San Jose Barracuda center Andrew Poturalski (#22) celebrates his second goal against the Bakersfield Condors with teammate Justin Bailey (#90) during the Barracuda’s 4-2 win at Tech CU Arena on Friday JAN 10, 2024. (San Jose Barracuda)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE — Andrew Poturalski continued his stellar offensive season for Team Teal.

The San Jose Barracuda captain scored two goals during a three-goal second period as the ‘Cuda defeated the Bakersfield Condors 5-2 on Friday evening at Tech CU Arna.

San Jose has won two games in a row and three of its last four games as they went 2-1 during their three-game homestand. Bakersfield has lost two games in a row and three of its past five.

Bakersfield (13-13-3-1-30 points) drew first blood 36 seconds into the game as they pressured San Jose inside its own zone from the opening faceoff. Ronnie Attard found Phil Kemp along the right boards. The Condors defenseman beat ‘Cuda goalie Georgi Romanov a seeing eyed wrist shot up high over the glove for his fifth goal of the season.

San Jose (20-11-0-2-42 points) answered back with an even strength goal less than three minutes later. Tristen Robins centered a pass from behind Bakerfield’s net out to Justin Bailey who fanned partially on his shot. The puck deflected off of Connor Carrick’s stick out to Robins who buried a wrist shot past Condor’s goalie Collin Delia for his fifth goal of the season at the 3:25 mark. Poturalski picked up the secondary assist on the play.

San Jose’s number one-line struck again as Poturalski gave the Barracuda its first lead of the game with his first goal of the contest early in the second period. Thomas Bordeleau made a cross ice to pass over to Bailey inside the Condor’s zone. Bailey made a touch pass over to Poturalski and the veteran forward tapped home the puck into an empty net for his 14th goal of the season at the 2:17 mark. It was the first time San Jose had a lead against Bakersfield this season.

Then Poturalski took advantage of a fortunate bounce while the Barracuda were on the power play with the team’s third unanswered goal. A backhanded clearing attempt by the Condors pinballed off of three players into the middle of the ice where Poturalski was all alone and beat Delia top shelf with a wrist shot for his second of the game and team leading 15th goal of the season at the 6:07 mark.

Poturalski also scored his team leading seventh power play goal as he was involved in the ‘Cuda’s first three goals.

San Jose scored its third goal of the middle frame with under six minutes remaining. Jake Furlong intercepted a pass from the point inside his own zone. Furlong fluttered a home run pass up the ice that sprung Donovan Houle on a breakaway. Houle skated in and beat Delia with a wrist shot top shelf to the right corner of the net for his eighth goal of the season at the 14:36 mark.

Houle has scored in back-to-back games and have three goals in his last four games.

Bakersfield cut San Jose’s lead in half with a four-on-four goal late in the period. Cam Dineen skated around the ‘Cuda defense before he centered a pass from behind the net over to Noah Philp who beat Romanov with a one-timer for his ninth goal of the season at the 18:09 mark.

The third period featured an abundance of physicality and chippy-ness with extra-curricular activities that occurred after the whistle between both teams. Jacob Perreault was given a five-minute major for spearing with an automatic ejection from the game from the game at the 14:42 mark.

Houle completed the scoring with his second goal of the goal, a power play goal, when he scored an empty netter when the Condors pulled Delia for an extra attacker at the 15:43 mark. Robins and Ethan Cardwell picked up helpers on the play. It was Cardwell’s 19th assist on the season.

Romanov (9-5-1) stopped 23 of the 25 shots he faced to earn his ninth win of the season and has won a season best three games in a row. Delia (3-6-2) made 40 saves on 44 shots in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished 2-for-3 on the power play. Bakersfield went 0-for-2.

The Three Stars of the Game: 1) Poturalski (2G, A) 2) Houle (2G, 0A) 3) Bailey (0G, 2A).

Poturalski and goalie Yaroslav Askarov were selected to the 2025 AHL All-Star game which will be held on Monday February 3rd at Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert, Calif. It will be Poturalski’s third all-star game and Askarov’s first.

Bailey played in his 400th AHL game of his career.

San Jose is 1-2 against Bakersfield in the season series.

UP NEXT: San Jose and Bakersfield conclude their home-and-home series on Saturday 1/11 at 7:00pm at Mechanics Bank Arena.