The visiting Stockton Heat picked up a three goal win over the San Jose Barracuda on Sun Jan 2, 2022 at the SAP Center in San Jose (image by the San Jose Barracuda)
by Marko Ukalovic
SAN JOSE — The Stockton Heat enacted revenge on the San Jose Barracuda in a 4-1 victory on Sunday afternoon at SAP Center.
San Jose has two out of its past three games. Stockton have won five out of its last six. The Barracuda handed the Heat their first regulation on home ice back on New Year’s Eve.
Adin Hill made his first career start for the Barracuda. Hill just came off the Covid-19 protocol, and the San Jose Sharks sent him down for a conditioning assignment.
Stockton (19-3-2-1) drew first blood early in the first period. A turnover by Artemi Kniazev was picked up by former ‘Cuda forward Alex Gallant who snapped home a wrist shot top shelf past Hill for his first goal of the season at the 2:04 mark.
The Heat doubled its lead on the power play halfway through the opening frame. Martin Pospisil sent a shot from the point initially saved by Hill but Luke Philp cleaned up the rebound for his eighth goal of the season.
The aftermath set off ‘Cuda head coach Roy Sommer who frantically went over by the Stockton bench and started yelling at them. The referees ejected both head coaches after the hostile exchange of words.
Stockton scored their third unanswered goal in the second period. Matthew Phillips sent a home run pass up the ice that sprung Jacob Pelletier on a breakaway. Pelletier skated in a snapped home a wrist shot top shelf past Hill for his team leading 11th goal of the season at the 7:52 mark.
Pelletier has a team high 28 points on the season.
San Jose (11-14-1-0) scored its only goal of the game halfway through the third period. Adam Raska skated in on Heat goalie Dustin Wolf, who made the initial save. Scott Reedy cashed in the rebound for his team leading 14th goal of the season at the 10:10 mark.
Stockton iced the game with an empty net goal with 1:05 remaining. Justin Kirkland’s fourth goal of the season snapped a 19-game goal less draught for the Heat left winger.
Wolf finished the game stopping 33 out of the 34 shots to earn his league best 15th victory of the season and 10th in a row. Hill made 33 saves on 36 shots in the losing effort.
GAME NOTES: San Jose finished 0-for-5 on the power play. Stockton was 1-for-6.
The Three Stars of the Game were: 1) Wolf 2) Reedy 3) Pelletier
UP NEXT: San Jose continues its five-game homestand on Friday 1/7 as they host the Henderson Silver Knights at 7:00pm at SAP Center.