Photo credit: @sjbarracuda

By Marko Ukalovic

The Colorado Eagles gave up a two-goal lead, but found redemption in overtime for their first overtime win of the season in a 4-3 victory over
the San Jose Barracuda at the Budweiser Event Center on Friday evening. Colorado has won two games in a row. It was the third road loss in a row for San Jose.

Scott Kosmachuk, who blew an earlier breakaway overtime attempt, scored the game-winning goal when he was set up by Logan O’Connor and was able to bury the puck top-shelf on the short side of the net for his sixth goal of the season at the 3:30 mark. Anton Lindholm received the secondary assist.

Colorado (8-7-3-0) drew first blood early in the first period. Dominic Toninato made a toe drag move to get off a back handed shot that Tyler Lewis tapped in a deflection past Cuda goalie Antoine Bibeau (4-2-1) for his third goal of the season at the 4:22 mark. Ryan Graves received the secondary assist.

San Jose (10-3-1-1) scored the equalizer four minutes later after putting on relentless pressure Eagles goalie Pavel Francouz (7-4-1). Alexander True collected a rebound from a Thomas Gregoire shot from the point and fired the puck into an empty net for his third goal of the season at the at the 8:17 mark.  He has score in back-to-back games since he was goalless in 10 straight games. Jon Martin received the secondary assist.

Andrew Aggozino continued to stay hot as he gave back the Eagles the lead on the power play at the 12:17 mark. Aggozino sent in a wrist shot past the five-hole of Bibeau for his ninth goal of the season. With the unassisted goal, Aggozino now has 11 points in his last 12 games.

Colorado finished the first 20 minutes with a two-goal lead, thanks to Jean-Christophe Beaudin. A.J. Greer won a battle along the board and sent over a pass and Beaudin rewarded Greer’s work with his fifth goal of the season at the 19:33 mark. Michael Joly received the secondary assist.

Manny Weiderer gave momentum back to the Cuda in the second period when he scored San Jose’s second short handed goal of the season. With Francis Perron in the sin bin, Wiederer received the puck off a turnover and skated all alone on a breakaway. He snapped a shot inside the near post past Francouz for his fourth goal on the season at the 12:59 mark. 

Perron tied the game up early in the third period. He was left all alone by the Colorado defense and snapped home a shot past Francouz for his team-leading ninth goal of the season at the 4:28 mark.

Francouz made 31 saves on 34 shots to earn the victory. Bibeau finished with 39 saves on 43 shots, in another solid performance in the net, suffered the loss.

GAME NOTES: San Jose was 0/4 on the power play. Colorado was 1/3.

Colorado is now 1-3 in overtime games. San Jose is 0-1.

FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT! San Jose and Colorado exchanged fisticuffs twice in the game. Kyle Wood and Travis Barron tangoed with each other in the second period. Jeffery Truchon-Viel and Mason Geertsen battled in the third period.

The announced attendance was 5,289.

UP NEXT: The Barracuda take on the Eagles on Saturday, Nov. 24 at 6:05 pm PT at the Budweiser Events Center.