GAMEDAY: BARRACUDA AT HEAT (4-30-17)
Apr 30, 2017
San Jose Barracuda (2-1) vs. Stockton Heat (1-2)
GAME 4 (Best-of-5), Divisional Round Semifinal
Sunday, April 30, 2017 – Stockton Arena, Stockton, Calif.
Tonight’s Matchup: The Barracuda can clinch their best-of-five series against the Stockton Heat on Sunday with a win. During the 12-game season series against Stockton, San Jose went 7-5-0 and 3-3-0 at Stockton Arena.
Best of the West: The San Jose Barracuda finished the regular season with a 43-16-4-5 (.699) record, resulting in both the Bud Poile Trophy (Western Conference Regular Season Champions) and John Chick Trophy (Pacific Division Regular Season Champions). San Jose went on a 14-game winning streak from Jan. 21 to March 1.
Carpenter Cruising: Ryan Carpenter potted his third goal of the series on Friday and now has six points (3+3=6) through three playoffs games. In his three-year pro career, Carpenter has 11 points (5+6=11) in 11 career Calder Cup playoff games and a plus-12 rating.
Good Times: After leading the Barracuda in goals (25) during the regular season, Barclay Goodrow netted his first pro playoff goal on Friday and now has three points during San Jose’s opening round series against Stockton. Over his three-year pro career, Goodrow has five points (1+4=5) in 11 postseason games played.
Ryan Rolling: After finishing the regular season T-fifth in the AHL in points (49) among d-men, fifth in assists (39), and is fourth in the AHL in plus/minus (+27), Joakim Ryan has been equally effective in the postseason. The second-year pro has collected two goals and an assist in three games and a plus-four rating. In seven career Calder Cup playoff games played, Ryan, has six points (2+4=6) and a plus-three rating.
Winner Winner: San Jose’s Zack Stortini is by far the teams most experienced postseason player having played 61 Calder Cup playoff games over his 12-year playoff career, and the veteran forward won a Calder Cup with the Hamilton Bulldogs in 2007.
About Last Game: The San Jose Barracuda scored three third period goals and fended off a Stockton Heat comeback attempt to take a 2-1 series lead with a 5-3 win on Friday night at Stockton Arena.
The Barracuda opened up the scoring in the first as Ryan Carpenter's wrap-around was denied, but the puck scooted free to an uncovered Barlcay Goodrow (1) who blasted a shot past David Rittich at 3:49. With less than a minute to go in the first, Danny O'Regan (1) fired a one-timer from the high slot to give San Jose a 2-0 lead at 19:44.
In the second, the Heat countered and tied the game at 2-2. On Stockton's sixth power play of the contest, Mike Angelidis (1) flipped a loose puck over Troy Grosenick's right pad at 11:48 and then Brandon Bollig (1) evened the score from close range at 13:16.
In the third, deadlocked at 2-2, Ryan Carpenter (3) recaptured San Jose's lead as he backhanded a loose puck top shelf short side at 15:17 and then Timo Meier (1) ripped a pass from Rourke Chartier through Rittich's five-hole on a two-on-one at 16:43. On the power play and with their net pulled, Michael Kostka (1) beat Grosenick from the point to get Stockton back within one, but Buddy Robinson (2) sealed the victory with an empty-netter at 19:45.
Grosenick (2-1) earned the win by making 30 saves on 33 shots, and Rittich (1-1) took the loss after allowing four goals on 32 shots.