Photo courtesy of Titus Wilkinson. Leon Gawanke protects the puck from a Charlotte player (taken on 10/11/23).

By Titus Wilkinson (@TitusWisme)

SAN JOSE- For the first time in many years the Barracuda took on the Checkers at home in a first of back-to-backs.

Getting the start for San Jose was Georgi Romanov while for the Checkers Spencer Knight was in goal.

The first period saw Charlotte take three penalties though the Barracuda’s power play was unable to capitalize on any of them.

Thankfully for the Cuda Thomas Bordeleau was able to sneak in a shot off the rush unassisted 6:30 into the period.

Charlotte would get a response late from Lucas Carlsson as he ripped one in getting his fifth of the season and tying the game up at one.

At the end of the first the shots favored San Jose 14-12.

The second period scoring once again opened up with a goal from San Jose as this time Jacob Peterson scored on a one-timer getting his first career goal in the AHL.

It wouldn’t take long though for Charlotte to respond as a little over a minute later Ryan McAllister scored his fourth goal of the season tying the game right back up.

Then the offense flooded in for the Checkers as they’d score another two goals one from former Shark Jonah Gadjovich on the power play and a second one from Carlsson.

Late in the second San Jose got a goal to draw them back to within one as Ethan Cardwell scored a greasy goal in front of the net.

The period ended 4-3 with the shots now tied at 27 apiece.

San Jose would put Charlotte’s first period penalty parade to shame by taking five penalties in the third. One of those penalties got Brandon Coe ejected for boarding.

Funnily enough though the one goal Charlotte scored did not come on the power play as Gadjovich got his second of the night during even strength play.

San Jose would pull their goalie but were not able to tie the game as they fell 5-3 with their record dropping to 2-5-3 which puts them last in the Pacific division.

The shots finished at 40-38 in favor of Charlotte with both teams not impressing on the power play as the Checkers went 1/6 while San Jose went 0/5.

The three stars of the game were 1st: Lucas Carlsson 2nd: Thomas Bordeleau 3rd: Justin Sourdif

The Barracuda will look to bounce back on Sunday against the Checkers at 3 p.m.