There’s no getting around it: The Stockton Heat are in a rut.
The Heat have won just two of their last 13 games, dropping decisions to each of their four Canadian Division rivals during that stretch.
Most recently, they lost to the last-place Belleville Senators on Wednesday. The Heat battled hard and pushed for a game-tying goal while down 3-2 in the third period, firing 14 consecutive shots but failing to get that all-important third goal.
Stockton and Belleville will meet again on Thursday afternoon for the second half of a back-to-back. With Tyler Parsons still unavailable, it remains to be seen whether the Heat will stick with Garret Sparks in goal—he made 28 saves on Wednesday—or give Andrew Shortridge his first start with the team.