photo by sjbarracuda.com: The San Jose Barracuda Nikolay Goldobin (82) finds the back end of the net at 2:25 in overtime for the game winner at SAP Center on Monday night against the Stockton Heat

By Matthew T.F. Harrington

SAN JOSE, Calif. – The San Jose Barracuda wrapped up a successful seven-game homestand Monday night, topping the first-place Stockton Heat 4-3 in overtime. Nikolay Goldobin scored the game-winner while Marcus Sorensen, Nikita Jevpalovs and Barclay Goodrow all scored in regulation for San Jose to finish the home set 5-1-1.

Goldobin scored his fifth of the season just 2:25 into the overtime session, beating Stockton netminder David Rittich over the glovehand on the breakaway. Goldobin slipped behind two Heat skaters at the blue line, taking a pass for Joakim Ryan down the center lane for the game-winning play.

It appeared that overtime wouldn’t be necessary for most of the game with San Jose up 3-2 late, but the Heat tied the game 5:17 into the third period after Mantas Armalis let in a goal on the first shot of the game he faced from Austin Carroll.

Armalis subbed in for Troy Grosenick, who couldn’t finish the game despite making nine saves on 11 shots faced over 44:23 of play. Armalis picked up the win, turning aside seven of eight shots.

The Barracuda opened the game by scoring the first two goals of the contest, with Marcus Sorensen notching the first marker 1:25 into the game. Sorensen crashed the net with Barclay Goodrow the lead forechecker heading into the corner of the Heat defensive end. A Heat defender tried reversing the puck out of the corner, but Goodrow’s pressure led to a bad pass that hit off Sorensen’s skate and into the back of the net 1-0.

Just under six minutes later, Nikita Jevpalovs was the beneficiary of strong work in the corners. After Julius Bergman took a shot from outside the hashmarks, Goldobin was able to pull the bouncing puck down in the corner. Goldobin was then able to wheel the puck to a wide open Jevpalovs in the slot. The Latvian’s first shot richoted up off the crossbar and over Rittich’s shoulder, but Jevpalovs found the puck, tucking it inside the post for his third goal of the year.

Stockton’s Mark Jankowski beat Grosenick after a poor change by the Barracuda led to a 2-on-1 50 seconds after Jevpalovs’ goal, then assisted on Morgan Klimchuk’s 10^th goal of the season 8:11 into the second. The Heat would have a chance to add to the lead after Marcus Sorensen’s cross-checking minor halfway through the period.

The Barracuda’s special teams were the winners during this penalty kill, with Barclay Goodrow scoring a shorthanded goal 1:47 into the kill. Goodrow took a carpenter pass, then held on to the puck despite being wrapped up by Brett Kulak on the attempted breakaway and buried his 10^th goal of the season to take a 3-2 lead.

The Barracuda will wrap up the 2016 portion of the schedule with three-straight contests against the Bakersfield Condors starting Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. at Rabobank Arena. The two teams will play again Friday in Bakersfield at 7:00 p.m. before returning to SAP for a Saturday contest at 6:00 p.m.