San Jose Barracuda forward Tristen Robins (#52) gives a friendly look to Tanner Kaspick (#41) at Dollar Loan Center as they beat the Henderson Silver Knights 2-1 on Friday DEC 22, 2023. (San Jose Barracuda)

by Marko Ukalovic

Magnus Chrona played one of his best games in an inspired performance.

Chrona played lights out with 30 saves and the San Jose Barracuda needed every single one of them as they held on for a 2-1 victory over the Henderson Silver Knights on Friday evening at Dollar Loan Center.

San Jose has won four out of its last five games as they improved to 2-2-2 against the Silver Knights this season. Henderson had its four-game winning streak snapped.

Tristen Robins made his ‘Cuda season debut. He played on a line with Danil Gushchin and Kyle Rau.

San Jose (9-12-4-0) drew first blood early in the first period with an even strength goal. Tanner Kaspick connected with Ethan Cardwell on the right slot and Cardwell literally flew in with a wrist shot past Silver Knights goalie Michael Bullion for his eighth goal of the season at the 5:46 mark.

Cardwell thought he had his second goal less than two minutes later when he cleaned up a rebound into the back of the net. However, the officials ruled that Kaspick interfered with Boullion on the play and wiped away the goal.

The Barracuda went up 2-0 on a power play influenced goal late in the opening frame. Cardwell centered a pass in front of the crease over to Scott Sabourin who tapped home the point-blank shot for his fifth goal of the season at the 15:58 mark. Sabourin has a three-game goal streak.

Shakir Makhamadullin received the secondary assist on Sabourin’s goal to extent his point streak to five-games.

Henderson (14-11-1-2) was held to just six shots in the first period. ‘Cuda goalie Magnus Chrona had an easy opening 20 minutes.

The second period featured no goals but a lot of scoring chances. The Silver Knights had consecutive short-handed chances thwarted by Chrona. First Jonas Rondbjerg was robbed on a two-on-one opportunity. Then moments later Chrona stoned Tyler Benson’s short-handed chance.

The key moment of the game came at the 15:28 mark of the middle frame. Mason Morelli was awarded a penalty shot when Nikolai Knyzhov held him on a breakaway attempt. However, Chrona stayed sharp as he denied Morelli’s five-hole attempt.

Sabourin and Gushchin each had a chance to increase San Jose’s lead but each of their shot attempts hit the post.

Henderson cut the lead in half with a power play goal at the 7:47 mark of the third period. Adam Cracknell’s shot on the net was saved by Chrona but Grigori Denisenko cleaned up the rebound for his 10th goal of the season.

Chrona (3-6-2) stopped 30 of the 31 shots he faced to earn back-to-back victories. Boullion (1-1-0) made 23 saves on 25 shots in his second start of the season.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished 0-for-5 on the power play. Henderson was 1-for-2.

San Jose improved to 3-10-1-1 against Henderson down in the desert.

The Stars of the Game: 1) Cardwell 2) Chrona 3) Denisenko.

UP NEXT: San Jose and Henderson conclude their two-game series on Saturday 12/23 at 7:00pm at Dollar Loan Center.