A happy group of San Jose Barracuda skate off the ice at Solar4America in San Jose after defeating the Bakersfield Condors on Tue Apr 27, 2021 (@sjbarracuda photo)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE, Calif–Joel Kellman scored the game winning with just over two minutes left in the game as the San Jose Barracuda came back from a one-goal deficit to beat the the Bakersfield Condors 4-2 on Tuesday evening at Solar4America Ice.

Sasha Chmelevski skated out from behind the net and threaded a back door pass to Kellman who buried a one-timer for his fourth goal of the season at the 17:48 mark of the third period.

Chmelevski ended the game with a three point night (1G, 2A).

San Jose have won two games in a row and climbed back into fourth place and the final playoff spot in the Pacific Division with .548 winning percentage as the Colorado Eagles were idle on the evening. Bakersfield have lost two in a row.

Bakersfield (19-12-0-1) drew first blood in early in the first period on the power play. Tyler Benson made a rink wide pass over to Adam Cracknell from the left wing. The 35-year old veteran one-timed the puck past ‘Cuda goalie Alexei Melnichuk for his 10th goal of the season at the 5:49 mark.

Evan Weinger was given a five-minute major penalty for elbowing at the 3:08 mark when he hit Kevin Gravel up high that led to a big scrum where Sasha Cmelevski and Phillip Kemp threw fisticuffs. The Condors were only able to score the one goal during Weinger’s penalty. Brad Malone was given a 10-minute game misconduct penalty.

San Jose (14-11-4-2) scored the equalizer on the power play late in the first period. Chmelevski sent a shot from the right slot that pinballed out to the left wing and Jayden Halbgewachs snapped a wrist shot past Condors goalie Olivier Rodrigue for his sixth goal of the season at the 16:49 mark.

Since coming back from an injury where he missed nine games, Halbgewachs has scored a goal in back-to-back to games and is on a three-game point streak.

The Condors regained the lead with their second power play goal of the period. . A battle along the left wing had the puck bounced over to Seth Griffith and he fired a wrist shot top-shelf past Melnichuk for his seventh goal of the season at the 18:16 mark.

Both teams combined for 39 penalties in the opening 20 minutes that saw Bakersfield out shoot San Jose 13-11.

The bad blood spilled over into the second period. Nicholas Meloche and Benson both received 10 minute misconduct penalties at the 3:38 mark after both had been assessed minor penalties for cross-checking and roughing after played had stopped.

San Jose had a full two-minute five-on-three power play opportunity but the Condors penalty kill held the fort, led by Rodrigue, and kept the ‘Cuda from tying the game.

San Jose out shot Bakersfield 11-6 in the middle frame.

The Barracuda evened the score in the third period that was the start of three unanswered goals in the final frame. Maxim Letunov fed a pass over to Ivan Chekhovich in between the faceoff circles. Chekhovich made a backdoor pass just to the right of the crease where Jake McGrew tapped the puck into an open net for his fourth goal of the season at the 11:57 mark.

Chmelevski iced the game for the ‘Cuda with his empty net goal, his sixth of the season with 61 second left.

Melnichuk (6-6-3) finished the game stopping 22 of the 24 shots he faced to earn the victory. Rodrigue (3-5-0) made 32 saves on 35 shots in the losing effort.

Both teams finished the game with a combined 89 penalty minutes in the ninth contest between the division rivals.

GAME NOTES: San Jose was 1-for-7 on the power play. Bakersfield went 2-for-5.

San Jose has won three straight games against Bakersfield on home ice.

The Three Stars of the Game were: 1) Kellman 2) Chmelevski 3) Halbgewachs

UP NEXT: The Barracuda host the Henderson Silver Knights on Friday 4/30 at 6:00pm at SAP Center.