San Jose Barracuda forward Nathan Burke gets inside position inside the Texas Stars during the ‘Cuda 2-1 overtime victory at H-E-B Center at Cedar Park (photo by the San Jose Barracuda)

By Marko Ukalovic

The San Jose Barracuda are doing everything possible to keep their slim playoff hopes live.

Derrick Pouliot scored the game winner 48 seconds into overtime to give the ‘Cuda a 2-1 victory over the Texas Stars on Friday evening at H-E-B Center at Cedar Park.

Daniel Guschin led a three-on-two rush up the ice with Andrew Agozzino. The ‘Cuda captain centered a pass to a trailing Pouliot who skated in and wired a wrist shot past Stars goalie Scott Wedgewood for his third goal of the season.

San Jose now trails the Tucson Roadrunners by six points for the seventh place and the final playoff spot in the Pacific Division with seven game remaining. Texas, with the loss, fell out of first place in the Central Division as the trail the Milwaukee Admirals by one point with 82 points.

A scary moment happened at the 2:41 mark of the first period when Matej Blumel was checked into the boards by Ozzy Wiesblatt that resulted in Blumel being seriously injured and carried off on a stretcher. He did not return to the game.

San Jose (28-32-1-4-61 points) dominated the shot clock in the opening 20 minutes as the outshot Texas 10-4. However, they were not able to get a puck past Wedgewood.

Texas (35-18-9-3-82 points) escaped the period without giving up a goal despite taking two penalties late in the period.

The Barracuda drew first blood late in the second period with a short-handed goal. Kyle Criscuoolo sent a pass up the ice to Tristen Robins who got between two defenders inside the Stars zone before firing a wrist shot past Wedgewood for his 16th goal of the season at the 15:17 mark.

The Stars scored the equalizer just past the halfway mark of the third period. Former Barracuda forward Scott Reedy won a battle for the puck along the board and centered out front where Ryan Shea beat ‘Cuda goalie Aaron Dell with a wrist shot through traffic for his sixth goal of the season at the 10:33 mark.

Dell finished the night stopping 22 of the 23 shots he faced to earn the victory. Wedgewood made 24 saves on 26 shots in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: Both teams finished 0-for-3 on the power play.

The Three Stars of the Game were: 1) Pouliot 2) Shea 3) Wedgewood

UP NEXT: San Jose and Texas conclude their two-games series on Saturday 4/1 at 5:00pm at H-E-B Center at Cedar Park.