GOLDOBIN FINDS PAY DIRT WITH OT WINNER AGAINST HEAT



San Jose, CA - The San Jose Barracuda (13-6-1-3) returned from their four-day holiday break and earned a 4-3 overtime victory against the Stockton Heat (16-7-2-1) on Monday night at SAP Center.



The victory was San Jose's second straight against the first place Heat and wrapped up a seven-game home stand in which the Barracuda went 5-1-1.



San Jose waited just one minute and 25 seconds to light the lamp on Monday night. Barclay Goodrow's strong forecheck forced Heat defenseman Brett Kulak to misplay the puck, and Marcus Sorensen (6) swiped home his third goal in his last four games. Nikita Jevpalovs (3) made it 2-0 San Jose at 7:18 as he hit the right post from the top of the crease and followed it up with a flip shot past David Rittich. Mark Jankowski (7) cut the lead in half for Stockton as he whistled a wrister past Troy Grosenick from the left wing at 8:08.



In the second, Stockton's Morgan Klimchuk (10) received a perfect back-door feed from Rasmus Andersson to even the score at 2-2. The Heat went on the power play twice in the frame, but Goodrow (10) raced past the Heat defense on the penalty kill and fended off Kulak before chipping the puck over the glove of Rittich at 12:20.



After Troy Grosenick had left the game at 4:23 of the third due to an apparent illness, Austin Carroll (3) beat Mantas Armalis through the five-hole on the first shot Armalis faced to tie the game at 5:17. Joakim Ryan and Ryan Lomberg fell awkwardly into the end boards early in the third and then dropped the gloves at 16:05. Danny O'Regan nearly gave San Jose its lead back on the penalty kill, but Rittich denied the breakaway chance with a glove save.



In overtime, Ryan came out of the penalty box for fighting and found Nikolay Goldobin (5) streaking behind the Heat defense and the second-year pro went top shelf for the game-winner at 2:25.



Armalis earned the win making seven saves on eight shots in 17 minutes and 30 seconds of work. On the other end, Rittich suffered the OT loss after allowing four goals on 30 shots.





Three Stars:

1. Nikolay Goldobin (SJ: 1+1=2)

2. Morgan Klimchuk (STK: 1+1=2)

3. Barclay Goodrow (SJ: 1+0=1)



BOX SCORE



The San Jose Barracuda play their next three straight against the Bakersfield Condors, beginning on the road on Wednesday at 7 p.m. San Jose returns home on Dec. 31 for a special Sober New Years and 'Cuda and Canines 2017 calendar giveaway. Tickets are still available and can be purchased at SJBarracuda.com/tickets or by calling 408.999.5757.