By: Eric He

sjbarracuda.com photo: You gotta keep em separated–An AHL official steps in between players from the Stockton Heat (left) and San Jose Barracuda (right) during Saturday night’s game in Stockton

In a back-and-forth contest, the San Jose Barracuda dropped their season opener 3-2 to the Stockton Heat on the road to kick off the season.

With the game tied 2-2, Stockton’s Ryan Lomberg scored the game-winning goal with under five minutes left in regulation, stripping the puck from the stick of the Barracuda defenseman Tim Heed and beat Troy Gosenick with a chip shot up high.

It was the final straw of a string over giveaways that cost the Barracuda on Saturday. Nikolay Goldobin’s outlet pass in the first period was picked off by Matt Frattin, who scored to tie the game 1-1.

Stockton’s second goal came off a turnover by defenseman Mirco Mueller. Mueller was picked from behind by the Heat’s Garnet Hathaway, leading to a goal by Hunter Shinkaruk to give the Heat the lead.

The Barracuda, though, hung in the game despite the setbacks. They scored first on a strong individual effort by Danny O’Regan, who turned defense into offense, blocking a shot in his zone and taking it the other way for a goal.

Down 2-1, San Jose evened the score midway through the third courtesy of Barclay Goodrow on a goal off a face-off.

Grosenick made 30 saves on 33 shots as the Heat outshot the Barracuda by three. Both teams were 0-for-2 on the power play.

The Barracuda’s next game is a week from Saturday when they face the Ontario Reign on the road.