Heat Wave: Gawdin shines at All-Star Game

All-Star Weekend Recap

Glenn Gawdin, now in his second AHL season, participated in his first AHL All-Star Weekend this past Sunday. Matthew Phillips was also selected, but is still recovering from a fractured kneecap. Gawdin was involved in 3 skills events for the Western Conference Sunday, before representing the Pacific Division in Monday’s All-Star 3-on-3 tournament.

In the puck control relay, Gawdin easily won his race, although the West ended up losing this overall relay event. Gawdin struggled in the accuracy shooting event, but hey, he was probably just surprised they were real targets. He did score in the breakaway relay, on Toronto Marlies goaltender Kasimir Kaskisuo. The West ultimately won the skills competition, highlighted by the Ontario Reign’s Martin Frk setting a faster mark than Zdeno Chara’s record, at 109.2 mph.

The 3-on-3 tournament consists of every team playing 3 round robin games, and then the division with the best record in each conference plays in the final. The Pacific Division beat the Northwest and Central Division in shootouts, but lost to the Atlantic Division. The Central finished with a 2-0-1 record, compared to the Pacific’s 2-1-0, and lost to the Atlantic Division in the finals. Gawdin had 2 assists in the tournament.

Record: 23-10-2-3 (.671%), 2nd Pacific Division, 3rd Western Conference

Team Leaders:

Goals

Robinson (16), Philp (15), Gawdin (15)

Assists

Quine (26), Gawdin (25), Kirkland (19)

Points

Gawdin (40), Quine (36), Robinson (30)

Goaltending

Jon Gillies (10-6-3), 2.49 GAA .909 SV%

Artyom Zagidulin (14-4-3), 3.00 GAA .900 SV%

Summary

Prior to the All-Star festivities, the Heat played 2 games this past week.

They kicked it off last Monday, getting revenge on the Colorado Eagles, whom had just defeated them on their teddy-bear toss night 2 days earlier.

“Big Snag Zag” continued his improved play as the season has gone on, recording his second shutout in his past 4 starts, in a 5-0 victory. Buddy Robinson scored his 16th goal of the season just 26 seconds into the game, and the Heat never looked back. Glenn Gawdin had a goal and an assist, Austin Czarnik had two assists, and Artyom Zagidulin made 18 saves in the win, which snapped a three game losing streak.

Gawdin proved his worth again in the final game before the All-Star break, scoring with under 5 minutes left in the first period, against the Ontario Reign. Robinson assisted on this marker, which was shorthanded. The two teams exchanged goals back and forth, culminating with Matt Luff’s with just under 3 minutes remaining in regulation, to give the Reign a 3-2 lead.

Gawdin wasn’t done, as he tied the game with 3.7 seconds remaining in regulation. Unfortunately, former Flame Brett Sutter scored for the Reign with a minute left in overtime, as the Heat lost 4-3. Zagidulin made 35 saves.

Fast facts:

-Buddy Robinson took over the team lead in goals, and is now third in points, prior to his call-up and Calgary Flames debut Tuesday

-Zagidulin has crawled back into the .900 Sv% after falling below the mark for the majority of the season. He’s on the verge of entering the 2.00 GAA mark as well

-With his goal Monday, Gawdin equaled his entire rookie output of last season, of 38 points. He is at a point per game for the first time in his career, with 40 points in 40 games

-With Robinson likely missing the next game with the Flames, Gawdin will be the only Heat player to have played every game this season

Heat Player of the Week: 

Glenn Gawdin 2 GP: 3 G, 1 A, 4 Pts

Up Next: Feb 1 vs Bakersfield Condors

by Gordie Taylor