After being shut out in Game 1, Stockton erupted for four goals in the first period of Game 2 and held on for a 6-4 win over San Jose at SAP Center on Sunday afternoon.
The teams’ best-of-five Pacific Division semifinal series is all square with Game 3 set for Friday night in Stockton.
Mark Jankowski kick-started his three-point night with a goal 90 seconds into the contest, Austin Carroll made it 2-0 at the 12:22 mark of the opening frame and Linden Vey and Garnet Hathaway scored 44 seconds apart to open up a 4-0 lead on the Barracuda and Baz Bastien Award winner Troy Grosenick.
San Jose chipped away at the deficit with three goals in a span of 4:50 midway through the second period, including two by defenseman Joakim Ryan.
Hunter Shinkaruk restored the Heat’s two-goal lead with 2:17 remaining in the second, and after Buddy Robinson‘s shorthanded goal with 3:41 left in regulation made it 5-4, Vey hit the empty net for his second goal of the contest to seal the win.
David Rittich (1-0) stopped 11 of 12 shots in relief of Jon Gillies (17 saves) and was credited with the win in his postseason debut. Grosenick (1-1), who entered the game with a .955 save percentage in seven appearances vs. Stockton this season, finished with 14 saves on 19 shots.
.@H_S_9‘s first #CalderCup goal was a beauty as he puts the @AHLHeat up 5-3 heading into the final frame. #SJvsSTK pic.twitter.com/hlmO5rpXGu
— AHL (@TheAHL) April 23, 2017
