3dLuPqW6rbyceDwC6Lbc9o" data-wpel-link="internal">HEAT GAME PREVIEW BROUGHT TO YOU BY DAILYFACEOFF</a></h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="CToWUd a6T jetpack-lazy-image jetpack-lazy-image--handled" src="https://ci6.googleusercontent.com/proxy/6X0Dv3_3PYFPZkrLaCbWeYHXMWzAuuXH7t2JLsFB1K2CKHzv26F60yZHHLRR12FCRBsmykWDyeegP6hZLXPKs-Eh0ldWPAdIalTDjc6NK66QBuw7_5ft-rH7CN3uSSVIFr216hvo7Hon19ua7JUBjO1KV9pf7iUjZeLTRUvNVMf6EPrRW0k=s0-d-e1-ft#https://i1.wp.com/publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/DailyFaceoff-Fantasy-Tools.png?resize=796%2C265&amp;ssl=1" alt="" width="796" height="265" data-lazy-loaded="1" />
Looking to up your fantasy hockey game? DailyFaceoff has the tools you need for both daily and season-long fantasy leagues, including a lineup optimizer, daily projections, and a whole lot more. <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/purchase-options/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer follow" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/purchase-options/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1637192862258000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3dLuPqW6rbyceDwC6Lbc9o" data-wpel-link="internal">Sign up for the DailyFaceoff tools here.</a>
<hr />
<h2><a href="https://flamesnation.ca/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer follow" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://flamesnation.ca/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1643426444783000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0ZoMy36-f05a90iD5z8D6E" data-wpel-link="internal">More from FlamesNation</a></h2>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://flamesnation.ca/2022/06/01/matthew-tkachuk-took-his-game-to-new-heights-in-2021-22/" rel="v:url follow" data-wpel-link="internal">Matthew Tkachuk took his game to new heights in 2021-22</a></li>
<li><a href="https://flamesnation.ca/2022/06/01/ryan-francis-calgary-flames-stockton-heat/" rel="v:url follow" data-wpel-link="internal">The Calgary Flames’ exclusive signing rights to Ryan Francis have expired</a></li>
<li><a href="https://flamesnation.ca/2022/06/01/flames-prospect-arsenii-sergeev-named-ushls-goaltender-of-the-year/" rel="v:url follow" data-wpel-link="internal">Flames prospect Arsenii Sergeev named USHL’s goaltender of the year</a></li>
</ul>

The Stockton Heat are on the brink of elimination for the first time in the 2022 Calder Cup Playoffs.



Down 3–0 to the Chicago Wolves in the Western Conference Final, the Heat will return to action on Friday night in what could be their last game at the Stockton Arena.

The Flames' American Hockey League affiliate is set to relocate to Calgary for the 2022–23 season, leaving Stockton without a professional hockey team for the first time in more than 15 years.

The Heat have given their California fans plenty of reasons to cheer in their last go-round, posting a 45–16–7 record in the regular season before dispatching the Bakersfield Condors and Colorado Eagles from the playoffs with relative ease.

Stockton's luck may have run out in this series against the Wolves, however. After losing two one-goal games in heartbreaking fashion to begin the Western Conference Final, the Heat couldn't muster up a single goal in Wednesday's Game 3.

So, here we are. The Heat need four more wins to capture the Western Conference Final. The Wolves need just one. Will Stockton make its last stand tonight?
<h2>Projected lineups</h2>
These combinations are based, in part, on those used in these teams’ previous games. 

Stockton Heat

@Jakob Pelletier – @Adam Ruzicka – @Matthew Phillips
@Justin Kirkland – @Luke Philp – @Martin Pospisil
@Connor Zary – @Glenn Gawdin – @Eetu Tuulola
@Alex Gallant – @Byron Froese – @Walker Duehr

@Connor Mackey – @Andy Welinski
@Juuso Valimaki – @Colton Poolman
@Kevin Gravel – @Nick DeSimone

@Dustin Wolf
@Adam Werner

Chicago Wolves

CJ Smith – @Andrew Poturalski – @Stefan Noesen
@Josh Leivo – @Jack Drury – David Gust
@Noel Gunler – Vasili Ponomarev – @Richard Panik
Stelio Mattheos – @Jamieson Rees – Spencer Smallman

Max Lajoie – @Jalen Chatfield
Jesper Sellgren – @Joey Keane
Cavan Fitzgerald – Josh Jacobs

@Alex Lyon
@Pyotr Kochetkov
<h2>Playoff scoring stars</h2>
This section excludes players recalled to the NHL or on assignment to other leagues.

Stockton Heat
<ol>
 	<li>Justin Kirkland — 10 GP, 6 G, 9 P</li>
 	<li>Matthew Phillips — 10 GP, 3 G, 7 P</li>
 	<li>Jakob Pelletier — 10 GP, 3 G, 6 P</li>
 	<li>Andy Welinski — 10 GP, 1 G, 6 P</li>
 	<li>Byron Froese — 10 GP, 1 G, 6 P</li>
</ol>
Chicago Wolves
<ol>
 	<li>Josh Leivo — 10 GP, 9 G, 17 P</li>
 	<li>Stefan Noesen — 10 GP, 7 G, 13 P</li>
 	<li>Jack Drury — 10 GP, 6 G, 13 P</li>
 	<li>Andrew Poturalski — 10 GP, 3 G, 10 P</li>
 	<li>David Gust — 10 GP, 3 G, 9 P</li>
</ol>
<h2>Heating up</h2>
Dustin Wolf did what he could in Stockton's Game 3 loss to Chicago, stopping 27 of the 29 shots he faced on home ice.

Wolf has made numerous sharp saves all series long, including this breakaway save on Josh Leivo late in the second period of Game 2. Unfortunately, he just hasn't quite gotten enough run support.

https://twitter.com/AHLHeat/status/1533991853720276995
<h2>How to watch</h2>
Game 4 in Stockton will be broadcast on <a href="https://www.watchtheahl.com/">AHL TV</a> (subscription required) and on <a href="http://spreaker.com/user/stocktonheat">Spreaker</a> (audio only), with the opening puck-drop set for 8:00 p.m. MT.

FlamesNation contributors Paige Siewert and Mike Gould will provide live game updates on Twitter. Additionally, you'll be able to follow along at <a href="https://theahl.com/">TheAHL.com</a>.

<hr />

<h2><a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/purchase-options/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer follow" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/purchase-options/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1637192862258000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3dLuPqW6rbyceDwC6Lbc9o" data-wpel-link="internal">HEAT GAME PREVIEW BROUGHT TO YOU BY DAILYFACEOFF</a></h2>
<img class="CToWUd a6T jetpack-lazy-image jetpack-lazy-image--handled" src="https://ci6.googleusercontent.com/proxy/6X0Dv3_3PYFPZkrLaCbWeYHXMWzAuuXH7t2JLsFB1K2CKHzv26F60yZHHLRR12FCRBsmykWDyeegP6hZLXPKs-Eh0ldWPAdIalTDjc6NK66QBuw7_5ft-rH7CN3uSSVIFr216hvo7Hon19ua7JUBjO1KV9pf7iUjZeLTRUvNVMf6EPrRW0k=s0-d-e1-ft#https://i1.wp.com/publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/DailyFaceoff-Fantasy-Tools.png?resize=796%2C265&amp;ssl=1" alt="" width="796" height="265" data-lazy-loaded="1" />

Looking to up your fantasy hockey game? DailyFaceoff has the tools you need for both daily and season-long fantasy leagues, including a lineup optimizer, daily projections, and a whole lot more. <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/purchase-options/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer follow" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/purchase-options/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1637192862258000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3dLuPqW6rbyceDwC6Lbc9o" data-wpel-link="internal">Sign up for the DailyFaceoff tools here.</a>

<hr />

<h2><a href="https://flamesnation.ca/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer follow" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://flamesnation.ca/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1643426444783000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0ZoMy36-f05a90iD5z8D6E" data-wpel-link="internal">More from FlamesNation</a></h2>
<ul>
 	<li><a href="https://flamesnation.ca/2022/06/01/matthew-tkachuk-took-his-game-to-new-heights-in-2021-22/" rel="v:url follow" data-wpel-link="internal">Matthew Tkachuk took his game to new heights in 2021-22</a></li>
 	<li><a href="https://flamesnation.ca/2022/06/01/ryan-francis-calgary-flames-stockton-heat/" rel="v:url follow" data-wpel-link="internal">The Calgary Flames’ exclusive signing rights to Ryan Francis have expired</a></li>
 	<li><a href="https://flamesnation.ca/2022/06/01/flames-prospect-arsenii-sergeev-named-ushls-goaltender-of-the-year/" rel="v:url follow" data-wpel-link="internal">Flames prospect Arsenii Sergeev named USHL’s goaltender of the year</a></li>
</ul>

Heat Playoff Game Day: Stockton’s last stand? (8:00 p.m. MT)

Recent articles from Mike Gould

Breaking News