Photo credit: @sjbarracuda

By: Ana Kieu

Hawaiian Night was underway at the BMO Harris Bank Center in Rockford, Ill., on Saturday night and the San Jose Barracuda took on the Rockford IceHogs.

Apparently, the Barracuda and IceHogs got to witness flowers on the ice, which was a pleasant, tropical sight to see on a chilly 48 degree evening in the Windy City.

Cuda goalie Stephon Williams made his second start for the club and made a noteworthy save on a short-handed breakway early in the opening period. After that, the Cuda played 4-on-4 hockey following an IceHogs penalty.

The IceHogs made the unfortunate mistake of leaving the puck unattended at the blue line and Sam Warning picked up the first goal of the game, beating IceHogs goalie Jeff Glass, at the 12:11 mark of the period. Noah Rod collected the lone assist on Warning’s fifth goal on the season.

But the IceHogs were able to score just three seconds into their power play as Adam Clendening fired a long wrist shot from the high slot that beat Williams to get his team on the board and tie the game at one apiece with 4:22 left in the period.

Both teams were tied at one apiece after 20 minutes of play. In addition, the Cuda had some fun on Twitter by coming up with a random poll in the first intermission. The Cuda asked: “Thoughts on bacon?” and 83% answered “Really delicious” while 17% answered “Delicious.”

The Cuda scored two quick goals to start the second period. Brandon Mashinter got his 11th goal on the season at the 13:02 mark of the period. The assists on Mashinter’s goal went to Radim Simek and Rourke Chartier. Just 32 seconds later, Caleb Herbert scored on the power play to make it five straight games in which the Cuda have scored on the man advantage. Warning collected the lone assist on Herbert’s second goal on the season.

The Cuda thanked the IceHogs via Twitter for the nice tribute for left winger Brandon Mashinter in Rockford.

The Cuda led the IceHogs 3-1 after 40 minutes of play.

The IceHogs’ “Rally Crab” apparently helped the home team dominate in the third period. IceHogs left winger Lance Bouma scored a goal to pull his team within one just 41 seconds into the period. Clendening and Chris DiDomenico got the assists on Bouma’s fifth goal on the season. Then, Henrik Samuelsson scored the game-tying goal at the 17:49 mark of the period. Highmore Luc Snuggerud got the assists on Samuelsson’s eighth goal on the season.

The IceHogs continued to pour in the goals as Snuggerud scored the go-ahead goal, his fifth on the season, and Matthew Highmore expanded the lead to 5-3 with his 22nd goal on the season.

The Cuda pulled their goalie (Williams) for an extra attacker late in the game. That didn’t help the road team at all.

The Cuda lost to the IceHogs 5-3. Williams allowed five goals and made 25 saves in a losing effort for San Jose. Meanwhile, Glass stopped 19 of 22 shots in a Rockford win.

Notes
Barracuda starting lineup: Adam Helewka, Manny Wiederer, Jon Martin, Jacob Middleton, Nick DeSimone and Stephon Williams.

IceHogs starting lineup: Matthew Highmore. Tyler Sikura, Henrik Samuelsson, Viktor Svedberg, Cody Franson and Jeff Glass.

Up Next
The Barracuda return home to host the San Diego Gulls Wednesday night at 7:00 pm PST.