They battled hard but no cigar for the San Jose Barracuda in a one goal loss to the visiting Abbotsford Canucks at Solar4 America in San Jose on Fri Apr 15, 2022 (image from the San Jose Barracuda)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE — Justin Dowling scored the second of his two goals in overtime to help the Abbotsford Canucks defeat the San Jose Barracuda 4-3 on Friday evening at Solar4America Ice at San Jose.

Dowling scored the game winning goal when Justin Bailey centered a pass in front of the crease where Dowling beat ‘Cuda goalie Alex Stalock with a one-timer for his third goal of the season at the 3:14 mark of overtime.

San Jose ended its home schedule on a 11-game losing streak, which also extended its franchise worst losing streak to 12 games (0-10-2). Abbotsford is undefeated in the month of April with its five-game winning streak and sit fifth in the Pacific Division with 76 points.

The Barracuda (20-39-4-2) jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period thanks to a pair of special team’s goals from Lane Pederson.

Artemi Kniazev found Perderson in the right slot and he beat Canucks goalie Spencer Martin with a wrist shot to the short side for a power play goal, his eighth of the season, at the 7:37 mark.

Antoine Morand found Pederson down low near the left of the crease and Pederson chipped the puck into the net for a short-handed goal, his second of the game at the 12:45 mark.

Abbotsford (35-21-5-1) answered back with two power play goals early in the second period to even the score in a span of 2:36.

Dowling scored his first goal of the night after cleaning up a rebound off of a John Stevens’ shot for his second goal of the season at the 5:59 mark.

Then the second-best power play in the AHL took advantage of another Barracuda penalty. Sheldon Rempal sneaked a shot past a screened Stalock for his 29th goal of the season at the 8:35 mark.

The Canucks scored its third unanswered goal early in the third period to take its first lead of the game. Chase Wouters won a clean face off back to Devante Stephens who wired a wrist shot past Stalock for his third goal of the season at the 2:53 mark.

San Jose scored the equalizer at the 12:16 mark. Jake McGrew led an odd man rush up the ice and sent a rink wide pass to Kyle Topping in the left slot. Topping skated and beat Martin with a wrist shot to the far side for his second goal of the season.

Martin finished the game stopping 22 of the 25 shots he faced to beat the Barracuda for his 19th win of the season. Marin was 4-0 versus San Jose this season. Stalock suffered his eighth straight loss as he made 24 saves on 28 shots.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished 1-for-5 on the power play. Abbotsford was 2-for-4.

The Three Stars of the Game were: 1) Pederson 2) Rempal 3) Topping

San Jose went 3-5 against Abbotsford in the season series.

UP NEXT: The Barracuda finish their season on a three-game road trip. They travel out to Bakersfield to take on the Condors on Wednesday 4/20 at 7:00pm at Mechanics Bank Arena.