BARRACUDA EDGED BY HEAT 3-2
Oct 21, 2018
San Jose, CA - The Stockton Heat (Calgary Flames) (2-3-1-0) took advantage of a big first period to defeat the San Jose Barracuda (5-1-0-1), 3-2, on Sunday afternoon at SAP center at San Jose. The Heat handed the Barracuda their first regulation loss in the early 2018-'19 campaign.
The first period of Sunday afternoon's affair was void of scoring until the Heat turned it up and scored twice in rapid succession. After several strong chances, Andrew Mangiapane(2) took an offensive zone faceoff win, spun 270 degrees and buried a wrist shot over the glove hand of Antoine Bibeau to give the Heat a one goal lead with 6:25 remaining in the first period. Less than two minutes later Tyler Graovac (3) took a gorgeous no look, behind the back pass in the low slot from Mangiapane and lifted it over the shoulder of the Barracuda netminder to make it 2-0. The shots ended up nine to eight favoring Stockton, and the Heat took a 2-0 lead into the dressing room.
The second period was penalty filled for the Barracuda as the team took three penalties including a double-minor for high-sticking that put the Heat on a two-man advantage, which they would capitalize on. At the 11:48 mark of the second period, Spencer Foo (3) took a pass from Graovac and blasted a slapshot from the top of the left circle that beat Bibeau high over the glove. That gave the Heat a three-goal lead with just over eight minutes remaining in the second, but the Barracuda would answer back quickly. Max Letunov (5) took a beautiful chip pass from Vincent Praplan on a breakaway, faked forehand-backhand and roofed it past the glove of Heat goaltender Tyler Parsons. The Barracuda would continue the onslaught of pressure when Francis Perron took advantage of bad turnover deep in the Heat zone and fed a pass to Jayden Halbgewachs (3) who received the pass and elevated the puck past Parsons to get the Barracuda within one. The second period would end with a 20-20 shot count and a 3-2 lead for the Stockton Heat.
In the third, neither team would score, as Antoine Bibeau and Tyler Parsons were perfect on all third period shots. The Heat rode a two-goal first period and a three-point performance from Tyler Graovac to a 3-2 victory over the Barracuda.
After five grueling games in 11 days, the Barracuda have a five-day hiatus before hitting the road. The San Antonio Rampage await San Jose, as the two Western Conference foes will tangle on Friday, October 26th at 5:30 PM. San Jose returns to SAP Center on November 2nd to take on the same San Antonio Rampage.
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