The San Jose Barracuda can’t get too much offense going as they lose by a goal to the visiting San Diego Gulls 2-1 at SAP Center in San Jose on Sat Nov 20, 2021 (photo by the San Jose Barracuda)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE—The San Diego Gulls scored two goals in the first period and made them hold up in a 2-1 victory over the San Jose Barracuda on Saturday afternoon at SAP Center.

San Diego swept the two games series and have won two games in a row. San Jose has lost three out of its past four games.

The Gulls drew first blood halfway through the first period. Jacob Larsson’s blocked shot deflected over to the right point where Nikolas Brouillard fired a slapshot from atop of the left circle through a screen past ‘Cuda goalie Alexei Melnichuk for his second goal of the season at the 9:19 mark.

San Diego (5-6-1-0) doubled its lead late in the opening frame. This time Brouillard returned the favor as he skated in from the right wing and threaded a backhanded pass through the crease where Greg Printz buried a one-timer past Melnichuk for his first goal of the season at the 12:14 mark.

The Gulls dominated the play in the first period as the out shot San Jose 11-6.

San Jose (5-6-1-0) cut the lead in half on the power play early in the second period. Ryan Merkley made a nice move around the defense inside the Gulls zone. Merkley found a streaking Scott Reedy whose wrist shot banked off both goal posts before landing in the back of net past Gulls goalie Olle Ericksson Ek for his team leading eighth goal of the season at the 2:52 mark.

Reedy has a three-game goal scoring streak and has scored four goals in his past three games.

San Jose controlled the play for the majority of the second frame as they out shot San Diego in 11-6.

The ‘Cuda pulled Melnichuk for an extra attacker with under two minutes left in an attempt to score the equalizer. However, like the day before, San Diego’s defense stood its ground and held on for the win.

Eriksson Ek finished the afternoon stopping 22 of the 23 shots he faced to earn the victory. He is 4-0 in his career against the ‘Cuda. Melnichuk made 22 saves on 24 shots in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished 1-for-3 on the power play. San Diego was 0-for-1.

The Three Stars of the Game were: 1) Brouillard 2) Reedy 3) Printz

UP NEXT: San Jose travels to San Diego to take on the Gulls on Wednesday 11/24 at 7:00pm at the Valley View Casino Center.