Henderson Silver Knights Brandon Hickey (#41) and Daniil Chayka (#5) celebrate one of the team’s three goals against the San Jose Barracuda at Dollar Loan Center on Saturday DEC 23, 2023. (Henderson Silver Knights)

by Marko Ukalovic

Gage Quinney scored the game winning goal late in the third period as the Henderson Silver Knights came back from a two-goal deficit to defeat the San Jose Barracuda 3-2 on Saturday evening at Dollar Loan Center.

Henderson have won five of its last six games as it split the weekend series with its Pacific Division rival. San Jose has lost two of its past three games. It was the third time this season the ‘Cuda had a multi-goal lead against the Silver Knights and still lost the game.

San Jose (9-13-4-0) drew first blood with an even strength goal just past the halfway mark of the first period. Ethan Cardwell picked up a loose puck off of a Artem Guryev shot. He skated back into the middle and wired a wrist shot past Silver Knights goalie Jordan Papirny for his team leading ninth goal of the season at the 11:04 mark.

It was the second consecutive game Cardwell scored the game’s first goal.

The Barracuda doubled its lead a minute and a half later. Danil Gushchin led a counterattack. Kyle Rau sent a rink wide pass over to Bradley Marek who beat Papirny with a one-timer for his fourth goal of the season at the 12:35 mark.

Henderson (15-11-1-2) cut the lead in half with 57 seconds remaining in the opening frame with an even strength goal. Sheldon Rempal won a battle behind the net and centered a pass back out to Mason Morelli. The veteran forward beat ‘Cuda goalie Georgi Romanov for his ninth goal of the season.

The Silver Knights scored the equalizer with an even strength goal at the 12:12 mark of the second period. Notorious ‘Cuda killer Adam Cracknell centered a pass out to Tyler Benson who directed the puck past Romanov for his fourth goal of the season.

Quinney’s heroics were set up by Rempal after the Silver Knights took advantage of a delayed hand pass by the ‘Cuda. Rempal found Quinney all alone between the faceoff circles and he beat Romanov with a wrist shot for his fourth goal of the season at the 16:29 mark of the final frame.

Papirny (2-4-1) finished the game stopping 15 of the 17 shots he faced to earn his second victory of the season to snap a four-game losing skid. Romanov (3-4-2) made 29 saves on 32 shots in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished 0-for-1 on the power play. Henderson went 0-for-7.

The Three Stars of the Game: 1) Quinney 2) Benson 3) Morelli.

UP NEXT: San Jose returns to action after the Christmas break to take on the Bakersfield Condors on Friday 12/29 at 7:00pm at Mechanics Bank Arena.