Iowa Wild winger Liam Ohgren fires a shot on net for his first goal of the season as San Jose Barracuda center Filip Bystedt attempts to defend the shot at Wells Fargo Center on Sunday NOV 3, 2024. (Iowa Wild)

by Marko Ukalovic

The Iowa Wild enacted revenge two weeks later on the San Jose Barracuda as they defeated the visiting team 5-2 to sweep the weekend series on Sunday afternoon at Wells Fargo Center.

San Jose were swept for the first time this season, while Iowa swept a series for the first time this season.

Iowa (2-6-1) drew first blood with a 5-on-3 power play goal late in the first period. Devin Shore found Travis Boyd behind the net to the right of the goal. Boyd centered a pass out to the slot where Liam Ohgren beat Cuda goalie Georgi Romanov with one-timer top-shelf to the far side for his first goal of the season.

The Wild doubled its lead with under two minutes left in the opening frame. After a faceoff win inside the ‘Cuda zone, Ryan O’Rourke found David Spacek at the left point and Spacek blasted a one-timer past Romanov for his first goal of the season.

San Jose (6-2) could not stay out of the penalty box in the second half of the opening 20 minutes as they weren’t able to generate much offense as they only had seven shots on goal. Wild goalie Dylan Ferguson was able to keep the ‘Cuda out of the net.

Iowa scored their third unanswered goal early in the second period. Boyd received the puck in the slot from O’Rourke. Boyd’s shot pass was redirected past Romanov by Michael Milne for his fourth goal of the season at the 5:13 mark. Milne has scored in back-to-back games against the ‘Cuda.

The Barracuda got on the scoreboard late in the middle frame with a power play strength goal. Luca Cagnoni set up Andrew Poturalski at the left slot. Poturalski skated inside the left faceoff circle before beating Ferguson for his first goal of the game and fourth of the season with 47 seconds remaining.

Poturalski made it a one-goal game near the halfway mark of the third period. The Barracuda had pressure inside the Wild zone. Brandon Coe centered a pass from the left board over to Poturalski in the slot. The veteran forward skated in, got Ferguson to go down before depositing the puck into the back of the net for his team leading fifth goal of the season at the 8:32 mark.

Iowa gained an insurance goal late in the final frame. A turnover in the neutral zone by the Barracuda was picked up by Hunter Haight at the red line. Haight skated in and used a ‘Cuda defender as a screen before wiring a wrist shot top shelf to the short side for his fourth goal of the season at the 13:18 mark.

The Wild put the game away thanks to the Barracuda failing to clear the puck of its zone. Ben Jones picked up the puck behind the net and centered the puck back in the slot. Devin Shore buried a wrist shot past Romanov for his first goal at the 15:50 mark.

Ferguson (1-0), who made his first start of the season, earned his first win as he stopped 22 of the 24 shots from San Jose. Romanov (1-2) made 31 saves on 36 saves in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished 1-for-6 on the power play. Iowa went 1-for-5.

The Three Stars of the Game: 1) Boyd 2) Milne 3) Haight.

UP NEXT: San Jose returns home to host the Colorado Eagles for a two-games series starting on Saturday 11/9 at 6:00pm at Tech CU Arena.