The San Jose Barracuda Nick Merkely scores big in the third period to help the Barracuda defeat the Bakersfield Condors at Solar4America Ice at San Jose on Wed Mar 2, 2022 (nhl.com file photo)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE —Nick Merkely is getting hot right when his team needs him to.

The former first round draft pick scored with the game winning goal with 1:35 left in the third period to give the San Jose Barracuda a 5-3 victory over the Bakersfield Condors on Wednesday evening at Solar4America Ice at San Jose.

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

Merkley, who is on a three-game goal streak after being goal less in his previous 13, skated out in front from behind the net, spun around and fired a wrist shot from close range past Condor’s goalie Stuart Skinner for his ninth goal of the season at the 18:25 mark. Santeri Hatakka and Patrick Holway recorded assists on the game winning goal.

San Jose (16-28-1-0) drew first blood on the power play in the first minute of the opening period. A nice give and go between John Leonard and Jake McGrew led to Leonard sneaking a shot through the five-hole of Skinner for his 12th goal of the season at the 1:15 mark.

Bakersfield (22-13-4-5) answered back when Yanni Kaldis’ shot from the point went off the skate of James Hamblin through a sea of traffic in front of ‘Cuda goalie Zachary Emond for Hamblin’s 13th goal of the season at the 7:28 mark.

The Condors gained their first lead a minute into the second period. Raphael Lavoie sent the puck up the point where Phillip Broberg’s wrist shot hit off the post and into the back of the net for his third goal of the season.

The Barracuda responded back with their second power play goal near the halfway mark of the middle frame. Artemi Kniazev found Joachim Blichfeld at the Condors blue line. Blichfeld skated in and beat Skinner with a wrist shot top shelf to the far side for his 16th goal of the season at the 10:14 mark. Emond was credited the secondary assist for his first AHL point.

Blichfeld is second on the ‘Cuda with seven power play goals.

San Jose regained the lead over three minutes later. A misplay by Skinner led to Mark Alt’s shot from the point being redirected by defenseman Nick Cicek for his third goal of the season at the 12:54 mark.

Cicek played in his first game back after missing the past 14 straight games with a lower body injury. He broke a 10-game goal less draught.

Bakersfield responded to even the game just 20 seconds later. A two-on-one rush inside the ‘Cuda zone led to Kaldis finding Hamblin for a second time. Hamblin’s quick one-timer beat Emond for his second goal of the game and 14th goal of the season.

Kniazev scored an empty net goal as time expired to seal the deal for San Jose.

Emond finished the evening stopping 23 of 26 shots to earn the victory. Skinner made 24 saves on 28 shots in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished 2-for-5 on the power play. Bakersfield was 0-for-3.

This was San Jose’s first win in regulation since January 23 when they beat Bakersfield 5-2.

The Three Stars of the Game were: 1) Merkley 2) Hamblin 3) Cicek

UP NEXT: San Jose faces their NorCal rival the Stockton Heat on Saturday 3/5 at 6:00pm at Stockton Arena.