Photo credit: @sjbarracuda

By Marko Ukalovic

The hourglass has just about ran out on the San Jose Barracuda’s (28-25-4-4) playoff chances. Their latest loss was to the Grand Rapids Griffins (38-24-1-7) by a score of 3-2 in a shootout on Friday evening at the Van Andel Arena. The victory extended the defending AHL champions’ point streak to six games.

Grand Rapids controlled the game during the 1st period as they outshot San Jose 19-6. However, the strong play of Cuda goalie Antonie Bibeau (19-14-4) kept the period scoreless after the opening 20 minutes.

The Griffins would break the deadlock just 16 seconds into the second period when Dylan Mcllarth scored his fifth goal of the season after firing home a rebound past Bibeau after a Dominic Turgeon. Mcllarth snapped a 30-game scoreless drought.

Jacob Middleton would tied the game up while the teams played 4-on-4. Middleton took a pass from Adam Helewka and blasted a shot from the point passed Griffins goalie Tom McCollum inside the far right post for his fifth goal of the season at the 12:15 mark of the second period.

In the third period, Grand Rapids would regain the lead when Colin Campbell found Ben Street wide open along the right side and was able to slide the puck into an open net for his 18th goal of the season at the 7:10 mark.

The Cuda wouldn’t go away quietly as the evened up the game with a power play goal from Alex True. Nick DeSimone fired a shot from the point that True was able to tip past McCollum for his 12th goal of the season at the 13-minute mark.

The final 12 minutes of the game, including the overtime, would remain scoreless. In the shootout Matt Puempel would send the 9,860 fans home happy when his goal in the fourth round of the shootout clinched it for the Griffins.

McCollum earned the victory making 33 saves on 35 shots. Bibeau suffered the tough luck loss making 36 saves on 38 shots.

GAME NOTES: San Jose went 1/3 on the power play, while Grand Rapids was 0/2.

UP NEXT: The Barracuda travel to Rockford to take on the IceHogs on Saturday afternoon at 4 pm PST.