Colorado Eagles Collen Rosen celebrates his first period goal against the San Jose Barracuda during Game of the Pacific Division Playoffs at Tech CU Arena on Friday MAY 2, 2025. (San Jose Barracuda)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE — The Colorado Eagles scored three goals in the second period en route to a 6-3 victory over the San Jose Barracuda in Game 1 of the Pacific Division Semifinals on Friday evening at Tech CU arena.

The Eagles enjoyed a first round bye as the division winner in the Pacific Division as this was their first game of the Calder Cup Playoffs. San Jose came off a two-game sweep over the Ontario Reign in its first round series.

Colorado (1-0) drew first blood late in the first period. A turnover in the neutral zone led to a counterattack. Jayson Megna found Calle Rosen in the slot and Rosen fired a one-timer past Cuda goalie Yaroslav Askarov for his first goal of the playoffs at the 16:16 mark.

San Jose (0-1) dominated the majority of the play in the opening 20 minutes as they outshot Colorado by a two-to-one margin at 12-6, including a couple of short-handed chances that were stopped by Eagles goalie Trent Miner. However, they trailed as they headed into the first intermission.

The Eagles doubled its lead with its first power play goal of the game early in the second period. Jacob MacDonald’s shot from the slot was tipped in front of the crease by Chris Wagner for his first goal of the playoffs at the 3:02 mark.

Colorado scored its third unanswered goal with its second straight power play goal when Donovon Houle took a double-minor penalty for high sticking. Rosen’s shot from the point was cleaned up by Megna for his first goal of the playoffs at the 7:19 mark.

San Jose broke through on the scoreboard with a shorthanded goal just over a minute later. Filip Bystedt stripped the puck from inside his own blue line and raced down the ice on a breakaway. Bystedt beat Miner through the five-hole with a wrist shot for his second goal of the playoffs at the 8:25 mark.

The Eagles regained their three-goal lead on a delayed penalty on the Cuda late in the middle frame. Macdonald found John Ludvig along the right point. Ludvig skated in and wired a wrist shot through a sea of traffic for his first goal of the playoffs at the 17:55 mark.

The Barracuda cut the Eagles lead in half late in the third period. Collin Graf picked up a loose puck along with the right end boards that jumped out from behind the net. Graf sent a seeing-eyed wrist shot that tied up Miner and went into the back of the net for his second goal of the playoffs at the 13:16 mark. Lucas Carlsson was credited with the only assist on the play.

San Jose made it a one-goal game at the 17:41 mark with a 6-on-5 goal as they pulled Askarov for an extra attacker. Patrick Giles centered a pass over to Colin White who blasted a one-timer past Miner for his first goal of the playoffs.

Colorado iced the game with two empty net goals in the final two minutes of the game of the game. Megna scored his second goal of the contest at the 18:29 mark and Ty Felhaber scored his first goal of the playoffs with 29 second remaining.

Miner finished the game stopping 25 of the 28 shots he faced to earn his first win of the playoffs. Askarov made 18 saves on 22 shots as he suffered his first loss of the playoffs.

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

The Three Stars of the Game: 1) Megna (2G,1A) 2) Rosen (1G, 1A) 3) MacDonald (0G, 2A).

UP NEXT: Game 2 of the best of five series continues on Sunday May 4th at 6:00pm at Tech CU Arena.