The Iowa Wild celebrate a goal along the bench against the San Jose Barracuda at Tech CU Arena on Tuesday NOV 29, 2022. (San Jose Barracuda)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE — The Iowa Wild scored three unanswered goals in the first period and then hung on at the end for a 4-3 victory over the San Jose Barracuda on Tuesday evening at Tech CU Arena.

San Jose had its two-game winning streak snapped. Iowa snapped its two-game losing streak with its sixth win in the month of November.

San Jose (10-8-0-1) drew first blood early in the first period. Andrew Agozzino intercepted a pass at the red line from a pass that exited the Wild zone. The ‘Cuda captain skated down the left wing and on a delayed penalty beat Wild goalie Jesper Wallstedt with a wrist shot from a tough angle for his fifth goal of the season at the 2:50 mark.

Agozzino has been streaking with points in his last seven of eight games.

Iowa (7-6-2-2) answered back three minutes later. Daemon Hunt fed a pass down to Joseph Cramarossa who slid a backhander past ‘Cuda goalie Strauss Mann for his third goal of the season at the 5:52 mark.

The Wild went ahead with a power play goal late in the opening frame. Joe Hicketts found Marco Rossi along the left slot and Rossi rifled home a wrist shot top shelf past Mann for his first goal of his AHL career at the 13:40 mark.

Iowa scored its third unanswered goal in the first period on its second consecutive goal with the man advantage. Sammy Walker blasted a shot from the point past Mann for his eighth goal of the season at the 15:27 mark. Rossi and Adma Beckman were credited with assists.

San Jose cut Iowa’s lead down to one early in the second period. Luke Johnson beat Wallstedt with a show between the five-hole for his fourth goal of the season at the 4:38 mark. Ryan Merkley and Scott Reedy recorded assists on the team’s second goal.

It didn’t take long for Iowa to regain its two-goal lead. Damien Giroux set up Hunt at the left slot and the Wild defenseman roofed a wrist shot top shelf for his first goal of the season 38 seconds later.

San Jose closed the gap to a one-goal deficit with 58 seconds left in the third period with the man advantage. A shot from right slot by Tristan Robbins deflected off Reedy and was batted out of the air by C.J. Suess for his third goal of the season.

Wallstedt finished with 30 saves on 33 shots to earn the victory. Mann made 29 saves on 33 shots in the losing effort that snapped his two-game winning streak.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished 1-for-5 on the power play. Iowa went 2-for-6.

The Three Stars of the Game were: 1) Rossi 2) Hunt 3) Hicketts.

UP NEXT: San Jose and Iowa conclude their two-games series on Wednesday 11/30 at 7:00pm at Tech CU Arena.