Category: AHL

Stars take down the Barracuda 7-3

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by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE—It was not a good afternoon for the The San Jose Barracuda.

The Texas Stars scored five goals in the final two periods to route the ‘Cuda 7-3 on Saturday afternoon at SAP Center.

San Jose has lost three games in a row and fell under .500 for the first time this season. Texas snapped its three game losing streak.

Both teams used the first 10 minutes of the game as a feeling out process as there were only five combined shots on goal.

Texas (4-5-0-0) was almost gift wrapped a goal thanks to ‘Cuda goalie Alexei Melnichuk. The second year goalie misplayed the puck behind the net to Stars captain Curtis McKenzie but Melnichuk was able to slide back into the crease preventing the puck from going into the back of the net at the 7:55 mark.

San Jose (2-3-1-0) drew first blood just halfway through the first period. Joachim Blichfeld skated down the right side into the Stars zone. Blichfeld drew three Stars defenders toward him before finding Noah Gregor, who played his first game since being in Covid-19 protocol the past week, all alone in the slot. Gregor snapped home a wrist shot to the short side beating Stars goalie Jake Oettinger for his third goal of the season at the 12:30 mark.

Gregor led the ‘Cuda was involved in all three of the Barracuda’s goal on the afternoon.

“It was three points good,” said ‘Cuda head coach Roy Sommer when asked how good it was to Gregor back in the lineup. “But you can’t rely on one line to get all the points for us right now.”

The Stars answered back on the power play late in the opening frame. With San Jose in the sinbin for too many men on the ice, Anthony Louis fed a pass back up to the point where Andres Borgman fired a one-timer through a sea of traffic into the back of the net for his third goal of the season at the 14:50 mark.

Texas earned its first lead of the game with 63 seconds left in the period. Gregor turned the puck over inside his own defensive zone. Fredrick Karlstrom found Nicholas Caamano in the left slot. Caamano centered the puck over to Oskar Back whose shot deflected off Caamano for his second goal of the season.

The Stars struck early in the second period early after the ‘Cuda were guilty of another turnover trying to clear their own zone. Josh Melnick finished off a two-on-one when he buried a one-timer past Melnichuk after receiving a cross ice pass from Karlstrom. The Stars third unanswered goal was Melnick’s second goal of the season at the 3:28 mark.

San Jose cut the lead to a one a goal deficit with a power play goal of their own. Gregor found Scott Reedy below the net on the right side. Reedy fed a backhanded pass to Jayden Halbgewachs in the slot and the ‘Cuda left winger buried a one-timer to the far side past Oettinger for his third goal of the season at the 6:15 mark.

Texas regained a two-goal lead late in the middle frame. San Jose failed to clear the puck out its own zone when a shot from the point by Ben Gleason pinballed off a couple of ‘Cuda defenders out to the front of the crease. Karlstrom came in a lifted a backhander top shelf past Melnichuk for his second goal of the game at the 15:52 mark.

The Barracuda once again cut the lead down to one goal with just over a minute remaining in the period. Gregor slid a pass over to Mark Alt at the left point. Alt sent in a wrist shot that deflected off a Stars defender and pass Oettinger for his first goal of the season at the 18:51 mark.

Texas capped off a wild middle frame with its third goal of the period 27 seconds later. Joel L’Esperance threaded a nifty backhanded pass between two ‘Cuda defenders over to Riley Tufte whose quick wrist shot beat Melnichuk for his fourth goal of the season at the 19:18 mark.

‘Cuda goalie Zachary Emond, who was recently called up from the Orlando Solar Bears, made his AHL debut when he replaced Melnichuk to start the third period. Melnichuk made 13 saves on 18 shots in 40:00 of action.

The Stars scored a controversial goal just over three minutes into the third period. Caamano crashed into Emond as he came in on an coast-to-coast rush in what appeared to have been goalie interference. With Emond down and out of the net, Alex Petrovic fired the puck into an empty net. After deliberation from the officials on the ice, Petrovic was awarded the unassisted goal, his first of the season at the 3:09 mark.

“That was a bullsh*t goal. He (the referee) should’ve blew the whistle. He (Emond) was down for five seconds. He was ran over, that’s goalie interference and it’s a sh*t call,” Sommer said.

McKenzie capped off the scoring with a breakaway goal with 30 seconds left remaining for his second goal of the season. McKenzie’s leads the Stars in scoring with seven points on the season (2G,5A).

Oettinger finished the game with 16 saves on 19 shots to earn the victory. Emond stopped 10 of the 12 shots he faced in his first appearance of the season for the ‘Cuda.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished 1-for-2 on the power play. Texas went 1-for-2.

San Jose is 13-7-1-2 all time against Texas. They went 4-2-0-0 against the Stars last season.

The Three Stars of the Game were: 1) Karlstrom 2) Caamano 3) Gregor

UP NEXT: San Jose conclude their four-game homestand with another battle with Texas on Sunday 11/7 at 3:00pm at SAP Center.

Heat first period outburst buries Barracuda 4-1

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San Jose Barracuda and Stockton Heat matched up at the SAP Center in San Jose on Wed Nov 3, 2021 (photo from the San Jose Barracuda)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE—There’s a heatwave happening in the Central Valley. And it has nothing to do with the weather.

The Stockton Heat scored three goals is the first period en route to a 4-1 victory over the San Jose Barracuda on Wednesday evening at SAP Center.

San Jose is 2-2-0 in its past four games. Stockton have won five games in a row and still haven’t lost in regulation.

Stockton (5-0-1-0) drew first blood four minutes into the first period. A turnover by the Barracuda inside their own zone led to Adam Ruzicka all alone on ‘Cuda goalie Alexei Melnichuk. Ruzicka made one move before lifting a backhander past Melnichuk for his fifth goal of the season at the 4:04 mark. Jacob Pelletier was credited with an assist.

Pelletier now has eight points (2G, 6A) in fives game for Stockton to begin his rookie season.

Stockton doubled its lead just under two minutes later. Glenn Gawdin skated around Adam Parsells and sent a pass through the crease over to Luke Philip who tapped home the puck into an empty net for his third goal of the season at the 5:54 mark.

The Heat scored their goal of the period on the power play. Andy Welinski sent a pass from the point over to the right faceoff circle to Martin Pospisil who sent a wrist shot on net. Ruzicka, who was camped out in front of the crease, redirected the puck past Melnichuk for his second goal of the game and sixth of the season at the 11:13 mark.

San Jose (2-2-1-0) weren’t able to generate much offense as they were busy killing off penalties in the entire second half of the period. Their best chance to get on the scoreboard was on a short-handed odd man rush where Kyle Topping’s shot was saved by Heat goalie Dustin Wolf.

Stockton out shot San Jose 14-6 in the opening 20 minutes.

It’s been a tough few days for ‘Cuda head coach Roy Sommer. The game in Stockton was canceled due to two San Jose players and their goalie coach that tested positive for Covid-19 on Sunday afternoon. That had left the team with only 12 players available to play.

There was no time for the recent callup from Orlando to get any practice time before tonight’s game.

“That’s probably the best team in the division and we were a little shorthanded on the back,” said Sommer. “And the guys (who just got here) haven’t had (a chance to) practice yet. They just got off the plane today. So that made a big difference.”

The Heat extended its lead with their second power play goal of the game midway through the second period. Ruzicka sent in a wrist shot on Melnichuk that was initially stopped but Pospisil cleaned up the rebound with a backhand shot for his second goal of the season at the 8:12 mark.

San Jose finally got on the board late in the middle frame. Cole Moberg sent a shot on net from the right end line. The puck ricochet off Wolf into the middle as Scott Reedy crashed in and put the puck into the back of the net for his third goal of the season at the 12:57 mark.

“Just not a real good hockey game (from us). (We) didn’t come out of our end real clean. Turned some pucks over in the neutral zone and didn’t have any (offensive) zone time,” Sommer said.

A scoreless third period featured lots of chippiness between the two teams that have no love lost for one another. Multiple scrums with pushing and shoving ensued throughout the final 20 minutes.

Wolf finished the game with 22 shots on 24 shots to earn the victory. Melnichuk stopped 24 of the 28 shots he faced in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished 0-for-4 on the power play. Stockton went 2-for-5.

‘Cuda forward Timur Ibragimov was injured in the third period with an apparent lower body injury when he was tripped up inside the Heat zone. He was not able to finish the game.

This was the first meeting between the two clubs since March 10, 2020, marking a 603 day gap between games.

The Barracuda are 34-20-2, including 18-11-1-0 at home, all time against the Heat.

Forward Noah Gregor remained on the Covid-19 protocol list. Goalie Zachary Sawchenko was released from the list.

San Jose recalled goalie Zachary Emond, defenseman Montana Onyebuchi and forwards Jake McGrew and Kyle Topping from the ECHL’s Solar Bears on Monday.

UP NEXT: San Jose host the Texas Stars on Saturday 11/6 at 1:15pm at SAP Center.

San Jose Barracuda podcast with Marko Ukalovic: How bad is the Covid 19 spread in San Jose as game is postponed?

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Photo from previous game between the Colorado Eagles and San Jose Barracuda. The Barracuda and Stockton Heat contest was postponed due to Covid 19 protocols on Sun Oct 31, 2021 at Stockton Arena (photo from the San Jose Barracuda)

On the SJ Barracuda podcast with Marko:

#1 Marko, the San Jose Barracuda just barley got their home opener completed on Friday night but on Sunday night they were to travel to Stockton but had their game postponed due to Covid 19 protocols and sitting San Jose players Noah Gregor and Zachary Sawchenko, and goaltending coach Dany Sabourin.

#2 Coincidently the Barracuda’s parent club the San Jose Sharks had to sit several of their players including their head coach as follows,  Andrew Cogliano, Jonathan Dahlen, Erik Karlsson, Jacob Middleton, Matt Nieto, Radim Simek, Marc-Edouard Vlasic, and Head Coach Bob Boughner were all held out of the game due to NHL COVID-19 protocol. Could the residue of the virus could have compromised the dressing room for the Barracuda?

#3 The Barracuda (2-1-1-0) are coming off a 5-4 overtime loss to the Colorado Eagles (1-4-0-1) in a game that the Barracuda loss on home ice for the home opener.

#4 The Eagles Kiefer Sherwood had himself an evening on Friday scoring twice against the Barracuda and couldn’t keep him down as he even scored the overtime winner.

#5 The Barracuda and Heat will play at the SAP Center on Wed Nov 3rd for a 7:00pm face off both teams will be well rested after having Sunday off but will Gregor and Sawchenko be ready and pass Covid protocols for Wednesday’s game?

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

Barracuda-Heat game is postponed due to Covid-19 protocols

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The Stockton Heat and the San Jose Barracuda seen here in a previous game at SAP Center. The contest between the Heat and the Barracuda at Stockton Arena for Sun Oct 31, 2021 had been called due to Covid 19 protocols (photo from sjbarracuda.com)

by Marko Ukalovic

STOCKTON, Calif.—The AHL has postponed tonight’s San Jose Barracuda-Stockton Heat game at Stockton Arena as San Jose players Noah Gregor and Zachary Sawchenko, and goaltending coach Dany Sabourin are in COVID protocol.

Here is the team statement from the Barracuda regarding the postponement:

“Due to roster constraints affecting the #SJBarracuda resulting from league COVID-19 protocols, our game scheduled for this evening at Stockton has been postponed.”

UP NEXT: The Barracuda return to action on Wednesday 11/3 hosting the Stockton Heat at 7:00 pm at SAP Center.

Eagles earn first win with 5-4 OT victory over Barracuda

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Game of inches this photo shows how the Colorado Eagles force San Jose Barracuda goaltender Alexi Melnichuk (1) to cover up at the exact time of a shot. The Eagles edged the Barracuda in a one goal win at SAP Center in San Jose on Fri Oct 29, 2021 (photo from San Jose Barracuda)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE—Kiefer Sherwood is doing his best in becoming the next ‘Cuda killer.

His game winning goal with 22 seconds left in overtime gave the Colorado Eagles a 5-4 over the San Jose Barracuda on Friday evening at SAP Center.

Dylan Sikura, who was a ‘Cuda killer last year with Henderson, fed Sherwood with a pass into the Barracuda zone. Sherwood skated in and fired a wrist shot past ‘Cuda goalie Alexei Melnichuk for his second goal of the night.

San Jose had its two game winning streak snapped. Colorado won their first game of the season after being winless in their first five games.

San Jose (2-1-1-0) drew first blood under four minutes into the first period. Nick Merkley sent in a shot from the point that Evan Weinger was able to drop pass back to Noah Gregor. The ‘Cuda left winger skated in the middle and deposited a wrist shot past Eagles goalie Justus Annunen for his second goal of the season at the 3:52 mark.

The Barracuda doubled its lead less than three minutes later when Timur Ibragimov started a counter attack. Ibragimov fed a pass out to Scott Reedy who sent a rink wide pass over to Nicolas Meloche. The second year defenseman fired a wrist shot from the right point just inside the left post into the back of the net for his first goal of the season at the 6:27 mark.

Colorado (1-4-0-1) cut San Jose’s lead in half on the power play midway though the opening frame. Sikura sent a rink wide pass from the right faceoff circle over to Sherwood. The Eagles right winger buried a one-timer past Melnichuk for his first goal of the game at the 11:51 mark.

Sherwood has three goals in four games against San Jose. He leads the Eagles with six goals.

The Eagles scored the equalizer midway through the second period. After John Leonard was stopped on a breakaway attempt, Justin Barron led a counter attack for Colorado. Alex Beaucage found Gabriel Fountaine along the point and the Eagles left winger blasted a slap shot past Melnichuk for his first goal of the season at the 8:40 mark.

The Barracuda had a tough time generating any quality scoring chances in the middle frame as they were busy having to kill minor penalties for the majority of the period as they made three trips to the sin bin. They were out shot 12-8 by Colorado.

“As soon as we’d get going five on five, we’d take a penalty,” Barracuda head coach Roy Sommer said.

San Jose regained the lead on the power play in the third period. Joachim Blichfeld sent a shot on goal from the left slot that deflected off the leg of Reedy, who was camped out in front of the crease. John Leonard cleaned up the rebound depositing the puck into an open net for his second goal of the season at the 7:16 mark.

Once again Colorado was able to even the score. On a delayed penalty call, Sikura circled around from behind the net and found a streaking Jordan Gross in the right slot and he buried a one-timer past Melnichuk for his first goal of the season at the 10:25 mark.

The Barracuda went up by a goal late in the period as they scored their second power play goal of the game. Nick Cicek sent a pass down to Sasha Chmelevski from the right point. Chmelevski found Nick Merkley open in the slot and Merkley snapped home a one-timer past Annunen for his second goal of the season at the 16:32 mark.

Colorado didn’t go away quietly as they scored eight seconds later to tie the game for a third time. Off the ensuing faceoff, Defenseman Ronald McKeown sent a slapshot from center ice that took a favorable bounce off the boards over to Mikhail Maltsev who sent in a quick wrist shot from the left faceoff circle top shelf into the left corner of the net for his second goal of the season.

“Right off the next shift. They throw it around…it was a bad play on our part. We should’ve just stayed in the net. He (Melnichuk) came out and it kinda took our mojo away but we had chances on the four on three (power play in overtime), but not that outcome I wanted,” Sommer said.

Annunen finished the night stopping 26 of 30 shots he faced to earn his first victory of the season. Melnichuk made 31 saves on 35 shots in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose was 2-for-5 on the power play. Colorado went 1-for-6.

UP NEXT: San Jose travel up to Stockton to take on the Heat on Sunday 10/31 at 5:00pm.

San Jose Barracuda podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Power play goals help Cuda in second win of season

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San Jose Barracuda goaltender Zach Sawchenko (35) stopped 45 of 47 shots against the Colorado Eagles on Sat Oct 23, 2021 at Budweiser Event Center in Loveland (photo from the Colorado Eagles)

On the San Jose Barracuda podcast with Marko:

#1 The San Jose Barracuda (2-1-0-0) who were in Loveland Colorado on Sat Oct 23rd to face off with the Colorado Eagles (0-3-1-0) scored two power play goals in their narrow 3-2 win.

#2 Marko, Would what you allude to one of the reasons for the win for the Barracuda is that they have seen a lot of the Eagles in pre season and you see a team enough you can figure them out and put together a win.

#3 It was the season debut for Zach Sawchenko and he stood on his head for the most part of the game stopping 45 of the 47 shots that he faced.

#4 Marko San Jose were 0-7 to start the season on the power play but on Saturday night were able to convert two of three goals on the power play what had coach Roy Sommer having these guys do differently?

#5 The Barracuda face off against the Eagles on Friday night at SAP Center in San Jose for the Barracuda’s home opener how important is it for the Barracuda to take full advantage of home ice?

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

Earthquakes battle Whitecaps to 1-1 draw, keep slim playoff hopes alive

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Vancouver Whitecaps forward Cristian Dajome looks to pass the futbol as the San Jose Earthquakes defender Paul Marie tries to put the stop on him in the first half at PayPal Park in San Jose on Sat Oct 23, 2021 (photo by USA Today)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE—The San Jose Earthquakes playoff aspirations are hanging on by a thread.

On a night where they were looking for a win, the Quakes settled for a 1-1 draw with the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday evening at Pay Pal Park.

San Jose now have 37 points and sit in 10th place in the Western Conference, seven points behind Vancouver, who sit in the seventh and final playoff spot with only three games remaining. The Whitecaps have earned points in four straight matches.

The Quakes (9-12-10-37 points) had their chances in the first half to break the seal.

In the fourth minute, Benji Kinkanovic centered a ball into the middle over to Jeremy Ebobisse but his one-timer was saved by Whitecaps goalie Maxime Crepeau.

A nice give and go between Andy Rios and Chofis in the 17th minute led to Chofis shot that sailed high over the net. Another give and go between Chofis and Paul Marie in the 35th minute led to Crepeau corralling Marie’s centering pass to end the scoring chance.

Both teams received a scare in the 37th minute when Rios and Leonard Owusu collided with each other going for a 50/50 ball up in the air. After being on the ground for several minutes, both players were able to continue in the match.

Quakes head coach Matias Almeyda were without the services with fullback Nathan as he was suspended due to yellow card accumulation. In his place Almeyda had Jackson Yueill, normally a midfielder, play in the backline for the first time as an Earthquake.

“We wanted the win,” said Almeyda. “The guys played a great game. They played with devotion and had many goal-scoring chances. We needed to be sharper in the end. Vancouver had a great performance from their goalkeeper. I am satisfied on one hand because the young players are growing. I will keep repeating that once the young players have 20 to 30 matches played, they will be important players in this league.”

Vancouver (11-9-11-44 points) had only two descent scoring chances in the first 45 minutes. Érik Godoy’s header from the center of the box missed to the right following a set piece in the 25th minute. Then three minutes later, Déiber Caicedo right footed shot from outside the box sailed high over the net from a direct free kick.

San Jose played with a desperation needed from a team trying to make the playoffs from the get go. It continued into the second half when Kikanovic’s attempt was saved by Crepeau after Ebobisse’s attempt got that was set up by an Espinoza cross.

The Whitecaps finally drew first blood in the 53rd minute. Brian White sent in a shot from 20 yards out that Quakes goalie JT Marcinkowski initially saved but the rebound leaked out the left side. Bruno Gaspar came in and blasted the rebound top shelf for his first goal of the season.

San Jose answered back in the 60th minute. Eric Remedi started a counter attack inside the Whitecaps zone sending the ball out to Cristian Espinoza along the right side. Espinoza sent over a perfect cross to Kikanovic who one-timed the ball into the back of the lower right corner for his fourth goal of the season.

Kikanovic was rewarded the Man of the Match for his efforts in creating multiple scoring chances for the Quakes.

“I know when Cristian [Espinoza] gets the ball out wide, he’s going to whip it in super hard. I just put myself in a position where I’m in between the ball and the defender and it happened to come to me. I didn’t even really hit it that hard. I kind of just focused on it the whole time and just made sure I made good contact. Those types of balls, it’s already whipped in super hard, so you just have to redirect it. But overall we played really well I thought. We created a lot of chances. I think they only had that one chance and they put it away,” Kikanovic said.

San Jose controlled the possession as well as the tempo in the final 10 minutes of regulation and the four minute of stoppage time.

The Quakes came with inches of scoring the game winning goal in the first minute of stoppage time. Carlos Fierro sent a header back into the middle of the box where Chris Wondolowski’s sliding attempt was saved by a diving Crempeau that was just short of crossing the goal line.

Marcinkowski finished the match with two saves on three shots. Crempeau also made two saves on three shots.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished with five corner kicks. Vancouver had two.

Quakes captain Jackon Yueill made his 100th start for the franchise.

The Whitecaps have managed just one win in 13 all-time away matches against San Jose (D7 L5), a 3-2 victory in August 2018. Vancouver did manage a point in its last visit, a scoreless draw on August 13.

Wondolowski, who scored against Austin on Wednesday, has scored 14 goals against the Whitecaps, more than against any other team in his MLS career. No player has scored more goals against a single opponent than Wondolowski against Vancouver since the Whitecaps joined MLS in 2011.

Brian White scored in Vancouver’s comeback win over Portland, his 12th goal contribution since mid-August (10 goals, 2 assists), tied with Cristian Arango (11 goals, 1 assist) for the most goal involvements in MLS in that time.

The Quakes held a ceremony at halftime honoring the 2001 team that won the MLS Cup on its 20th anniversary.

UP NEXT: The Earthquakes travel out to Portland to take on the Timbers on Wednesday 10/27 at 7:00pm at Providence Park.

Barracuda’s power play the difference in 3-2 win over Eagles

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The San Jose Barracuda edge out the Colorado Eagles at the Budweiser Events Center in Loveland on Sat Oct 23, 2021 in AHL action (image from sjbarracuda.com)

by Marko Ukalovic

LOVELAND, Colo—Third time was a charm for the San Jose Barracuda on the power play.

After not scoring a power play goal in the team’s first two games, the Barracuda scored twice with the man advantage in a 3-2 comeback win over the Colorado Eagles on Saturday evening at the Budweiser Events Center.

San Jose have won two games in a row. Colorado have lost four games in a row to start their season.

San Jose (2-1-0-0) drew first blood on the power play early in the first period. Ryan Merkley sent in a shot from the point and Jayden Halbgewachs was able to redirect the puck past Eagles goalie Justus Annunen (0-1-1) for his second goal of the season at the 2:24 mark.

The power play goal for the ‘Cuda snapped an 0-for-6 streak to begin the season.

Colorado (0-3-1-0) answered back with a power play goal of their own to even the score. Jacob MacDonald kept the play alive at the point as the puck bounced over to Kiefer Sherwood. The native of Columbus, Ohio wired in a wrist shot from the left slot past ‘Cuda goalie Zachary Sawchenko (0-0-0) for his third goal of the season.

The Eagles gained their first lead on an even strength goal. Alex Newhook sent a rink wide pass over to Rolan McKeown. The Eagles defenseman made a backhand pass through the crease where Callahan Burke tapped the puck into an open net past Sawchenko for his third goal of the season at the 13:17 mark.

Colorado dominated the last 10 minutes of the opening frame as they out shot San Jose 14-10.

San Jose answered back with the equalizer on just their fifth shot of the period. Ryan Merkley skated down the right wing and his centering pass was deflected off the pads of Annunen. The puck caromed over to Halbgewachs who buried a wrist shot past Annunen for his second goal of the game and third of the season at the 17:46 mark.

Despite outshooting the Barracuda 16-6 in the middle frame and having the ice tilted inside the ‘Cuda for the majority of the period, the Eagles went into the second intermission scratching their heads.

San Jose scored the go ahead go with its second power play goal of the game. Nick Merkley sent a slap shot from the right wing and Noah Gregor tipped the puck past Annunen for his first goal of the season at the 7:31 mark with just one second left on the power play. Joel Kellman was credited with the secondary assist.

Colorado poured the offense on the final 10 minutes of the third period as they out shot San Jose 13-11.

The Cuda survived the final 19 seconds down six-on-four as Colorado had a power play as Kellman was called for a holding penalty and pulled Annunen for an extra attacker.

Sawchenko (1-0-0) finished the game stopping 41 of the 43 shots he faced to earn his first win of the season. Annunen (0-2-2) made 24 saves on 27 shots in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished 2-for-3 on the power play. Colorado was 1-for-3.

The Three Stars of the Game were: 1) Halbegwachs 2) Dalton Smith 3) Burke

UP NEXT: San Jose and Colorado return to meet up for a third straight game on Friday 10/29 at 7:00pm at SAP Center.

Leonard’s late goal lifts Barracuda over Eagles 5-4

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San Jose Barracuda John Leonard gets the Barracuda the go ahead goal against the Colorado Eagles at Budweiser Events Center in Loveland on Oct 22, 2021 (file photo thehockeywriters.com

by Marko Ukalovic

LOVELAND, Colo—In a game that went back and forth, John Leonard provided the heroics for the ‘Cuda.

Leonard scored the game winning goal late in the third period as the the San Jose Barracuda defeated the Colorado Eagles 5-4 on Friday evening at the Budweiser Events Center.

San Jose earned its first win of the season of the ’21-’22 season. Colorado have lost three straight games to start the season.

Leonard pick pocketed Jordan Gross at the red line and raced down the right side on a breakaway. Leonard went sliding down before stuffing the puck underneath Eagles goalie Justus Annunen for his first goal of the season with 4:12 remaining in the game.

Colorado (0-2-0-1) drew first blood early in the first period. Former Barracuda defenseman Keaton Middleton sent a cross ice pass from the left end line over to Alex Beaucage who crashed in from the right wing. The puck hit off a Barracuda defenseman’s stick right to the tape of Beaucage who deposited the puck into the back of the net for his first goal of the season at the 6:13 mark.

The Eagles controlled the majority of the play in the opening frame as they outshot the Barracuda 12-7.

San Jose (1-1-0-0) answered back with two goals in 17 second span early in the first second period.

After a faceoff win by Dylan Gambrell, Noah Gregor sent a shot attempt behind the net that bounced off to the right where a pinching Nick Merkley came in and put the puck into the short corner of the past Annunen for the team’s first goal of the season and his first at the 4:07 mark.

The ‘Cuda then gained possession of the puck inside the Eagles zone where Noah Gregor sent a pass back to the left point where Nick Cicek blasted a one-timer through traffic into the back of the net for his first career AHL goal for the rookie defenseman at the 17:24 mark.

Colorado answered back with the equalizer four minutes later. Kiefer Sherwood stripped the puck off two Barracuda players inside the Eagles zone. Sherwood backhanded the puck out of the zone that sent Dylan Sikura on a breakaway and the former Henderson Silver Knight beat ‘Cuda goalie Alexei Melnichuk with a wrist shot for his first goal of the season at the 8:31 mark.

The Eagles regained the lead on a two-on-one break. Callahan Burke set up Dalton Smith with a cross ice pass and Smith buried the one-timer past Melnichuk for his first goal of the season at the 16:59 mark.

San Jose scored the equalizer 44 seconds later. Timur Ibragimov led a counter attack into the Eagles zone. Ibragimov sent a back pass over to Jayden Halbgewachs in the left shot and the veteran forward rifled home a wrist shot to the far side to beat Annunen for his first goal of the season at the 17:43 mark.

Colorado went up 4-3 with a power play goal right at the end of the period. With the ‘Cuda shorthanded due to a minor penalty for too many men on the ice, Justin Barron snapped a wrist shot top shelf through a sea of traffic in front of the crease for his first goal of the season with one second remaining in the period.

The goal was reviewed and the call stood as it was determined the goal crossed the line before the horn sounded.

The Eagles outshot the ‘Cuda 15-8 in a wild middle frame that featured six combined goals.

The ‘Cuda evened the score to start the third period. Ryan Merkley skated in from the point to the right slot where he found Scott Reedy with a back door pass on the left in front of the net and Reedy tapped home the puck into an open net for his first goal of the season at the 1:58 mark.

Melnichuk finished the game with 21 saves on 25 shots to earn his first win of the season. Annunen made 29 saves on 34 shots in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose went 0-for-2 on the power play and are 0-for-7 to start the season. Colorado was 1-for-2.

San Jose is now 8-5-2-1 against Colorado in the all-time series.

UP NEXT: San Jose and Colorado wrap up their two-game series on Saturday 10/23 at 6:05pm at Budweiser Events Center.

San Jose Barracuda podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Cuda go all out but just couldn’t score in opening day loss

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The Bakersfield Condors Seth Griffith scored the game’s only goal in the second period on Sun Oct 17, 2021 at Mechanics Bank Arena in Bakersfield against the visiting San Jose Barracuda. Here is Griffith in a file photo taking a shot against the San Diego Gulls from a previous game (Bakersfield.com file photo)

On the Barracuda podcast with Marko:

#1 Season opener was rough for the SJ Barracuda who went all out but just couldn’t get any offense going and the Bakersfield Condors goalie Stuart Skinner was in front of the net and stopped all of the Barracuda’s 34 shots on net for naught in a 1-0 loss.

#2 Not the way the Barracuda wanted to open the season but Barracuda goaltender Alexi Melnichuk stopped 14 of 15 shots but unfortunately that one goal allowed accounted towards Melnichuk’s first loss of the season.

#3 For Melinchuk it was the third time in his career that he allowed only one goal and looked good on defense Sunday despite the loss.

#4 The Condors Seth Griffith scored the game’s only goal it was on a second period power play for Griffith he now has four points in two games for this season and is working quickly on offense.

#5 The Barracuda will face off against the Colorado Eagles next Fri Oct 22 at Loveland it will be the Barracuda’s second of three consecutive road games.

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