BARRACUDA BLAST HEAT IN STOCKTON, 5-0
Jan 25, 2017Stockton, CA - The San Jose Barracuda (20-11-1-3) used five goals, and 24 Troy Grosenick' saves to beat the Stockton Heat (19-14-3-1), 5-0, on Wednesday night at Stockton Arena.
The shutout was Grosenick's (10-8-2) AHL-leading sixth of the season and San Jose's AHL-leading eighth overall shutout in just 35 games.
Rourke Chartier (9) opened up the scoring and gave San Jose the 1-0 lead as John McCarthy set up the rookie forward in the low-slot from below the goal line, and Chartier whipped a shot past David Rittich at 7:31. In just his second game with the Barracuda, Bryan Moore (1) collected a rebound off Rittich's left pad and backhanded the loose puck in at 13:11. The Barracuda capped off their three-goal first period as Mirco Mueller sprung Daniel O'Regan on a breakaway with a long stretch pass and San Jose's leading point scorer potted his twelfth of the year by going top shelf with a quick snipe at 17:58.
After getting recalled to the San Jose Sharks on Saturday and missing Saturday's game against Ontario, Tim Heed (10) picked right where he left off and gave San Jose a 4-0 lead in the second with a blast from the point over Jon Gillies right pad at 1:46 on the power play. Gillies replaced Rittich who allowed three goals on ten shots in the first. Jake Marchment dropped the gloves with Mike Angelidis in the opening frame and then fought Brandon Bollig in the second at 5:53 after Nikolay Goldobin took a big open-ice hit. Per AHL league rule, Marchment was given a game misconduct for his second fight.
In the final 20 minutes, Marcus Sorensen and O'Regan got behind the Heat defense on two-on-one, and O'Regan potted his team-leading 13th at 8:17. The final three-quarters of the third period saw a combined 88 penalty minutes and five misconducts, but the Barracuda cruised to the 5-0 win.
Rittich (7-6-1) took the loss after allowing three goals on ten shots, while Gillies worked the final 40 minutes and allowed two goals on 22 shots.
THREE STARS
1. Troy Grosenick (SJ: 24 saves)
2. Danny O'Regan (SJ: 2+0=2)
3. Bryan Moore (SJ: 1+1=2)
BOX SCORE
The Barracuda continue their seven game road trip on Friday night in Grand Rapids and don't return to SAP Center until Feb. 8 against the San Diego Gulls. On Feb. 12, the Barracuda will wear specialty California Republic Jerseys when they take on the Tucson Roadrunners. Tickets are still available and can be purchased at SJBarracuda.com/tickets or by calling 408.999.5757.