San Jose Barracuda forward Kyle Rau (#91) battles for the puck against Coachella Valley Firebirds forward Cameron Hughes (#19) while goalie Chris Driedger (#60) looks on during the contest at Tech CU Arena on Wednesday FEB 21, 2024. (San Jose Barracuda)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE — There was no love lost between the two Pacific Division rivals.

The Coachella Valley Firebirds scored twice in the third period to break a 3-3 deadlock en route to a 5-4 victory over the San Jose Barracuda on Wednesday evening at Tech CU Arena.

This was the second time in six days that both teams played each other and the chippiness began during the pre-game warmups as words were exchanged and then to pushing and shoving once the game was underway.

San Jose has lost two out of its past three games with both losses coming against the Firebirds and still have not beat the Seattle Kraken AHL affiliate at home in franchise history (0-6-1). Coachella Valley has points in seven straight games.

Coachella Valley (30-13-4-2) drew first blood early in the first period with a power play goal. Connor Carrick set up Andrew Poturalski along the right wing. Poturalski faked a slapshot before depositing a wrist shot to the far side past ‘Cuda goalie Magnus Chrona for his 11th goal of the season at the 3:28 mark.

The Barracuda looked like they were trying to settle a score or two against the Firebirds, which was a residual effect from last week’s 4-0 loss down in the desert, instead of establishing a forecheck to begin the game. Artem Guryev and John Hayden had a spirited fight off of a faceoff near center ice at the 7:44 mark.

“I think it was a physical game (on) both sides,” said ‘Cuda head coach John McCarthy on the game’s extra physicality. “I don’t think it was necessarily something we were looking to bring to the game to that direction. These are huge points that we needed. Unfortunately, I thought we spent a little bit too much time in the penalty box and it bit us in the end.”

The Firebirds doubled their lead with an even strength goal just before the halfway mark of the opening frame. Ryan Winterton found Max McCormick down low in the crease and McCormick’s backhander beat Chrona to the short side for his team leading 24th goal of the season at the 8:04 mark.

San Jose (17-24-8-0) answered back 1:36 later on its second power play of the period. Jacob MacDonald’s shot from the point was cleaned up by Kyle Rau as he slid the puck past Firebirds goalie Chris Driedger near the right side of the crease for his sixth goal of the season at the 9:40 mark.

The Barracuda evened the game early in the second period with an even strength goal. Cole Cassels got the puck over to Nathan Todd in the right slot. Todd then slid a pass out to Scott Sabourin who buried a one-timer into the back of the net for his 12th goal of the season at the 2:21 mark.

San Jose gained its first lead with its second power play goal just over two minutes later. Cassels chipped the puck inside the Firebirds zone. Todd picked up the puck skated in from the right wing and snuck a wrist shot through the five-hole of Driedger for his team leading 16th goal of the season at the 4:41 mark.

The Firebirds scored the equalizer with its second power play goal of the game at the halfway mark of the middle frame. Poturalski sent a cross ice pass over to Logan Morrison along the right slot. Morrison skated in uncontested before beating Chrona to the short side with a wrist shot for his 11th goal of the season at the 9:05 mark.

Morrison regained the lead for the Firebirds early in the third period with his second goal of the game and Coachella Valley’s third power play goal of the game. Kole Lind found Morrison with a backdoor pass through the crease and Morrison tapped home the puck for his 12th goal of the season at the 1:54 mark. Sabourin started the period in the sinbin with a cross-checking penalty at the end of the second period.

“The timing of goals is just as important sometimes as the amount of goals (that are scored). After first look, I gotta look at it (the game) again, after first look, I was happy with our compete,” McCarthy said.

Devin Shore scored an empty net goal at the 18:30 mark for his fifth goal of the season.

San Jose got one back when Jack Studnicka redirected a shot by Ethan Cardwell past Driedger for his fourth goal of the season with 60 seconds remaining in the game.

Driedger (14-6-3-4) finished the game stopping 30 of the 34 shots he faced in to earn his 14th victory of the season. Chrona (5-12-4) made 25 saves on 29 shots in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished 2-for-7 on the power play. Coachella Valley was 3-for-5.

San Jose’s is 1-8-2-2 all time versus Coachella Valley.

Todd’s three-point game gave him six goals and four assists in his past five games.

Defenseman Jacob MacDonald made his debut the ‘Cuda after clearing waivers earlier in the day. The San Jose Sharks placed MacDonald on waivers back on February 20th.

The Three Stars of the Game: 1) Morrison 2) Todd 3) Poturalski.

UP NEXT: San Jose continues its three-game homestand with a weekend series against the Abbotsford Canucks on Friday 2/23 at 7:00pm at Tech CU Arena.