The San Jose Barracuda had a 2-1 lead disappear and lost a one goal game to the Bakersfield Condors in overtime at SAP Center in San Jose on Tue Mar 16, 2021 (@ sjbarracuda image) 

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE, Calif—It was Deja vu all over again. For the second straight game, the San Jose Barracuda gave up a late lead and the Bakersfield Condors won the game in overtime in a 3-2 victory on Tuesday evening at SAP center.

Lukas Esposito tipped home a shot from Vincent Desharnais 2:45 into the extra session for the game winning goal. Cooper Maordy received an assist on Esposito’s sixth goal of the season.

Bakersfield (9-5-0-0) extended its win streak to a season high nine games. San Jose has lost three games in a row, all to their Pacific Division rival.

Bakersfield controlled played in the the first period out shooting San Jose 13-6. However they were not able to get the puck past ‘Cuda goalie Josef Korenar as he stopped all 13 shots.

San Jose (5-4-4-0) drew first blood on the power play early in the second period. Ryan Merkley fed a pass out to Joachim Blichfeld on the left wing. Blichfeld skated in a wired a wrist shot past Condors goalie Stuart Skinner to the short side for his team leading seventh goal of the season at the 3:25 mark.

Bakersfield came back with the equalizer when James Hamblin took advantage of a ‘Cuda turnover. Hamblin fed Jacob Stukel whose shot was denied by a diving Korenar with the left blocker pad. Hamblin crashed the net and cleaned up the rebound with a backhander for his third goal of the season at the 14:22 mark.

Hamblin has scored three goals in his past five games.

The Barracuda regained the momentum and the lead late in the middle frame. Jeffery Viel’s centering pass went off the stick of Stuart on to the tape of Sasha Chmelevski and the Long Beach native buried a shot top-shelf past Stuart for his second goal of the season at the 18:08 mark.

Just when the San Jose looked like they were going to hold on to the lead this team, Bakersfield once again struck late in third period to score the equalizer and force overtime.

Esposito centered a pass between two ‘Cuda defenders from behind the net out to Joe Gambardella. The veteran Condor skated in alone on Korenar and lifted a backhander top-shelf into the left corner of the net for his second goal of the season at the 16:30 mark.

Stuart made 22 saves on 24 shots to earn the victory. Korenar finished with 34 saves on 37 shots in an impressive, yet losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose was 1-for-1 on the power play. They snapped Bakersfield’s 24 straight penalty kills. Bakersfield never had a power play opportunity.

San Jose is now 0-4 in overtime games.

Bakersfield had its nine game streak of scoring the first goal snapped with Blichfeld’s goal.

The Three Stars of the Game were: 1) Blichfeld 2) Korenar 3) Esposito

UP NEXT: The two teams complete their four game series on Wednesday 3/17 at 6:00pm at SAP Center.