Photo credit: @sjbarracuda

By Marko Ukalovic

The San Jose Barracuda (22-19-3-3) blew a three-goal lead as the Stockton Heat (23-17-2-3) scored four unanswered goals for a 5-4 dramatic comeback victory on Friday evening at the Stockton Arena.

Hunter Shinkaruk scored the game winning goal with 39 seconds left in the over time for his 13th goal on the season. Oliver Kylington set up Shinkaruk and he was able to go up top-shelf on Cuda goalie Troy Grosenick (6-9-3).

San Jose would jump out to a quick start against their Nor Cal rival when Jacob Middleton led a 2-on-1 with Adam Helewka. Middleton stole the puck away from Brett Findley just inside the Cuda blue line, skated up the right wing and passed it over to Helewka who fired a shot past Heat goalie Mason McDonald (0-1-0) into the back of the net for his seventh goal of the season at 2:20 mark of first period.

Stockton’s Tanner Glass scored would tied the game when he was able to pounced on a rebound and put it past Grosenick for his second goal of the season at the 8:49 mark of the first period. Kylington’s shot from the point was initially saved by Grosenick but he could corral the rebound. Dalton Prout received the secondary assist.

Sam Warning would give San Jose back the lead with his first AHL goal of his career. Filip Sandberg sent in a pass into the Heat zone and Warning collected the puck and snapped a shot past McDonald with a sweeping spin-o-rama motion at the 17:20 mark of the first period.

Grosenick made two important saves in the first period. Brett Pollack had a wide-open chance after a turnover by Radim Simek that Grosenick was able to glove. Glass had a short-handed chance that Grosenick stoned away.

The Cuda had two short-handed chances to extend their lead midway through the second period but were stymied both times by McDonald. Danny O’Regan couldn’t convert on a breakaway. Moments later Rudolfs Balcers and Simek had a 2-on-1 chance only to have McDonald make a brilliant save on Balcers’ shot.

The Cuda were finally able to cash in on their fifth power play opportunity when rookie forward Alex True was able to light the red light on a rebound chance. Julius Bergman fed O’Reagan who one-timed a shot from the right point that McDonald stopped but True crashed the net and pounded home the puck past McDonald for his seventh goal of the season for a 3-1 lead at the 12:55 mark of the 2nd period.

San Jose scored their third unanswered goal when Simek gave the Cuda a 4-1 lead on a short-handed goal, thanks to a 3-on-1 chance with O’Regan and Balcers. O’Regan made a drop pass to an open Simek who buried the puck past McDoanld for his fourth goal of the season at the 15:52 mark. It was O’Regan’s second assist on the night.

San Jose were impressive in killing off a Heat 5-on-3 power play opportunity with five minutes remaining in the second period, thanks to the great goaltending by Groesnick. He stopped all 15 shots, including a couple of point-blank chances, he faced in the middle frame.

The Heat would dominate the third period. Austin Carrol would cut the Cuda lead in half after some dazzling stick handling by Rasmus Andersson at the 3:02 mark. Andersson was able skate down the left wing side, made a toe drag move around a defender before centering a pass to Carrol who was able shoot the puck over the left pad of Grosenick for his fourth goal of the season.

Andersson would draw the Heat to within one goal when he was able to bang home the puck into a wide open net thanks to a great feed from Andrew Mangiapane who was left all alone by the Cuda defense. Andersson’s fifth goal of the season came at the 7:50 mark.

The Heat would complete the come back with their third unanswered goal in the period when Andersson tied the game up with his second goal of the night (and sixth of the season) when he jumped on the rebound from a shot by Hunter Shinkaruk with 2:51 left in the third period. San Jose was outshot 18-3 in the third frame.

Mason, who made just his second start of his AHL career, earned his first career AHL victory on 25 saves on 29 shots. Grosenick, who made his second consecutive start, suffered the loss, despite making 41 saves on 46 shots.

GAME NOTES: San Jose was 1/6 on the power play (5/29 overall against Stockton this season) while Stockton went 0/6.

The Barracuda are now 2-1 at the Stockton Arena this season. This was the eighth game between the two clubs. They play each other four more times. Simek’s short-handed goal was the second short-handed goal on the road against Stockton. It was their fourth short-handed goal of the season overall. San Jose is now 12-1-2 when they have a lead after the second period. Alex True had a spirited first ever fight against Brett Pollock 42 seconds into the third period.

UP NEXT: The Barracuda conclude their two-game series against the Heat tomorrow at Stockton Arena. Face off is scheduled for 6 pm PT.