Barracuda and Heat take preseason game into overtime

SAN JOSE, Calif. – The Stockton Heat traveled to San Jose for their second and final preseason season game to take on the San Jose Barracuda. Last season, it was the Barracuda that eliminated the Heat from the playoffs in the first round.
Stockton’s Goalie Tyler Parsons took a turn in the net for the Heat, while Antoine Bibeau covered for the Barracuda.

Stockton goalie Tyler Parsons makes a kick save on Jaynen Rissling -Photo by Jack Lima

The two teams were pretty even during the first period, but it would be Stockton’s Mike McMurtry that would score first midway through the second period. Bibeau had committed to stopping the puck at the crease, then sprawled out on the ice, while the puck slipped behind him to settle, where McMurtry circled around and tapped it into the net.

Throughout the second period, there were several tremendous saves by Parsons following a barage of shots, but he held the net strong throughout the period to hold off the Barracuda.

Rudolfs Balcers (38) skates the puck around the next as Darren Nowick (40) and Kayle Doetzel (48) pursue – Photo by Jack Lima

Mason McDonald took over the net for the Heat following the second intermission. It would be Manuel Wiederer to score just over a minute into the third period, with assists off the sticks of Julius Bergman and Olivier Archambault to even the score at one goal each, ultimately forcing the sudden-death overtime period.

Rudolfs Balcers (38) attempts a backhanded shot on Heat goalie Tyler Parsons as Adam Ollas Mattsson (33) defends – Photo by Jack Lima

Only 46 seconds into the three-on-three play that is typical for overtime when Barracuda’s Adam Helewka faked out McDonald in front of the net as he approached then, when McDonald committed, Helewka slipped the puck into the net behind him for the game winning goal, unassisted.

Morgan Klimchuk (18) and Brett Pollock (23) follow the puck in the corner past Barracuda goalie Antonie Bibeau – Photo by Jack Lima

At the games end, San Jose dominated shots on goal 34-25. Parsons stopped 24 of 24 shots he faced during the first two periods.

The teams will continue practice for the next few days, as the coaches whittle down the rosters to the final group that will begin the season.

Stockton will open the season as home, against the Bakersfield Condors. Stockton defeated the Condors in their preseason game Friday night, with a final score of 4-2 in regulation.

San Jose will open their season on the road against the Heat on Saturday, October 7, 2017, then face the Griffins in their home opener on October 13.