Congratulations all around after the San Jose Barracuda sweep the Ontario Reign in a two game series at Solar4America Ice in San Jose on Sun Feb 28, 2021 (photo from sjbarracuda.com)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE, Calif—The San Jose Barracuda were able to carry the momentum from their previous game against the Ontario Reign and dominated their SoCal rival in a 3-1 victory on Sunday evening at Solar4America Ice.

The ‘Cuda have won two games in a row for the first time this season as they swept the two-game series. Ontario has lost four in a row, including their last five on the road.

San Jose (3-2-1-0) scored the only goal in the first period, a period where they outshot Ontario 11-5.

Ryan Merkley sent a pass up to the point where Brinson Pasichnuk blasted a slap shot that Kuris Gabriel redirected past Reign goalie JF Berube for his second goal in as many nights at the 10:52 mark.

Pasichnuk now has three assists on the season. Merkley received the secondary assist for his second in his pro career.

Ontario (1-8-1-0) scored the equalizer early in the second period. Mikey Eyssimont led a two-on-one rush from the neutral zone. He sent a cross ice pass over to Samuel Fagemo who one-timed a wrist shot past ‘Cuda goalie Josef Korenar for his fourth goal of the season at the 5:10 mark.

The Barracuda took advantage of a delay of game penalty by Sean Durzi midway through the middle frame. Nick DeSimone found Joachim Blichfeld on the left wing and the winger made a cut back move into the middle and snapped home a wrist shot that fooled Berube and into the back of the net for his fifth goal of the season at the 11:37 mark.

Alexander True received the secondary assist on the power play goal for San Jose.

San Jose kept Berube busy in the second period as they outshot Ontario 20-9. Berube gave his team a fighting chance in the third period by keeping the deficit to just one goal.

The ‘Cuda controlled play in the third period as they out shot Ontario 17-6. Ontario wasn’t able to generated much of an offensive attack as San Jose had them on their heels for most of the period.

Blichfeld completed his two-goal game with an empty net goal he fired from the right blue line at the 18:27 mark to ice the game for San Jose. Blichfeld has taken over the as the team’s goal leader with his six goals on the season.

Korenar (2-0-0) stopped 19 of the 20 shots he faced in earning back to back wins. Berube (0-3-1) was the hard luck loser making 44 saves on 46 shots.

GAME NOTES: San Jose was 1-for-1 on the power play. Ontario was 0-for-2.

The Three Stars of the game were: 1) Blichfeld 2) Gabriel 3) Berube

UP NEXT: The Barracuda travel out to Bakersfield to take on the Condors on Wednesday 3/3 at 6:00pm.