San Jose Barracuda forward Lucas Vanroboys (#67) and goalie Gabriel Carriere (#35) celebrate their team’s 4-2 victory over the Toronto Marlies on the ice after the final whistle at Tech CU Arena on Sunday JAN 26, 2025. (San Jose Barracuda)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE — The San Jose Barracuda learned a lesson from yesterday’s defeat. They held down the fort at the end of the game for a 4-2 victory over the Toronto Marlies on Sunday afternoon at Tech CU Arena.

San Jose split the weekend series and have won two of its past three games. Toronto had its four-game winning streak snapped with the series split.

The opening 20 minutes featured a scoreless period. San Jose (22-13-2-2-48 points) had three power play opportunities but weren’t able to cash in on them as the Marlies penalty kill led by goalie Artur Akhtyamov kept the Barracuda off the board.

Toronto (22-11-2-3-49 points) only registered nine shots on goal as they were busy killing penalties. A couple of giveaways inside San Jose’s zone on the same led to two quality chances by Toronto, but ‘Cuda goalie Gabriel Carriere held his ground and made stops on both opportunities.

San Jose drew first blood near the halfway point of the second period with an even strength goal. Lucas Vanroboys intercepted a clearing attempt out of the Marlies zone by Nicolas Mattinen. Vanroboys found Anthony Vincent in the slot and Vincent’s shot deflected off of a stick and floated over the shoulder of Akhtyamov for his sixth goal of the season at the 8:40 mark.

The Barracuda doubled its lead late in the middle frame. Ethan Cardwell led an odd man rush up the ice with newly acquired Pavol Regenda. Cardwell’s intended pass caromed off of Regenda and then off of Cardwell’s skate as the puck went underneath Akhtyamov into the back of the net. After video review it was determined a good goal, Cardwell’s fifth of the season at the 15:05 mark. Regenda was credited with the primary assist, his first point in a Cuda uniform.

Toronto cut San Jose’s lead in half two minutes into the third period. Robert Mastrosimone picked off the puck off of Shakir Mukhamudullin’s stick and raced down the ice. Mastrosimone blasted a slapshot past Carriere for his fifth goal, unassisted, of the season at the 2:11 mark.

San Jose regained its two-goal lead just over a minute later. Danil Gushchin’s breakaway attempt was stoned aside by Akhtyamov. Thomas Bordeleau intercepted a pass off a Marlie’s defender. Bordeleau quickly passed it back to Tristen Robins creating a two-on-one with Gushchin. Robins made the cross ice pass over to Gushchin who buried a one-timer past Akhtyamov for his eighth goal of the season at the 3:48 mark.

Once again, the Marlies made it a one-goal game with an even strength goal just under three minutes later. A shot from the point by Matt Benning was redirected by Joseph Blandisi for his eighth goal of the season at the 6:53 mark. Blandisi scored two goals in the weekend series against San Jose.

Collin Graf ended any chance of a second straight comeback for Toronto when he scored an empty net goal on a two-on-zeor with Robins for his seventh goal of the season with 36 seconds remaining in the contest.

Carriere (3-1-0) finished the game stopping 23 of the 25 shots he faced to earn his third win of the season. Akhtyamov made 23 saves on 26 shots in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished 0-for-5 on the power play. Toronto went 0-for-3.

The Three Stars of the Game: 1) Gushchin (1G,OA) 2) Poturalski (0G, 2A) 3) Cardwell (1G, 0A).

UP NEXT: San Jose continues its five-game homestand with a weekend series with the Henderson Silver Knights on Friday 1/31 at 7:30pm at Tech CU Arena.