San Jose Barracuda forward Luke Grainger (#57) battles Bakersfield Condors center Daniel D’Amato (#19) for a faceoff during the team’s first preseason game at the Mechanics Bank Arena on Friday OCT 4, 2024. (Bakersfield Condors)

by Marko Ukalovic

James Hamblin scored two goals, including the game-winner as the Bakersfield Condors defeated the San Jose Barracuda 5-3 in the first preseason game of the season on Friday evening at Mechanics Bank Arena.

There was no scoring in the opening 20 minutes between the Pacific Division rivals. Each team had a power play opportunity, but neither were able to cash in. San Jose’s Joe Carrol went into the sin bin at 9:36 for slashing and Bakersfield’s James Stefan took a slashing penalty at the 13:20 mark.

Bakersfield outshot San Jose 8-6 in the first period. Gabriel Carriere made his first-ever start for the ‘Cuda as he was reassigned to the Barracuda last week during training camp. Collin Delia made his debut for the Condors.

San Jose struck early in the second period to break deadlock. Kaper Halttunen shot a hard shot off of the pads of Delia. Mitchell Russell cleaned up the big rebound with a wrist shot for his first goal of the preseason at the :46 mark.

Russell, trying to make the Barracuda opening night roster, was signed to an entry-level contract by the San Jose Sharks two years ago while Russell was playing in the OHL.

Bakersfield evened the score at the 7:52 mark. Daniel D’Amato sent a tape-to-tape pass over to James Hamblin and the veteran forward beat Carriere with a wrist shot for his first goal of the preseason. Phil Kemp received the secondary assist.

The Barracuda regained the lead with a 5-on-3 power play goal. With Matvey Petrov and Darren Brady in the penalty box, Filip Bystedt found Jake Furlong up top and Furlong blasted a shot past Delia for his first goal of the preseason at the 10:21 mark.

The Condors scored its second equalizer of the period with an even strength goal. Jayden Grubbe set up Cameron Wright in the slot and he buried a wrist shot past Carriere for his first goal of the preseason at the 14:16 mark.

Bakersfield gained its first lead of the game with 1:39 remaining in the middle frame on the power play. Seth Griffith was credited with his first goal of the preseason when he poked the puck underneath Carriere’s glove after a mad scramble in front of the net.

San Jose evened the score with a late answer in the period. TJ Lloyd picked up the a loose puck near the point after a collision. He skated in from the left wing and ripped a wrist shot past Delia for his first goal of the preseason at the 19:52 mark.

The Condors regained their lead with its second power play goal of the game early in the third period. Wright found Hamblin down low in the slot. Hamblin fired in a wrist shot past Carriere for his second goal of the game at the 4:48 mark.

Griffith completed the scoring with his second goal of the game, an empty netter with 28.6 seconds remaining in the contest to seal the deal for Bakersfield.

Delia made 25 saves on 28 shots to earn the win. Carriere made 21 saves on 25 shots in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished 1-for-4 on the power play. Bakersfield was 3-for-4.

Goalie Yaroslav Askarov was reassigned to the Barracuda as the Sharks trimmed their training camp roster to 33 players. The Barracuda now have four goalies in camp with Askarov, Georgi Romanov, Carriere, and veteran Aaron Dell.

UP NEXT: San Jose closed out the preseason against the Bakersfield Condors on Sunday 10/6 at 3:00pm at Tech CU Arena.