Scoreboard is a real read em and weep as the San Jose Barracuda are defeated by the Abbotsford Canucks at Abbotsford Centre on Sun Dec 5, 2021 (image by San Jose Barracuda)

by Marko Ukalovic

The Abbotsford Canucks used a three-goal third period to defeat the San Jose Barracuda 5-2 on Sunday evening at Abbotsford Centre.

San Jose have lost five of its past six games as they anchor the basement in the Pacific Division with 13 points. Abbotsford have won three of its last four games.

Abbotsford (7-7-2-1) drew first blood on the power play halfway through the first period. Sheldon Rempal fed a cross rink pass over to Nick Petan who lasered in a wrist shot past ‘Cuda goalie Zachary Sawchenko for his fifth goal of the season at the 10:05 mark of first period.

San Jose (6-9-1-0) had an immediate answer 30 seconds later. Sasha Chmelevski sent a shot in from the left slot that deflected off the stick of Austin Shautner past Canucks goalie Spencer Martin for his second goal of the season at the 10:35 mark.

The Canucks gained its first lead of the game late in the opening frame. Tristen Nielsen rushed up the ice and centered a pass over to Jarid Lukosevicius who buried a wrist shot from close range past Sawchenko for his fourth goal of the season at the 17:32 mark.

The second period featured a scoreless frame. San Jose two power play chances in the middle frame but weren’t able to cash in on both opportunities. The Barracuda’s league worst penalty kill did kill off the only chance Abbotsford had in the period.

The Barracuda evened the scored early in the third period. Scott Reedy dangled through two Canucks defenders along the left board. Reed found Ryan Merkley along the right point and the second-year defenseman sent a wrist shot that sneaked past Martin for his first goal of the season at the 1:23 mark.

Reedy extended his points streak to six games.

Abbotsford answered back 36 seconds later to regain the lead. Madison Bowey fluttered a puck on net that Sawchenko wasn’t able to handle cleanly as the rebound trickled past him to the left and Sheldon Dries cleaned up the rebound for his 11th goal of the season at the 1:59 mark.

The Canuks received an insurance goal late in the final frame. John Stevens sent a pass back up to the point and Noah Juulsen who floated a wrist shot that hit off the leg of a Barracuda defender and past Sawchenko for Juulsen’s first goal in a Canucks uniform at the 14:52 mark. It was Juulsen’s first goal since 2017.

Dries completed the scoring with his second goal of the game with an empty netter at the 19:13 mark.

Martin (2-0-1) finished the game with 23 on 25 shots to earn his second victory on just his third appearance. Sawchenko (3-3-0) made 29 saves on 33 shots in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished 0-for-4 on the power play. Abbotsford was 1-for-4.

The Three Stars of the Game were: 1) Lukosevicius 2) Martin 3) Juulsen

UP NEXT: San Jose closes out its three-game road trip in Stockton as they take on the Heat on Tuesday 12/7 at 7:00pm at Stockton Arena.