by Jerry Feitelberg

photo by Google Images

slider photo: San Jose Barracuda–Barracuda were short finding the back of the net against Bakersfield Monday afternoon

SAN JOSE–The San Jose Barracuda, currently residing in second place of the Pacific Division, faced-off against the fourth place Bakersfield Condors. The Condors, who are the NHL affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers, scored three times in the first seven minutes of the game. The Barracuda played well in the second and third periods but could not overcome the three-goal deficit and fell to the Condors 5-3 before a holiday crowd of 5872 fans. Had the Barracuda won the game, coach Roy Sommer would have won his 636th game, which would have tied hime for most wins by an AHL coach.

The first period did not go well for the San Jose Barracuda. The Bakersfield Condors outplayed the ‘Cuda for the first seven minutes of the game scoring tree times and driving starting goalie Troy Grosenick to the bench. The Condors scored the first goal of the game with just one minute and five seconds played.  Ryan Hamilton scored his ninth of the year. Hamilton got the puck just outside the Condors’ zone and with the Condors had a two on one.Hamilton chose not to pass, and his shot beat Grosenick for the score.The Condors scored again with 3:58 played on a power play. Left winger Alex Gallant went to the penalty box for delay of game, and the Condors’ Rob Klinkhammer scored his second of the year. Assists went to Nikita Nikitin and Tyler Pitlick. Pitlick scored his second of the year with six minutes and fifty-eight seconds played. Klinkhammer and Joshua Winquist assisted. San Jose coach Roy Sommer decided to change goalies. Aaron Dell replaced Grosenick. Grosenick saw six shots on goal and allowed three goals.The Barracuda outshot the Condors fifteen to eleven, but  trail 3-0 after 20 minutes of play.

The Barracuda played much better in the second period. They cut the deficit to 3-1 when Ryan Carpenter put the puck past Condor goalie Eutu Laurikainen for the Barracuda’s first goal of the game. Barclay Goodrow and Petter Emanuelsson assisted on the play. Bakersfield increased the lead to 4-1 late in the second period. Joshua Winquist scored on a four-on-three power play. Assists went to Jordan Oesterle and Andrew Miller. The Barracuda outshot the Condors 12-9 in the period and 26-21 overall so far in the game.

The Barracuda outscored the Condors 2-1 in the third pereiod but it wasn’t enough as they lost 5-3. The Condors took a 5-1 lead early in the third period on a short-handed goal by Rob Klinhammer. It was Klinkhammer’s second goal of the game. The Barracuda came back and scored on a power play. Defenseman Karl Stollery beat Laurikainen for the tally. Ryan Carpenter and Petter Emanuelsson assisted. Bryan Lerg notched his tenth goal of the year when he took a pass from Trevor Parkes and was able to put it in the net for the score. The Barracuda outshot the Condors 19-6 in the final period and 45-27 overall but found themselves on the short end of the score 5-3.

Game Notes- Aaron Dell replaced Troy Grosenick in goal early in the first period. Troy Grosenick started for San Jose but was ineffective. Coach Sommer replaced him after seven minutes of play. Dell played fifty-three minutes and allowed just two goals keeping the Barracuda in the game.However, San Jose could not overcome the three-goal deficit and lost their eleventh game of the year. Their record is now 18-11-4-3. Next games for the Barracuda include an away game with the Ontario Reign on Friday January 22nd at 7 pm and a home game in San Jose on Saturday, January 23rd.