Ryan Carpenter scored shorthanded 8:52 into overtime to give San Jose a dramatic 2-1 victory over Stockton in Game 5 of their Pacific Division semifinal series at SAP Center on Tuesday night.
The Barracuda advance to play the San Diego Gulls in the second round of the Calder Cup Playoffs, beginning Friday.
Barclay Goodrow won the race to a loose puck in the neutral zone, carried it over the blue line and found Carpenter, who snapped a shot past the glove of Jon Gillies for the series-clinching score. It was Carpenter’s fourth goal and AHL-leading seventh point of the first round.
Despite taking the loss, Gillies was brilliant in net for the Heat after replacing starter David Rittich (15 saves) to start the second period. Gillies wound up stopping 37 of 39 shots in less than 49 minutes of work.
Jamie Devane scored his first career postseason goal 10:38 into the second period, finding a loose puck above the top of the crease and burying it past Troy Grosenick (27 saves) to give Stockton a 1-0 lead.
That lead stood up until Timo Meier forced a turnover at the Heat blue line and beat Gillies with 10:13 remaining in regulation.
Stockton had some prime chances to win the game in overtime, including Hunter Shinkaruk hitting the post on a breakaway early in the extra frame.
San Jose outshot the Heat by a 54-28 margin for the game.
Pacific Division Semifinals – Series “G” (best-of-5)
P1-San Jose Barracuda vs. P4-Stockton Heat
Game 1 – Fri., Apr. 21 – SAN JOSE 4, Stockton 0
Game 2 – Sun., Apr. 23 – Stockton 6, SAN JOSE 4
Game 3 – Fri., Apr. 28 – San Jose 5, STOCKTON 3
Game 4 – Sun., Apr. 30 – STOCKTON 5, San Jose 3
Game 5 – Tue., May 2 – SAN JOSE 2, Stockton 1 (OT)
Ryan Carpenter, short-handed, in overtime, sends the @sjbarracuda to the #CalderCup Pacific Division finals. pic.twitter.com/fsVHg0yF1Z
— AHL (@TheAHL) May 3, 2017
