sjbarracuda.com photo: The San Jose Barracuda left winger Adam Helewka (46) takes the puck past two Stockton Heat defenders on Saturday afternoon at SAP Center on Saturday

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE–What a difference a day makes. The San Jose Barracuda rebounded less than 14 hours after their terrible pre-season debut to win a thrilling 2-1 game in overtime over the visiting Stockton Heat at the SAP Center. San Jose’s Adam Helewka scored the game winner with less than a minute left in overtime. Helewka used some nifty stick handling to maneuver around defenders before he wristed a shot past Heat goalie Mason McDonald.

The Heat got on the board first with exactly 11 minutes left in the second period when Joel Lowry was able to clean up a rebound from a Spencer Foo shot near the right point that Barracuda goalie Antoine Bibeau initially stopped but wasn’t able to corral the rebound as the puck trickled through his legs that Lowry was able to tap past him for the 1-0 lead.

The Barracuda were on the verge of their second straight shutout until Manuel Wiederer scored just over a minute into the 3rd period. It was McDonald’s first test after he came into the 3rd period replacing starting goalie Tyler Parsons, who left after the 2nd period. Parsons finished with 16 saves, including a couple of point blank chances, before being replaced by McDonald.

McDonald took the loss after allowing two goals on 13 shots in 20 minutes and 46 seconds of action. Bibeau earned the win by making 24-of-25 saves. Both teams were unsuccessful on their power play opportunity in the first period.

NEXT UP: The San Jose Barracuda begin their regular season on the road at the Stockton Heat next Saturday October 7th at 6pm.