Category: AHL

San Jose Sharks podcast with Mary Lisa: Reviewing this week’s trades and how it benefits Sharks

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Anthony Bitetto joins the San Jose Sharks in a deal that Nick Merkley to the New York Rangers. Sharks assistant general manager Joe Will said Bitetto will strengthen the Sharks blue line (photo from New York Rangers Twitter)

On the San Jose Sharks podcast with Mary Lisa:

#1 Mary Lisa let’s take a look at some of the moves that the San Jose Sharks made this week before the trade deadline they traded defenseman Jake Middleton to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen and a 2022 fifth-round draft pick. The Sharks are looking to strengthen their position in goal do you see Kahkonen getting many starts out of the gate.

#2 Forward Nick Merkley went to the New York Rangers in exchange for defenseman Anthony Bitteto. Merkley was a mainstay for the Sharks AHL club the Barracuda developed and came up to the Sharks for Merkley to get the Rangers attention and join them Merkley did some impressive work on the ice.

#3 The Sharks sent forward Andrew Cogliano to the Colorado Avalanche for a 2024 fifth round draft pick. San Jose also traded goaltender Alexei Melnichuk to the Tampa Bay Lightning for center Antoine Morand.

#4 There is no secret that the Sharks are excited about obtaining Kahkonen, “Kaapo is a quick, athletic goaltender who has shown the ability to win consistently at every level he has played,” San Jose assistant general manager Joe Will said. 

#5 Anthony Bitteto is a plus as he joins the Sharks, Sharks assistant general manager Joe Will said that Bitteto gives the Sharks physical, additional depth on San Jose’s blueline. Bitteto has played in 39 games with the Hartford Wolf Pack of the AHL with 15 points, four goals and 11 asissts.

Join Mary Lisa for the SJ Sharks podcasts each Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Heat edge Barracuda 3-1; San Jose looses two of last three games

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The San Jose Barracuda defenseman Artemi Knyazev (25) skates against the Stockton Heat at the SAP Center in San Jose on Tue Mar 22, 2022 (file photo from the San Jose Barracuda)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE— The Stockton Heat scored two unanswered goals in the third period to defeat the San Jose Barracuda 3-1 on Tuesday evening at SAP Center.

San Jose has lost two out of its past three games. Stockton leads the Pacific Division with 79 points as they have won two games in a row. This was a make-up game that was originally scheduled back on December 29th, 2021.

The Barracuda (20-30-2-2) drew first blood early in the first period when Brinson Pasichnuk scored his first goal of the season at the 1:32 mark. Kyle Topping received the only assist on Pasichnuk’s goal.

Stockton (37-11-4-1) answered back just past the midway point of the opening frame. Matthew Phillips scored an unassisted goal, his 25th of the season, at the 11:18 mark.

There was no scoring during the second period despite Stockton outshooting San Jose 19-11 in the middle frame. Both Dustin Wolf and Zachary Sawchenko kept the game tied heading into the second intermission.

The Heat scored what proved to be the game winning goal just past the halfway mark of the the third period. Justin Kirkland scored his 15th goal of the season, with help from Juuso Valimaki, at the 11:22 mark.

Stockton sealed the deal with an empty goal from Kevin Gravel, his third of the season, at the 18:37 mark when San Jose pulled Sawchenko for an extra attacker.

Wolf finished the evening stopping 25 of the 26 shots he faced to earn the victory. Sawchenko, played brilliant in his first start since being sent back down to the Barracuda, as had 40 saves on 42 shots in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished 0-for-4 on the power play. Stockton was 0-for-3.

The Three Stars of the Game were: 1) Sawchenko 2) Kirkland 3) Pasichnuk.

UP NEXT: San Jose continues its five game homestand hosting the Abbotsford Canucks on Thursday 3/24 at 7:00pm at Solar4America Ice at San Jose.

Sharks Trade Middleton, Cogliano, Merkley, Acquire Kahkonen, Bitteto, Picks

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The San Jose Sharks in a trade acquired goaltender Kappo Kahkonnen from the Minnesota Wild seen in photo file on Mon Mar 21, 2022 (file photo from Hockey Wilderness)

By Mary Walsh

SAN JOSE– On Monday, the trade deadline, the San Jose Sharks moved three players to playoff contenders. They traded defenseman Jake Middleton to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen and a 2022 fifth-round draft pick. Forward Nick Merkley went to the New York Rangers in exchange for defenseman Anthony Bitteto. The Sharks sent forward Andrew Cogliano to the Colorado Avalanche for a 2024 fifth round draft pick. San Jose also traded goaltender Alexei Melnichuk to the Tampa Bay Lightning for center Antoine Morand.

Jake Middleton has been with the Sharks organization since 2017, when he was signed as a free agent. He played in 59 games with the Sharks, scored nine points and had 82 penalty minutes.

Last season, Kaapo Kahkonen set a Wild rookie record, posting nine consecutive wins. He played 25 games with the Wild this season, posting a record of 12-8-3, a 2.87 GAA and a .910 save percentage. In his 54-game NHL career, his record is 31-17-4, a 2.89 GAA and a .907 save percentage. He will become a restricted free agent next season.

After the trade, Kahkonen talked about the trade and what he knows about the Sharks:

A good team. You know, the games I played against San Jose, I remember there’s a lot of good players there. I think it’s going to be, for sure we’re going to be a team that’s going to be able to compete in the near future and it’s going to be a great opportunity.

Kahkonen was asked whether he expected to be traded by the Wild. He said:

“I had no idea. I was actually on the ice, they pulled me out of there from the morning skate and just told me I had to leave the ice. At first I was kind of thinking that something happened to someone in my family or something but… so I was scared but then I heard I was getting traded.”

In a press release Monday, the Sharks said: “Kaapo is a quick, athletic goaltender who has shown the ability to win consistently at every level he has played,” San Jose assistant general manager Joe Will said. “He provides our club additional depth at the goaltending position this season and in the coming years.”

The Sharks acquired Nick Merkley last summer from the New Jersey Devils in exchange for defenseman Christian Jaros. Merkley played nine games with the Sharks and earned one goal and two assists.

Of Anthony Bitteto, a Sharks press release said:

“‘Anthony is a physical, veteran defenseman who gives us additional depth on our blueline,’ said Sharks Assistant General Manager Joe Will.

“This season, Bitetto has appeared in 39 games with the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League, posting 15 points (four goals, 11 assists) and 26 penalty minutes in 39 games. He ranks second among team defensemen in goals and third in both assists and points.

“Bitetto has appeared in 197 NHL games with Nashville, Minnesota, Winnipeg, and the Rangers, posting 31 points (three goals, 28 assists) and 142 penalty minutes.”

Bitteto will be a free agent this summer.

Andrew Cogliano played 56 games with the Sharks this season, scored four goals and earned eleven assists. He will be a free agent this summer. In a press release, the Sharks said:

“Andrew was an important leader and a respected veteran in our dressing room this season,” said Sharks Assistant General Manager Joe Will. “Our players will be better pros for having had Andrew as a teammate.”

Antoine Morand has yet to play in the NHL. In their press release, the Sharks said:

In 138 AHL games with San Diego and Syracuse, Morand has posted 44 points (15 goals, 29 assists).

The five-foot-eleven, 190-pound native of Chateauguay, Quebec was originally selected by Anaheim in the second round (60th overall) of the 2017 NHL Draft.

Melnichuk appeared in three games with the Sharks last season. In their press release, the Sharks said:

Melnichuk appeared in 31 games with the Barracuda this season, posting a 10-14-2 record with a 3.92 goals-against average and an .867 save percentage.

Tomas Hertl is staying put with an eight-year contract extension, as the Sharks announced last week. The Sharks also did not move goaltender James Reimer, or forward Alexander Barabanov. Both players made the trade rumor mill before the deadline. Barabanov will be a free agent this summer and Reimer has one more season under contract with the Sharks.

San Jose Barracuda podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Barracuda look to get revenge on Heat Tuesday night at SAP Center

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The San Jose Barracuda Sasha Cmelevski scored the Barracuda first goal of their game against the Tucson Roadrunners at Tucson Arena on Sat Mar 19, 2022 ( file photo from nhl.com)

On the Barracuda podcast with Marko:

#1 The SJ Barracuda are getting some offense from The San Jose Barracuda beat the Tucson Roadrunners 5-2 Saturday. Sasha Cmelevski, Lane Pedersen, Nick Cicek, Joachim Blichfeld and Nick Merkley who scored goals against the Arizona Roadrunners on Saturday night in the 5-2 win.

#2 The Barracuda goaltender Alexei Melnichuk made 32 saves for the win and allowed two goals.

#3 For the first Barracuda goal of the game, Sasha Chmelevski scored the opening goal for San Jose at 6:18 of the first period. He carried the puck into the zone and then cut across to the slot, evading defenders. As he passed through the slot he took the shot and beat Prosvetov on the glove side. 

#4 Lane Pedersen made it 2-0 at 14:45 with a shot from a bad angle along the boards that snuck by Prosvetov. An assist went to Jayden Halbgewachs.

#5 The Barracuda return back to SAP Center in San Jose on Tue Mar 22 to host the Stockton Heat the last time these two teams met the Heat beat the Barracuda by three goals 6-3 on Sat Mar 12th at Stockton Arena.

San Jose Barracuda podcasts with Marko are heard Sundays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Barracuda Beat Roadrunners 5-2; San Jose takes two out three from Roadrunners

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The San Jose Barracuda take the rubber game match against the Tucson Roadrunners at Tucson Arena on Sat Mar 19, 2022 to conclude the three game series (image by the San Jose Barracuda)

By Mary Walsh

TUCSON– The San Jose Barracuda beat the Tucson Roadrunners 5-2 Saturday. Sasha Cmelevski, Lane Pedersen, Nick Cicek, Joachim Blichfeld and Nick Merkley scored for San Jose. Alexei Melnichuk made 32 saves for the win. Cole Hults and Travis Barron scored for Tucson. Ivan Prosvetov made 28 saves in the loss.

Sasha Chmelevski scored the opening goal for San Jose at 6:18 of the first period. He carried the puck into the zone and then cut across to the slot, evading defenders. As he passed through the slot he took the shot and beat Prosvetov on the glove side. Assists went to Evan Weinger and Patrick Holway.

Lane Pedersen made it 2-0 at 14:45 with a shot from a bad angle along the boards that snuck by Prosvetov. An assist went to Jayden Halbgewachs.

The Roadrunners got on the board during a five-on-three power play at 10:17 of the second period. The Barracuda’s Ryan Merkley and Sasha Chmelevski were in the box. Cole Hults took the shot from above the circle on a pass from Jan Jenik who was down by the goal line. The puck went over Melnichuk’s shoulder and in. Assists went to Jenik and Michael Carcone.

Nick Cicek restored San Jose’s two-goal lead at 16:24 with a shot from above the circle. Assists went to Weinger and Adam Raska.

At 7:15 of the third, Travis Barron tipped Matt Foley’s shot from the point and made it 3-2. Assists went to Foley and Mitchell Lewandowski. Right before Barron’s goal, Prosvetov made three impressive saves at the other end, fending off a shooting frenzy from the Barracuda.

Joachim Blichfeld scored on the power play at 8:38. After scrambling to keep the puck in, he carried it down to the face-off dot and took a shot that went through some traffic and over Prosvetov’s shoulder. Jake McGrew got an assist.

Sasha Chmelevski won a race to the puck behind the net and made a quick pass to Nick Merkley who had just arrived in front of the net. Merkley wasted no time and whipped the puck into the net at 13:25.

The shots were very close through the game, with the final count being 34-33 Roadrunners. Artemi Kniazev led San Jose in shots with seven. The Barracuda had five power plays and scored on one. Their penalty kill allowed one goal in five penalties.

The Barracuda next play on Tuesday back in San Jose against the Stockton Heat at 7:00 PM PT.

Barracuda give it their best effort but can’t hang on lose to Tucson 4-3 in OT

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The San Jose Barracuda’s left winger Jayden Halbgewachs (89) and goaltender Zachary Edmond (35) prepare to defend the net against the Tucson Roadrunners offense at Tucson Arena on Fri Mar 18, 2022 (photo from the San Jose Barracuda)

By Len Shapiro

The San Jose Barracuda (19-30-2) gave it all they had but just couldn’t hold onto the lead at Tucson Arena. The Barracuda down two goals came back in the third period to knot it up 3-3 to force overtime. The Barracuda were outshot in the shootout and dropped their second of this three game series 4-3 to the Tucson Roadrunners (18-28-4).

The Barracuda did have one positive outcome from Friday night’s thriller they continue to put the puck in the net on the power play they did it twice to later tie the Roadrunners. In the first period San Jose got help from Joachim Blichfeld. It was the ninth power play goal this season scoring in the first 27 seconds on the game.

San Jose’s Lane Pederson continues to be consistent scoring in his third straight game and notching his fifth goal of the season scoring in five of his last six games. In facing the Roadrunners Pederson’s former team he has got revenge on his old teammates scoring a goal in each of the three games he’s faced them.

Jayden Halbgewachs who hadn’t scored a goal in five games picked up one on Friday night for his 15th of the season. Halbgewachs third period goal was the tying goal and it couldn’t have come at a better time marking his sixth power play goal for the 2021-22 campaign.

The Barracuda goaltender Zach Edmond playing in his seventh game for San Jose (3-2-2) had his hands full trying to stop the Roadrunners who kept him standing on his head all night. Edmond stopped 33 shots allowing four goals.

Barracuda head coach Roy Sommer has one big take away from Friday night’s game and that the Barracuda have now scored multiple power play goals over their last seven games. While the power play has improved the Barracuda have now lost three of their four games.

The Barracuda are 1-1 in this series with the Roadrunners and play the rubber game of this match tonight at Tucson Arena for a 7:00pm PDT face off. The Barracuda return back to SAP Center in San Jose on Tue Mar 22 to host the Stockton Heat the last time these two teams met the Heat beat the Barracuda by three goals 6-3 on Sat Mar 12th at Stockton Arena.

Stalock gets in front of 40 shots for 4-0 shutout over Roadrunners

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San Jose Barracuda gets the 4-0 shutout as Barracuda players celebrate against the Tucson Roadrunners at Tucson Arena in Tucson on Wed Mar 16, 2022 (photo from the San Jose Barracuda)

By Len Shapiro

The San Jose Barracuda (19-29-2) get a 4-0 shutout behind the mastery work of Barracuda goaltender Alex Stalock who saved 40 shots over the Tucson Roadrunners (17-28-4) at Tucson Arena. San Jose has dominated the Roadrunners this season beating them in three straight games and now are 13-2 in goals scored for the season against them.

The Barracuda have now shutout the Roadrunners twice for the season. Stalock who played with the Barracuda parent club the NHL San Jose Sharks and got roughed up by the Nashville Predators on Sat Mar 5th 8-0 looked and looks like he turned over a new leaf with the 4-0 shutout on Wednesday night.

Stalock last played with the Barracuda six years ago on Feb 6, 2016 and what a way to make a comeback with a shutout to start his return with the team. This is the 12th career shutout in the AHL for Stalock. The Barracuda got scoring help from Jake McGrew who scored twice for his 10th and 11th goals of the year.

McGrew is finding the back end of the net scoring three times in his last two games. The Barracuda’s Montana Onyebuchi got down with the Roadrunners this was his ninth fight of the season and Onyebuchi leads rookies in the AHL in fighting majors and penalty minutes with 99.

Evan Weinger’s goal on Wednesday was his tenth and needs one more goal to tie his career best for a season at ten. Weinger scored tenth goal just 57 seconds into the game. Lane Pederson scored his second goal in two games. Pederson scoring against his former team the Roadrunners making this his fourth goal in eight games.

The Barracuda and Roadrunners play game two of this three game series on Friday Mar 18th at 7:00 pm PDT at Tucson Arena.

Barracuda lose to Heat in three goal loss 6-3; San Jose opens three game series starting Wed in Tucson

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Emilio Petterson (46) of the Stockton Heat gets a penalty shot goal in the third period against the San Jose Barracuda goaltender Alexi Melnichuk (1) at the Stockton Arena on Sat Mar 12, 2022 (photo from the San Jose Barracuda)

By Len Shapiro

The Stockton Heat (34-9-4) turned things up on the San Jose Barracuda (18-29-2) on Saturday night with a 6-3 win. With the loss the Barracuda are now 1-4-1 against the Heat. The Barracuda’s Jasper Weatherby scored his third goal of the season in the first period.

For Weatherby he has scored all three of his goals over his last three games. For Barracuda head coach Roy Sommer that says alot about going with the hot hand. To show you how effective Weatherby has been he has executed his goals on the power play each time.

Jake McGrew who went without a goal in 11 games found the back end of the net scoring his ninth goal of the season in the second period. The Barracuda’s Lane Pederson scored on a power play goal as well and has scored seven points in seven games.

The power play despite the loss on Saturday has been working for the Barracuda they have gone 2-4 against the Heat and have scored on multiple power play goals in five of their last seven games.

Look out for the Heat’s Emilio Petterson who scored twice including on a penalty shot in the third period against the Barracuda. This was the second time the Barracuda had been penalized and had to face the penalty shot this season. The first one didn’t score but Petterson got the red light on the second penalty shot of the season against the Barracuda.

The Barracuda will get a break from the Heat and open up a three game series against the Tucson Roadrunners on Wed Mar 16th in Tucson all three games run on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

San Jose Barracuda podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Barracuda look to come back tonight in Stockton; Concludes home at home series with Heat

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The San Jose Barracuda after taking a one goal overtime loss to the Stockton Heat Fri Mar 11, 2022 at SAP Center in San Jose look to avenge the loss Sat Mar 12, 2022 to conclude the two game home at home series at Stockton Arena (image by the San Jose Barracuda)

On the Barracuda podcast with Marko:

#1 The San Jose Barracuda (18-28-2) lost 6-5 in a shootout to the Stockton Heat (32-9-4) on Friday. It was the eighth straight home loss against the Heat for the Barracuda.

#2 The Barracuda got goals from Joachim Blichfield, Eban Weinger, Artemi Kniazev, John Leonard. Goaltender Zachary Emond made 34 saves in the loss. It was Kniazev’s first pro multi-goal game.

#3 The first period was scoreless with the Barracuda outshooting the Heat 14-8. The penalty box saw some traffic with the Heat taking three penalties to the Barracuda’s two.

#4 On Friday night the Barracuda Joachim Blichfeld scored got a goal and now leads San Jose in points with with 33. Blichfeld is tied for the team lead in goals.

#5 The Barracuda and Heat went six rounds in the overtime shootout on Friday and San Jose dropped to 2-1 in shootouts for the season. Marko do you see these teams evenly matched at times they played a close game Friday and the two teams match up again tonight in Stockton at 6:00 pm PST.

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

Barracuda Fall 6-5 to Heat in Shootout

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Tough close loss for the San Jose Barracuda against the Stockton Heat at SAP Arena in San Jose on Fri Mar 11, 2022 (image from the San Jose Barracuda)

By Mary Walsh

SAN JOSE- The San Jose Barracuda (18-28-2) lost 6-5 in a shootout to the Stockton Heat (32-9-4) on Friday. It was the eighth straight home loss against the Heat for the Barracuda. Emilio Pettersen, Jakob Pelletier, Mark Simpson, Walker Duehr and Matthew Phillips scored for Stockton. Adam Werner made 20 saves for the win. The Barracuda got goals from Joachim Blichfield, Eban Weinger, Artemi Kniazev, John Leonard. Zachary Emond made 34 saves in the loss. It was Artemi Kniazev’s first pro multi-goal game.

The first period was scoreless with the Barracuda outshooting the Heat 14-8. The penalty box saw some traffic with the Heat taking three penalties to the Barracuda’s two. The last of those penalties were matching roughing penalties to Connor Mackey and Jasper Weatherby.

The second period saw a flurry of scoring, starting with Joachim Blichfield’s goal at 2:07. Kyle Topping set Blichfield up for the one-timer with a circle to circle pass. Assists went to Topping and Santeri Hatakka.

Stockton’s Emilio Pettersen tied it up less than 30 seconds later, redirecting a shot from Mark Simpson.

Eban Weinger scored to give San Jose the lead back at 4:53, muscling his was past Kevin Gravel to get to the net. Assists went to Sasha Chmelevski and Jake McGrew.

Jakob Pelletier tied it again at 6:05. Matthew Phillips slipped by Ryan Merkley and then chased the puck down to make a diving pass across to Pelletier for the shot.

San Jose took their third lead of the game at 16:51 on their third shot of the period. Stockton’s Nick DeSimone lost his footing as he carried the puck behind his net and went down. John Leonard was right behind him to pick up the loose puck and carry it up the boards. Leonard passed it to Artemi Kniazev, who had just entered the zone. Kniazev took the shot and beat Werner on the stick side. Assists went to Leonard and Hatakka.

The shot count was 13-3 Stockton. The only penalty of the period went to Kyle topping for slashing, at 19:29. That put the Barracuda on the penalty kill to start the third period.

The Barracuda killed that off and then added to their lead with another goal from Kniazev. John Leonard made a short pass up the ice to where Kniazev was moving to the net. Kniazev took the shot from low in the circle and beat Werner through the five hole.

Mark Simpson cut San Jose’s lead back to one at 5:24. Justin Kirkland took a shot from the blue line and Simpson cleaned up the rebound.

John Leonard scored on the power play to make it 5-3 San Jose with a backhand at 6:11. That was the first power play goal against Stockton in 17 tries. Chmelevski and Kniazev got the assists.

Walker Duehr scored for Stockton at 9:53. His spin shot went off of the post. Kevin Gravel got the assist.

Matthew Phillips made it a tie game at 18:21 on a power play with the Stockton net empty. Phillips got his stick on the the puck as it slid out of a scrum at the net. Assists went to Jakob Pelletier and Juuso Valimaki.

The Barracuda were outshot again in the third period, 17-5. The overtime period was lively with a lot of chances for both teams but no goals. The Sharks had three shots and Stockton got none on net.

The first six shooters in the shootout scored, but the goaltenders found their groove in the next two rounds and stopped four shooters. In the sixth round, Johannes Kinnvall scored and Werner made a save on Jake McGrew to win it.

The Barracuda will play again on Saturday, in Stockton against the Heat at 6:00 PM PT.