Bakersfield Condors forward Drake Caggiula (#9) attempts a shot on goal against San Jose Barracuda goalie Magnus Chrona (#30) during the Barracuda’s 7-3 win at Mechanics Bank Arena on Saturday FEB 17, 2024. (Bakersfield Condors)

by Marko Ukalovic

The San Jose Barracuda power play was a Saturday night special.

San Jose scored four power play goals, the most they have scored in a game this season, during a 7-3 route of the Bakersfield Condors on Saturday evening at Mechanics Bank Arena.

San Jose has won three of its past four games after dropping its first two after the All-Star break by scoring the most goals in a road game this season. Bakersfield has lost three out of its last four games.

It was a weird special team’s game,” said Condor’s head coach Colin Chaulk. “We felt like we had a good start but then we got into some penalty trouble, and they converted right away. And from there we were chasing the game.”

San Jose (17-23-8-0) drew first blood with its first power play goal, at the halfway mark of the first period. Thomas Bordeleau centered a pass over to Cole Cassels who buried a one-time past Condors goalie Olivier Rodrigue for his seventh goal of the season at the 10:29 mark. Newly appointed ‘Cuda captain Radim Simek picked up the secondary assist to snap an eight-game pointless streak.

The Barracuda doubled its lead with its second power play goal 69 seconds later. With Raphael Lavoie in the sinbin for roughing, Cassels funneled a pass over to a wide-open Nathan Todd, who slammed home a one-timer for his team leading 15th goal of the season.

Bakersfield (23-16-2-2) cut the deficit in half with a power play goal of their own. Former ‘Cuda forward Lane Pederson split through two Barracuda defenders before centering a pass over to Drake Caggiula who tapped home the puck past ‘Cuda goalie Magnus Chrona for his ninth goal of the season at the 17:23 mark.

It only took 20 seconds for San Jose to regain its two-goal lead on its next shift. Greg McKegg giftwrapped the puck over to Scott Sabourin in the neutral zone. Sabourin beat Rodrigue to the short side with a wrist shot on the breakaway for his 11th goal of the season.

San Jose made Bakersfield pay when Markus Niemelainen went to the penalty box for a four-minute high sticking penalty in the second period with two more power play goals. Ethan Cardwell made it 4-1 with his co-team leading 15th goal of the season at the 8:40 mark after getting in all alone on the Condors defense and beat Rodrigue with a quick wrist shot.

Then just under two minutes later Kyle Rau scored his fifth goal of the season at the at the 10:37 mark when he cleaned up the rebound off of a Jacob Peterson shot where the puck was lying in the crease behind Rodrigue. That ended the night for Rodrigue (11-5-4-0) who was replaced by Jack Campbell after giving up five goals on 19 shots.

Caggiula registered his second goal of the game just 17 seconds later after tapping home a centering pass from Ty Tullio. Pederson picked up his second assist on the goal.

San Jose kept pouring it on third period with two even strength goals. Peterson tipped home a centering pass from Rau for his sixth goal of the season at the 7:42 mark.

Anthony Vincent, who was in the lineup for the first time since last October as he replaced the injured Brandon Coe, finished off the scoring for the ‘Cuda with his first career AHL goal when he redirected a shot from the point by Ethan Frisch at the 12:41 mark.

Dino Kambeitz concluded the scoring with his third goal of the season at the 13:19 mark when his shot from a tough angle trickled through the five-hole of Chrona.

Chrona (5-11-4-0) finished the game stopping 34 of the 37 shots he faced to snap a five-game losing streak and earn his fifth victory of the season. Campbell made seven saves on nine shots in mop up duty.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished the game 4-for-5 on the power play. Bakersfield went 1-for-7.

The Three Stars of the Game: 1) Cassels 2) Peterson 3) Rau.

San Jose finished the season series 4-3-1 against Bakersfield.

UP NEXT: San Jose return home to begin a three-game homestand when they host the Coachella Valley Firebirds on Wednesday 2/21 at 7:00pm at Tech CU Arena.