Photo credit: @sjbarracuda
By Marko Ukalovic
SAN JOSE — The San Diego Gulls (26-17-1-0) came from behind once again, scoring four unanswered goals in a convincing 4-1 win over the San Jose Barracuda (21-19-2-3) Sunday afternoon at the SAP Center. They swept the two-game series against San Jose and won their season best sixth win in a row.
It didn’t take the Barracuda long to get the bad taste of yesterday’s loss out of their mouth when defenseman Jacob Middleton scored his second goal on the season just 24 seconds into the game. Forward Adam Helewka’s shot hit off the pads of Gulls goalie Reto Berra (11-6-0) and Middleton crashed the net and was able to slam home the rebound past Berra.
“I’m used to being in front of the net in my own defensive zone,” said Middleton about scoring his goal. “It was an opportunity. I kinda just shoveled it toward the net and fortunately it went in.”
Antoine Bibeau (14-9-2) was busy earlier on having stopped two breakaway attempts by San Diego in the first three and a half minutes into the game, including one by Devin Sideroff.
San Jose had a golden opportunity to extend their lead when they had a 5-on-3 power play for 1:48 midway through the period when Sam Carrick and Mike Limabas went into the sin bin 12 seconds apart from each other. However, the Gulls penalty kill would keep the game at a one goal deficit.
The Gulls would answer back when Nic Kerdiles was able to tip in Andy Welinski’s shot from the point past Bibeau. The Gulls had sustained pressure inside the Cuda zone as Kerdiles was able to set up shop in front of Bibeau to deflect the puck in the back of the net for his ninth goal on the season at the 16:15 mark of the first period.
Kalle Kossila, who had his two-game goal streak snapped yesterday, gave the Gulls a 2-1 lead with 8.5 seconds left in the first period when he received the puck at center ice and was able to use his speed to skate around three Cuda defenders before putting a pretty backhander past Bibeau for his 13th goal of the season.
“The guy kinda goes through everybody and tucks it in,” said head coach Roy Sommer. “I think that was the biggest thing, the real back breaker.”
Dennis Rasmussen extended the Gulls lead to 3-1 on a nice give and go with Steven Olesky. Rasmussen skated into the Cuda zone, passed it over to Olesky on the right wing and Olesky gave it right back to Rasmussen who was able to fire a shot past Bibeau top self in the left corner of the goal for his fourth goal of the season and second consecutive game with a goal against San Jose at the 6:41 mark of the second period.
San Diego would keep pouring it on when a keep in at the blue line set up a tic-tack-toe goal by Eric Fehr. Fehr gathered the puck, passed it over to Kevin Roy who quickly sent it back to a wide open Fehr who slapped it into an open net for his team leading 15th goal on the season for a 4-1 lead at the 17:33 mark of the second period.
The Cuda were only playing with nine forwards throughout the game due to injuries and call up. Fatigue could have caught up to San Jose in trying maintain an offensive attack.
“As far as trying to keep any heat on, you know get a sustained pressure on the forecheck,” said Sommer about playing with a limited lineup. “I think that gets you a little bit.”
Berra stopped 33 of the 34 Cuda shots for the victory. Bibeau made 24 saves on 28 Gulls shots in the losing effort.
GAME NOTES: The power play blues continued for San Jose as they went 0/6 on the power play and 0/10 in the two game series. San Diego was 0/4.
“You gotta get pucks through and I didn’t think we were very good on our flanks. Never really got a lot of second chances on the PP,” said Sommer.
Emerson Clark thought he had a power play goal at 7:01, but the referee waved it off and video review confirmed no goal. Bibeau made a big save on Kerdiles six minutes into the second period. Fehr has seven points in five games against San Jose this season.
Forward Marcus Sorensen missed the game due to an upper body injury he sustained yesterday. He is currently listed as day-to-day.
The announced attendance was 3,863.
San Diego is currently in second place in the Pacific Division with 53 points. The Cuda sit in seventh place with 47 points just one ahead of last place Bakersfield.
UP NEXT: San Jose host the Pacific Division leading Tuscon Roadrunners on Valentine’s Day 2/14 to conclude the five-game home stand. Face off is scheduled for 7 pm PT.
