by Jerry Feitelberg

photo credit: San Jose Barracuda

SAN JOSE–The San Jose Barracuda entered Wednesday night’s game with the Western Conference-leading Ontario Reign in desperate need of a win. The Barracuda trailed the Charlotte Checkers for the eighth and final playoff spot with a winning percentage of .550. The Checkers percentage is .551. The Barracuda won the game 3-1 to keep their playoff hopes alive. Aaron Dell entered the game with goals against average on 2.29 and a save percentage of .924. Dell was up to the task as he stopped thirty-four shots and allowed just one goal. Veteran Peter Budaj started in goal for Ontario. Budaj had a sparkling 1.73 goals against average and a .939 save percentage. However, The Barracuda beat him three times and sent him to the bench late in the second period. Michael Houser finished the game in goal for the Reign.

The Barracuda and the Reign played a fairly even first period until the Barracuda broke through when winger Petter Emmanuelson spun around, and his shot made it past the Reign’s veteran goaltender Peter Budaj for the tally. The score came at the 15:18 mark of the period. The Barracuda almost had another goal when Nikolay Goldobin made a great pass to Scott Timmins came in alone, but Budaj was up to the task and made the save. The Barracuda had two power play opportunities, but the Reign was able to kill the penalties. The Reign also had two power play opportunities and the Barracuda was able to keep them from scoring. The Barracuda had an 8-7 edge in the shots on goal department. The Barracuda leads 1-0 after one period of play.

Early in the second stanza, the Reign missed on a terrific opportunity to tie the game. Reign winger Matt Schmaltz found himself in all alone on top of Barracuda goalie Aaron Dell. Dell blocked the shot, and the defense cleared the puck to keep he Reign off the board. The Barracuda made it 2-0 at with 5:41 played. Barracuda captain, Bryan Lerg collected a rebound, then spun around and let go with a shot that found its way into the net. Trevor Parkes and Gus Young assisted. The Barracuda scored the second goal of the period and third of the night at 10:25. Nikolay Goldobin entered the zone on the left side of the ice. Just as he reached the red line, he fired a shot that beat Budaj over his left shoulder. For Goldobin, it was his eighteenth goal of the year. Gus Young picked up his second assist of the night and the second assist on the play went to Joakim Ryan. Ontario coach Mike Strothers decided to remove Budaj and replaced him with backup goalie Michael Houser. With just 1:08 left to play in the second period, the Reign’s Kris Newbury scored to make it a 3-1 game. Newbury beat Dell as he couldn’t cover the right side of the net in time. The Reign’s Jonny Brodzinski and Jeff Schultz assisted.

There was no scoring in the third period. The Reign poured it as they tried to score the two goals they needed to tie the game. The Barracuda’s defense was strong, and Aaron Dell was magnificent in goal as he made 34 saves in winning his fifteenth game of the season. The Barracuda win 3-1.

The Barracuda have seven games left to play this year. Six of the seven are on the road, and the Barracuda end the season against the Stockton Thunder on Sunday, April 17th at 3 pm at the SAP Center. It will be Fan Appreciation day so be there.