Category: AHL

Barracuda upend Condors 3-2 in OT in preseason opener

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San Jose Barracuda forward Adam Raska looks on with his teammates during the game against the Bakersfield Condors at Mechanics Bank Arena on Friday OCT 6, 2023. (San Jose Barracuda)

by Marko Ukalovic

BAKERSFIELD, CA – The San Jose Barracuda battled it out on Friday night at the Mechanics Bank Arena, as they defeated the Bakersfield Condors 3-2 in overtime.  

The first period saw the Barracuda pick up the first goal of the game with Brandon Coe tipping in a Shakir Mukhamadullin shot at the 2:57 mark. When both teams were 4-on-4, Adam Raška showed a display of individual effort to pick up an unassisted goal 12:56 into the period. San Jose finished the period leading 2-0. 

In the second period, Xavier Bourgault put the Condors on the board at 10:12 of the middle frame. Following the Bakersfield goal, San Jose completed a planned goalie swap with Georgi Romanov taking over for Magnus Chrona in net. 

At the 16:11 of the third period, Bourgault picked up his second of the night to tie the game and neither team would be able to find the regulation winner. 

With 1:15 remaining in overtime, 2022-23 Sharks prospect of the year Ethan Cardwell scored the game winner for his unofficial first goal in the American Hockey League 

Tyler Parks (BAK) finished the night with 23 saves on 26 Barracuda shots while Chrona went 22/23 and Romanov stopped 15 of the 16 shots he faced. 

The Barracuda ended the night 0-for-4 on the power play. The Condors went 1-for-5 on the man advantage. 

San Jose Barracuda podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Barracuda to face Bakersfield Friday for pre season and Saturday for opener

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Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jake Allen (34) blocks a shot by San Jose Sharks left wing William Eklund (72) during the third period at SAP Center on Thu Oct 28, 2023. Eklund is back from his time playing in Sweden during the summer. Eklund has been suited up for all the Sharks pre season games and a big help for the San Jose Barracuda last season. (AP file photo)

On the SJ Barracuda podcast with Marko:

#1 The San Jose Barracuda will play 72 games for the 2023-24 season and will play 36 of those at home. How much of a home ice advantage do you see the Barracuda having this season?

#2 Marko some of the Barracuda participated in some of the San Jose Sharks pre season action. For the Sharks Henry Thrun got to skate with the big club he scored two goals in his first 20 minutes during the Sharks first pre season game on Sun Sep 24 vs. the Vegas Golden Knights.

#3 Nathan Todd who was with the Springfield Thunderbirds (Florida Panthers parent club) last season. Todd has played eight games for the Sharks last season, will most likely play most of this season with the Barracuda.

#4 Daniel Gushchin had a great 2022-23 season with 22 goals for San Jose. Gushchin as assisted Thrun on his second goal against the Knights. Gushchin had a remarkable rookie year with 22 goals last season.

#5 Last week Tuesday the Sharks William Eklund has 19:26 leading all forwards in ice time, Eklund and Marc-Edouard Vlasic scored in the loss to the Anaheim Ducks in San Jose’s second exhibition game. Shakir Mukhamadullin got an assist on Eklund’s second goal.

Join Marko for all the latest on SJ Barracuda hockey the AHL affiliate of the San Jose Sharks at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Jose Barracuda podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Barracuda finish regular season in Tucson

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The Colorado Eagles defenceman Mitchell Vande Sompel (14) battles with San Jose Barracuda forward Luke Johnson (76) had himself a game on Sat Apr 8, 2023 against the San Jose Barracuda scoring twice and picking up two more points in the third period (San Jose Barracuda photo)

On SJ Barracuda podcast with Marko:

#1 Marko, how easy was it for the Colorado Eagles (38-22-7-3) in their 4-0 win over the San Jose Barracuda (29-34-2-5) the Eagles scored the first goal on a Mitchell Vande Sompel (5) that approach was not met with not much resistance and put the Eagles on the scoreboard 1-0 Saturday.

#2 Vande Sompel scored his second goal of the game on a back hand move in the second period going up 2-0 and the Barrcuda could feel the pressure going into the third period.

#3 The Eagles had the lead but the Barracuda were outshooting the Eagles 19-6 with two power plays after two periods.

#4 Vande Sompel finished with two points for the second consecutive game. The Barracuda failed to score and end the shutout but allowed two empty net goals.

#5 The Barracuda close out the regular season in Tempe against the Tucson Roadrunners this Friday and Saturday for a two game set both 7:00pm face offs.

Join Marko Ukalovic for the Barracuda podcasts Mondays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Barracuda’s last home game of the season ends in shutout loss against Colorado 4-0

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Photo taken by Titus Wilkinson. Kyle Criscuolo fights off a player on Colorado.

By Titus Wilkinson (@TitusWisme)

SAN JOSE- The final home game for the San Jose Barracuda did not go to plan against Colorado Eagles ending in a shutout as the Eagles swooped in with a 4-0 victory.

Aaron Dell got his second start in a row against Colorado while Justus Annunen started for the Eagles.

The first period saw the Eagles control most of the play with two penalties being called one against each team.

Colorado’s pressure did get rewarded as Mitchell Vande Sompel scored his fourth goal of the season making it a 1-0 game.

A little after the goal some punches were thrown as Will Riedell and Alex Beaucage dropped the gloves.

At the end of the first the shots favored Colorado at 14-6.

In the second period early on San Jose was given a power play opportunity as Alex Galchenyuk was called for delay of game. However the power play unit could not get setup and came up empty handed once again.

Less than five minutes after the power play a familiar face got another goal as Sompel scored his second of the game making it 2-0.

Throughout the period the Barracuda got multiple high quality chances but could just not convert as they left the middle frame empty handed.

At the end of the second the shots favored San Jose 25-20.

Heading into the third San Jose needed a big goal to get back into the game. Unfortunately for the Barracuda though Colorado locked it down in the final period.

With the grey and teal still pushing they pulled Dell to get back into it but Charles Hudon scored on the empty net making it 3-0.

San Jose pulled Dell one more time and Colorado got another goal this time Sampo Ranta finished getting his 11th of the season.

With the buzzer going off not only did the Eagles win but Annunen got a 33 save shutout his first of the season.

The three stars of the game were: 1st: Justus Annunen 2nd: Mitchell Vande Sompel 3rd: Sam Malinski

“It’s unfortunate I don’t think it was a four nothing game the way we played we still played pretty well but you know that happens,” Andrew Agozzino said after the game.

San Jose heads into their final two games of the season just three points out of a playoff spot. In order to make it they’ll have to beat the Tucson Roadrunners twice in regulation.

So these final two games of the season for the Barracuda will be do or die.

The first game between the two teams will be on April 14th in Tucson at 7 p.m.

Overtime thriller ends in disappointment for Barracuda against the Eagles 4-3

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Photo courtesy of San Jose Barracuda. Anthony Vincent fights off a forechecker from Colorado.

SAN JOSE- The Barracuda played a very important game for there playoff hopes on home ice and came up just short losing in overtime 4-3.

For San Jose Aaron Dell got the start while Keith Kinkaid made the start for Colorado.

Goal scoring in this game did not take long to get going as just 1:15 into the game Wyatt Aamodt scored breaking the ice early.

At the 8:32 mark Spencer Smallman was called for high sticking and San Jose took advantage as Derrick Pouliot scored tying the game back up at one.

Colorado did respond before the period ended as Mitchell Vande Sompel scored giving them the lead right back.

At the end of the first the shots favored Colorado at 14-11.

In the second period on a misplay by Kinkiad with the puck behind the net Nathan Burke capitalized as he took the puck and slammed it into open net. It was his third goal of the season with Will Riedell and Anthony Vincent getting the assists.

Continuing their momentum Shakir Mukhamadullin scored the first goal of his AHL career by ripping one from the top of the left circle.

The second period saw the shots still favoring Colorado at 26-18.

Looking to tie the game the Eagles came out swinging and connected tying the game at three with Sam Malinski.

That goal ended up being the only one of the period meaning overtime was next.

Overtime did not take long to finish as under a minute in Mikhail Maltsev scored giving Colorado the victory 4-3.

The three stars of the game were: 1st: Mikhail Maltsev 2nd: Shakir Mukhamadullin 3rd: Mitchell Vande Sompel

For the Barracuda they’ll get right back to it tomorrow at home against the Eagles this time at 6 p.m. which will be their final home game of the season.

San Jose Barracuda podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Cuda battle one of AHL’s toughest Firebirds tonight in Coachella

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The San Jose Barracuda’s Will Riedell (90) reaches in the net with his stick against the Texas Stars at H-E-B Center at Cedar Park on Sat Apr 1, 2023 (AP News photo)

On San Jose Barracuda podcast:

#1 The Texas Stars (36-18-9) scored four special team goals in the first period as they cruised to a 7-2 route of the San Jose Barracuda on Saturday evening at H-E-B Center at Cedar Park.

#2 San Jose’s playoff hopes suffered a big blow as they sit six points behind the Tucson Roadrunners for the seventh and final playoff spot in the Pacific Division with just six games left in the regular season.

#3 San Jose (28-33-1-4-61 points) scored a power play goal of their own late in the opening frame. Martin Kaut set up Tristen Robins who beat Stars goalie Remi Poirier top shelf with a wrist shot for his 17th goal of the season at the 16:29 mark. Robins has scored in a back-to-back games for the ‘Cuda.

#4 Adam Raska closed out the scoring in the third period with his fourth goal of the season at the 8:41 mark. Will Riedell and Anthony Vincent, who picked up his first point in a ‘Cuda uniform, recorded assists on Raska’s goal.

#5 San Jose continues their four-game road trip when they take on the Coachella Valley Firebirds (45-14-4) on Monday 4/3 at 7:00pm at Acrisure Arena.

Join Marko Ukalovic for San Jose Barracuda podcasts Mondays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Jose Barracuda podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Barracuda drop third game out of last four to Condors

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The San Jose Barracuda forward Ozzie Wiesblatt (89) and forward Jeff Viel (63) with the Bakersfield Condors forward Yanni Kaldis (8) are on the chase at Tech CU in San Jose on Sun Mar 26, 2023 (photo by San Jose Barracuda)

On the SJ Barracuda podcast with Marko:

#1 The game did start slow between the San Jose Barracuda (27-33-1-4) but the visiting Bakersfield Condors (31-28-1-1) got things going and when it was over the Condors got a three goal win over the Barracuda 4-1.

#2 The first period the Barracuda scored a back handed goal Thomas Bordeleau (22) on a pass from Jeffery Viel at 16:41 for a 1-0 lead. The Condors came back with a goal from Greg McGregg (6) to tie up the game 1-1.

#3 The Condors nor Cuda scored in the second period. In the third period the Condors scored on a Dylan Holloway (2) on power play goal to go up 2-1. The Condors picked up two more goals from McGregg (7) and Justin Bailey (18) for a 4-1 final.

#4 San Jose goaltender Aaron Dell faced 22 shots, saved 18 and allowed four was this a game where Dell just couldn’t stop Bakersfield’s shots or was it a matter of not getting help from his defensemen up front?

#5 The Barracuda will play a crucial four game trip that opens up on Fri 31st in Texas against the Texas Stars a 5pm PST start.

Join Marko for the SJ Barracuda podcasts each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Tight checking game favors Condors as Barracuda lose 4-1

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Photo courtesy of San Jose Barracuda. Shakir Mukhamadullin fights off a Condors player.

By Titus Wilkinson (@TitusWisme)

SAN JOSE- On the second of home back-to-backs against the Condors the Barracuda could not get much going and lost by a final of 4-1.

In the goal once again Aaron Dell got the start with a (13-14-2-2) record and 3.15 GAA and a SV% of .899

This time for the Condors Olivier Rodrigue got the nod having a (11-13-1-0) record a GAA of 2.99 and SV% .905

The first similar to yesterdays game got off to a sloppy start for San Jose with turnover after turnover occurring in their own end.

Despite that though on a great drop pass from Jeffrey Viel the recipient Thomas Bordeleau took the puck and went top shelf on the backhand making it 1-0.

Late in the first Luke Esposito found a streaking Greg McKegg backdoor who tipped home his pass one handed and tied the game up at one.

At the end of the second the shots favored Bakersfield 12-6.

The second period ended up being a pretty quiet period with neither team getting a ton of chances.

Both teams had power plays in the period but nobody could score on their special team chances.

In total in the second period there was nine shots with the Condors still leading at the end of the period 16-11.

Heading into the final period of play things once again got off to a slow start but picked when an early 4-on-4 occurred.

On the 4-on-4 the Condors hit the post then hit it once again this time Dylan Holloway was the culprit.

After the 4-on-4 was over though Bakersfield capitalized on the opportunity as Holloway off a fortunate bounce scored his second goal of the season.

Late in the game San Jose pulled Dell twice but the Condors scored on both empty net opportunities with Greg McKegg and Justin Bailey getting the goal.

The shots at the end of the game favored Bakersfield at 22-20.

The three stars of the game were: 1st: Dylan Holloway 2nd: Thomas Bordeleau 3rd: Greg McKegg

“I didn’t think we had that extra gear to take the game over and I think it was probably a pretty winnable game,” head coach John McCarthy said after the game.

San Jose’s next game will be against the Stars on the road on Friday at 5 p.m.

Barracuda get convincing home win over Condors 5-1

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Photo courtesy of San Jose Barracuda. Nathan Burke battles with a Condors player for positioning.

By Titus Wilkinson (@TitusWisme)

SAN JOSE- The Barracuda kicked off a home-and-home against the Condors and won with a strong third period effort by a final of 5-1.

San Jose after the win now has a 27-31-1 record and sits just three points outside of a playoff spot behind the Roadrunners.

In between the pipes for San Jose was Aaron Dell sporting a (12-14-2-2) record with a GAA of 3.22 and SV% of 0.898.

While on the other side Calvin Pickard got the start with a (19-9-2-2) record and a GAA of 2.73 and SV% of 0.912.

San Jose struck first in this one with Tristen Robins scoring his 15th goal of the season and getting two goals in as many games. Patrick Sieloff and Nathan Burke were credited with the assists on the goal.

In the second period Nathan Burke on a one-timer in the slot scored the first goal of his AHL career making it 2-0. Both Adam Raska and Tristen Robins got the assists.

Despite the early goal in the period from San Jose the Condors dominated the rest of the period controlling most of the possession and leading in zone time.

All the pressure finally lead to a goal as also on a one-timer Noah Philp scored his 16th goal of the season making it 2-1. Raphael Lavoie and Jason Demers got assists on the play.

In the third though San Jose turned it around as Burke got a breakaway and scored high glove on Pickard getting his second goal of the night. Adam Raska got the lone assist on the goal as he pushed the puck forward while falling to a streaking Burke.

A little after the goal Raska delivered a big hit resulting in him dropping the gloves with Philp and getting the crowd on their feet.

On a holding penalty against Bakersfield Thomas Boredleau one-timed home a pass from Derrick Pouliot scoring his 21st goal of the season. Kyle Criscuolo was also credited with an assist on the goal.

Putting the nail in the coffin Brandon Coe scored on a quick shot in the slot getting his fifth goal of the season. Tristen Robins and Ozzy Wiesblatt assisted on the goal.

The shots finished in favor of San Jose at 31-20.

The three stars of the game were: 1st: Nathan Burke 2nd: Tristen Robins 3rd: Adam Raska

“Robo (Robins) and Rasky (Raska) all night they were just working and the puck happened to find me but I mean credit to those guys,” Burke said after the game commenting on his first goal.

San Jose’s next game will be tomorrow against the Condors once again at home this time at 3 p.m.

San Jose Barracuda podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Barracuda come off win going into Colorado Tuesday

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The San Jose Barracuda and Dallas Stars battled to a one goal Barracuda win in overtime at Tech CU Arena in San Jose on Sat Mar 18, 2023 (photo by the San Jose Barracuda)

On the San Jose Barracuda podcast with Marko Ukalovic:

#1 In what was a fun game for the fans at Tech CU Arena the Barracuda took on the Stars once again and beat them this time by a final of 5-4 in overtime.

#2 Scoring in this game did not take long to get to as on a turnover on a breakout San Jose pounced on a loose puck and Brandon Coe finished beautifully making it 1-0. On the goal Kyle Criscuolo was awarded an assist which was the 200th point of his AHL career.

#3 The play started with Texas trying to get out of their zone and the puck being kept in by San Jose. On the keep in left wing Jacob Peterson picked up the puck and dished it to Patrick Sieloff in the slot who sniped it home sending Tech CU Arena into chaos.

#4 San Jose’s next game will be on the road against the Colorado Eagles on Tuesday at 6:05 p.m.

#5 Marko, before we let you go the talk and chatter ran hot and heavy even after the San Jose Sharks loss to the New York Islanders on Saturday when Sharks goaltender James Reimer who did not play in Saturday’s game said that he would not skate with a pride sweater on during pre game warm ups. Reimer is the second noted NHL player refusing to wear the pride jersey the first being the Philadelphia Flyers Ivan Provorov who also refused to wear the pride sweater during pre game warm ups back on Jan 18th. That said how will Reimer’s refusal to wear the pride sweater go over as his contract runs out this year in his seeking work in the NHL?

Join Marko for the Barracuda podcasts each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com