San Jose Barracuda forward Nathan Todd skates with the puck past Bakersfield Condors forward Ben Gleason during the Barracuda’s 4-2 win over the Condors at Tech CU Arena on Saturday FEB 10, 2024. (San Jose Barracuda)

by Marko Ukalovic

Nathan Todd made it rain hats on the ice during ‘Cuda Country Night where a trucker’s hat was the giveaway for the fans in attendance.

Todd scored his first career hat trick which included the game winning goal and the ice sealer as the San Jose Barracuda shot down the Bakersfield Condors 4-2 on Saturday evening at Tech CU Arena.

San Jose split the home and home weekend series with its Pacific Division rival. Bakersfield has its three-game winning streak snapped.

Todd’s second goal of his hat trick, which also was the Cuda’s first team hat trick of the season, was the eventual game winning goal with 3:34 remaining in the third period. Brandon Coe centered the puck out in front of the crease from behind the net and Todd tucked home the puck inside the near post for his 12th goal of the season sending hats everywhere on from the announced crowd of 3,986.

San Jose (15-22-8-0) drew first blood past the halfway mark of the first period. Ethan Cardwell set up Jacob Peterson who beat Condors’ goalie Jack Campbell with a backhander through the five-hole for his sixth goal of the season at the 11:43 mark.

Thomas Bordeleau who returned to the lineup after dealing with an illness, recorded the secondary assist on Peterson’s goal.

The Barracuda doubled its lead at the halfway mark of the second period with Todd’s first goal of the contest. Scott Sabourin wrestled the puck away from a Condors defender. Cole Cassles centered the puck over to Todd who buried a one-timer past Campbell for his 11th goal of the season at the 10:03 mark.

Bakersfield (22-14-2-2) cut the lead in half late in the middle frame. Seth Griffith glided down the right wing from the red line and snapped home a wrist shot past the blocker side of ‘Cuda goalie Georgi Romanov for his 10th goal of the season with 21.8 remaining.

The Condor scored the equalizer a minute into the third period. A turnover in the neutral zone led to a break for Ty Tullio who skated down the right wing and beat Romanov with a wrist shot for his fourth goal of the season at the 1:15 mark.

Todd completed the hat trick with 1:17 left in the game for his 13th goal of the season to seal the deal for the ‘Cuda.

Romanov (5-6-4-0), who made back-to-back starts for the first time this season, finished the game stopping 31 of the 33 shots he faced to earn his fifth win of the season. Campbell (10-8-0-1) made 33 saves on 36 saves in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished 0-for-4 on the power play. Bakersfield went 0-for-3.

The Three Stars of the Game: 1) Todd 2) Peterson 3) Romanov.

UP NEXT: San Jose takes on the San Diego Gulls on Wednesday 2/14 at 7:00pm at Pechanga Arena of San Diego.