The San Jose Barracuda pick up their second straight win against the Colorado Eagles at the Budweiser Events Center on Tue Dec 21, 2021 (image by the San Jose Barracuda)

by Marko Ukalovic

LOVELAND, Colo. — The San Jose Barracuda’s power play is heating up.

They scored twice on the power play as it was the difference in their 4-1 victory over the Colorado Eagles on Tuesday evening at Budweiser Events Center.

San Jose have won two games in a row and three out of its last four games. They climbed out of the cellar in the Pacific Division with 21 points. Colorado have lost four games in row.

San Jose (10-12-1-0) drew first blood 33 seconds into the first period. Captain Jacob Megna sent in a shot from the left point and Jeffery Viel redirected the puck past Eagles goalie Justus Annunen to the short side for his third goal of the season. Adam Raska received the secondary assist.

Colorado (10-11-2-2) answered back with a power play goal halfway through the opening frame. Rob Hamilton made a quick pass over to Martin Kaut who skated in from the right point and wired a wrist shot through a screened ‘Cuda goalie Alexei Melnichuk for his fifth goal of the season at the 10:54 mark.

The Barracuda regained the lead with a power play goal. Nick Cicek found Sasha Chmeleveski along the right boards. Chmeleveski’s initial shot on goal was saved by Annunen but he cashed in his own rebound for his fifth goal of the season at the 16:27 mark.

Jasper Weatherby, who was sent down to the ‘Cuda by the Sharks as the parent team has had both of their scheduled games this week canceled by the NHL due to ever growing Covid protocols, received the secondary assist as he made his AHL debut.

Despite doubling up on the ‘Cuda on the shot clock 12-6, Colorado found itself trailing by one at the first intermission.

San Jose extended their lead early in the second period with its second power play goal on a five-on-three opportunity. Nick Merkley sent in a shot from between the faceoff circles where Jayden Halbgewachs tipped it past the five-hole of Annunen for his eighth goal of the season at the 5:15 mark.

The ‘Cuda has five power plays goals in their past three games.

Halbgewachs, who made his NHL debut for the Sharks last Thursday, scored in his first game back with the ‘Cuda.

The Barracuda squandered an opportunity to tack on to their lead with five minutes left in the middle frame when Raska drew two penalties on the same shift on Jean-Luc Foudy and Dalton Smith. The Eagles penalty kill led by Annunen kept themselves in the game by not allowing a goal on the full two-minute five-on-three power play.

Viel scored his second goal of the game and fourth of the season with an empty netter from his own defensive zone with 1:06 left in the third period to seal the deal for the Barracuda.

Melnichuk (6-5-1) finished the game stopping 34 of the 35 shots to earn his six victory of the season and has won back-to-back games. Annunen made 22 saves on 25 in the losing effort. He is now 1-4 against ‘Cuda this season.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished 2-for-8 on the power play. Colorado was 1-for-4.

San Jose is 4-0-1 against Colorado this season and are 3-0 at the Budweiser Events Center.

The Three Stars of the Game were: 1) Melnichuk 2) Halbgewachs 3) Kaut

UP NEXT: San Jose and Colorado concludes their two-games series on Wednesday 12/22 at 6:05pm at the Budweiser Events Center.