The San Jose Barracuda visit the Bakersfield Condors only to get pounded at the Mechanics Bank Arena in Bakersfield on Sat Jan 15, 2022 (image by the San Jose Barracuda)

by Marko Ukalovic

It was night to forget in the Central Valley.

The Bakersfield Condors scored three goals in the first period en route to a 5-1 victory over the San Jose Barracuda on Saturday evening at Mechanics Bank Arena.

San Jose has lost three out of its last four games. Bakersfield has won four games in a row.

Bakersfield (12-8-3-3) jumped out to an early lead in the first period. A turnover inside the ‘Cuda by Evan Weinger led to a two-on-zero chance. Michael Kesselring fed a pass over to Adam Cracknell and he buried a wrist shot past ‘Cuda goalie Sam Harvey for his fifth goal of the season at the 2:45 mark.

Cracknell snapped a 12-game goalless draught.

The Condors doubled its lead halfway through the opening frame. Seth Griffith sent a rink wide pass over to Philip Kemp and he sniped home a wrist shot past Harvey for his second goal of the season at the 9:22 mark.

Bakersfield scored their third unanswered goal late in the period. Brad Malone sprung James Hamblin in all alone on Harvey. Hamblin made a forehand to backhand move to beat Harvey for his sixth goal of the season at the 18:29 mark.

San Jose (13-17-1-0) despite its eight shots weren’t able to generate much offense during the opening 20 minutes.

Hamblin scored his second goal of the game late in the second period. Cooper Marody had a nice give and go with Hamblin on a two-on-one break. Hamblin beat Harvey to the short side for his seventh goal of the season at the 13:48 mark.

Marody extended his points streak to seven and has 11 points in that stretch.

Bakersfield scored its fifth unanswered goal in the first 39 seconds of the third period. Philip Broberg sent a rink wide pass over to Griffith who ripped a wrist shot past Harvey for his ninth goal of the season.

San Jose spoiled Condor’s goalie Olivier Rodrigue shutout bid with its only goal of the game near the halfway mark of the period. Nick Merkley found Steenn Pasichnuk at the right slot and Pasichnuk buried a wrist shot top shelf past Rodrigue for his first goal of the season at the 8:27 mark.

It was Pasichnuk’s first goal since April 17th, 2021, against the Texas Stars and his first road goal of his AHL career.

Rodrigue (3-5-2) finished stopping 23 of the 24 shots he faced to earn the victory as he snapped a three-game losing streak. Harvey (2-2-0) didn’t fare well in his first back-to-back start of the season. He made 26 saves on 31 shots in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished 0-for-4 on the power play. Bakersfield was 0-for-2.

The Three Stars of the Game were: 1) Hamblin 2) Griffith 3) Kemp

San Jose is now 15-17-2-3 at Mechanics Bank Arena.

UP NEXT: San Jose returns home to host the San Diego Gulls on Tuesday 1/18 at 7:00pm at SAP Center.