Category: AHL

Barracuda hold on for a 2-1 victory over Heat

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Photo credit: @sjbarracuda

By: Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE, Calif. — The San Jose Barracuda were able to get back to their winning ways against their NorCal rival the Stockton Heat as they scored two unanswered goals and were able to hold on for a 2-1 victory on Sunday afternoon at SAP Center.

San Jose (22-8-1-3) controlled the tempo in the first period as they doubled up the shots on Stockton (16-18-3-0) 10-5. However, both goalies, Antoine Bibeau (9-5-3) for the Cuda and Jon Gillies (5-11-3) held their ground and kept the game scoreless for the first 19 minutes of the opening frame.

The Cuda would break through 11 seconds before time expired as Antti Suomela deked out Gillies going backhand-to-forehand and beat the Heat goaltender top-shelf for his second goal of the season at the 19:49 mark. Dylan Gambrell and Manny Weiderer received assists.

In the second period, once again, the story would be the goaltending that stole the show. Stockton put on more of a push, but Bibeau was able to stop all 11 shots from the Heat attack. Despite good scoring chances from San Jose, Gillies equaled his counterpart,  stopping all 10 Cuda shots in the middle frame.

In the third period, San Jose doubled their lead on the power play. Alex True fed a pass over to Kyle Wood at the point and Wood fired a wrist shot past a screened Gillies, who never saw the puck go into the back of the net for his third goal of the season at the 9:49 mark. Francis Perron received the secondary assist.

Stockton cut the lead in half when Buddy Robinson cleaned up a rebound off a Kerby Rychel shot that Bibeau made a toe save on. Robinson’s sixth goal of the season came at the 11:34 mark.

Stockton pulled Gillies late in the game for an extra attacker, but weren’t able to get that equalizer as Bibeau and the Cuda held off their late push.

Bibeau finished with 22 saves on 23 shots to earn his ninth victory of the season. Gillies made 31 saves on 33 shots in suffering the defeat.

GAME NOTES: San Jose was 1/2 on the power play. Stockton was 1/3.

With the win San Jose improved to 12-4-0-1 at SAP Center and have the best mark in the Pacific Division.

The announced attendance was 5,740.

UP NEXT: The Barracuda return to action on Friday 1/18 as they host the Texas Stars at 7:00 pm at SAP Center.

Reign finally take down Barracuda with 3-1 win

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Photo credit: @sjbarracuda

By: Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE, Calif. — All good things must come to an end. For the San Jose Barracuda, they are no longer undefeated against the Ontario Reign this season, thanks to Ontario taking advantage of a mistake by a young goaltender in a 3-1 victory on Friday evening at SAP Center.

Brett Sutter received a gift from Cuda goalie Josef Korenar (13-3-1) when Korenar attempted a back-handed pass behind his own net to the corner that was intercepted by Sutter. Sutter skated around the net, where his initial backhander hit the outside of the net, but he was able to grab his own rebound and put it into the back of the net for his ninth goal of the season in what proved to be the game-winning goal with just under two minutes left in the game at the 18:22 mark of the third period.

“You know it’s funny, I think that was their (Ontario’s) only chance in the third (period),” said Cuda head coach Roy Sommer after the game. “Our goalie learned a lesson (tonight). You can’t reverse a puck if you don’t know where the forecheck is coming from. He won’t do it again I’m sure.”

The first period was scoreless as the Cuda outshot the Reign 11-9. The best scoring chances for both teams didn’t come until the final few minutes. Dylan Gambrell had a redirect chance just trickle to the right of the net with under three minutes remaining for San Jose. While Zack Mitchell’s buzzer beating one-timer hit the outside of the net for Ontario.

Ontario (11-17-3-2) drew first blood on the power play to start the second period. Matt Roy fed a cross-ice pass over to Matt Moulson on the left-wing and snapped home a wrist shot past Korenar top-shelf in the left corner for his 10th goal of the season at the 0:57 mark.

San Jose (21-8-1-3) evened the game up on the power play with a little over five minutes left in the middle frame. Nick DeSimone sent a pass over to the Rourke Chartier, who was back playing his first game with the Cuda since December 27th of last year, along the right boards. Chartier danced with the puck and from a tough angle snapped a beauty of a wrist shot top-shelf past Reign goalie Cal Petersen (3-6-3) for his third goal of the season at the 14:54 mark. Gambrell received the secondary assist.

“They kind gave some time on the half wall,’ said Chartier, regarding his goal. “I was looking for a pass first, but nothing really opened up and (I was) lucky enough that it goes in.”

The Barracuda out shot the Reign 13-7 in the second period and were able to kill off a late penalty to Jeffery Viel for tripping to head into the second intermission with momentum on their side.

“I liked our effort tonight,” said Cuda captain John McCarthy. “It was a tight defensive game where anything could have happened and it did.”

Moulson put the game on ice with an empty net with 69 seconds remaining for his second goal of the night and 11th on the season. Micheal Amadio and Sam Herr received assists on the goal.

Petersen had a busy night as he made 37 saves on 38 shots to earn his third victory of the season. Korenar finished the evening with 23 saves on 25 pucks he faced.

GAME NOTES: San Jose was 1/4 on the power play. Ontario was 1/3.

McCarthy played in his 500th AHL game with the Sharks organization. He is the Barracuda’s all-time leader in games played (222), points (118), goals (52) and assists (66).

Defenseman Jacob Middleton was back in the line up since being sent back down by the San Jose Sharks.

Fight Fight Fight! San Jose’s Jon Martin tangoed with the Reign’s Chaz Reddekopp half way through the second period. Each received offsetting fighting majors.

The announced attendance was 3,141.

UP NEXT: The Barracuda host the Stockton Heat on Sunday, January 13 at 3:00 pm at SAP Center.

Barracuda outlast Reign 3-1

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Photo credit: @sjbarracuda

By: Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE, Calif. — The San Jose Barracuda didn’t make it look pretty, but they continued to stay undefeated against the Ontario Reign in a 3-1 victory on Monday evening at SAP Center.

For San Jose, it was their second win in a row and are currently 4-0 against Ontario this season. Ontario continued their downward spiral losing their sixth game in a row.

“They’ve had our number for years,” said head coach Roy Sommer regarding his team turning the tables against their Pacific Division rival. “From Manchester (Mass) into Ontario, it’s been a while since we’ve had a winning record against them. So finally the tide turns.”

San Jose (21-7-1-3) drew first blood five minutes into the opening period. Jon Martin found Jayden Halbgewachs at the right faceoff circle and he skated around over to the left-wing and he snapped a wrist shot that beat Reign goalie Cal Petersen (2-6-3) low to the stick side at 5:41 mark. The puck looked to have deflected off Reign defenseman Austin Strand’s skate for Halbgewachs’ eight goal of the season. Kyle Wood received the secondary assist.

I went through a dry spell for a bit,” said Halbgewachs. “I had to get back to finding my game, building up that confidence. (The goals) are a huge confidence booster and every player needs that when they’re in a slump.”

Ontario (10-17-3-2) outshot San Jose 11-8 in the first period, but Cuda goalie Antoine Bibeau (8-5-3) held down the fort stonewalling the Reign from lighting the red lamp.

In the second period, both netminders put on a clinic out on the ice. Bibeau was aggressive on two penalty kills where he came out beyond the crease to cut off angles and did not give up any rebounds.

“I think in December I wasn’t playing as aggressive and as good as I could (have been),” said Bibeau. “When the guys had to block a shot, they blocked a shot. They boxed out and I saw the puck really well.”

Petersen was sharp late in the middle frame. Keaton Middleton fed a short-handed breakaway chance to Dylan Gambrell, but Petersen came out to challenge Gambrell and his shot sailed over the net with under four minutes left. Then with under a minute left, Vincent Praplan’s point-blank shot and captain John McCarthy’s follow-up rebound chance were turned away by Petersen.

Jon Martin single-handedly gave San Jose a big insurance goal to open up the third period. Coming in on a three-on-three rush he was able to muscle his way past Kurtis MacDermid, regain the puck and buried it under the left pad of Petersen on the short side for his sixth goal of the season at the 1:28 mark. Martin now has five points in his last three games.

“It’s been a long way for me these last three years,” said Martin. “So it’s nice to come in here and finally feel like I’m contributing a little bit on the board. I’m just trying to keep it going, helping out my linemates, they’ve been supporting me and it’s going well.”

Brett Sutter cut the lead in half on the penalty kill, thanks to a gift from Calvan Fitzgerald. He was pressured by Sam Herr in front of the Cuda net and turned over the puck right onto the stick of Sutter, who one-timed it from the slot into the upper right corner of the net. The unassisted short-handed goal was Sutter’s eight of the season and came at the 7:39 mark.

Halbgewachs sealed the game for the Cuda with his second goal of the evening with an empty-netter with exactly one minute left in the game for his ninth goal of the season.

Bibeau shined bright with a 32 save on 33 shot performance to earn his eight victory of the season. Petersen suffered his second straight loss, making 27 saves on 29 shots.

GAME NOTES: San Jose was 0/4 on the power play. Ontario was 0/2.

On Tuesday, the Cuda recalled defensemen Cody Donaghey and Mike Brodzinki from the Orlando Solar Bears of the ECHL.

Coming into the game, San Jose were tied for first in the Western Conference with a home winning percentage of .750 (10-3-0-1). Their +20 point differential is the best in the Pacific Division.

Reign defenseman Daniel Brickley suffered a lower body injury in the second period when he was in a battle with Anti Suomela. His leg ended up being tied up and he fell awkwardly to the ice laying there for a while before being helped off the ice. He did not return to the game.

The announced attendance was 2,530.

UP NEXT: The Barracuda take on the Reign for a third consecutive time on Friday, January 11 at 7:00 pm at SAP Center.

San Jose Barracuda podcast with Marko Ukalovic: After losing to San Diego, Cuda beat Reign the next night

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Photo credit: sjbarracuda.com

On the San Jose Barracuda podcast with Marko Ukalovic:

#1 Saturday was a turn-around game for San Jose after losing Friday to San Diego. The Barracuda ended up edging the Ontario Reign 2-1.

#2 The Reign were battling the Barracuda during the first 20 minutes of the contest to a scoreless match

#3  The Barracuda got on the board in the second period as Evan Weinger scored along the left wing and scored on Reign goalie Cal Peterson.

#4 At 8:25, the Reign’s Kale Clauge shot on from the right point to score as the Barracuda goalie Antoine Bibeau was screened.

#5 The Barracuda’s Alex True scored at 19:38 for his 11th goal of the season and the gamer for San Jose.

Marko has your Barracuda podcasts each Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Barracuda hold on to edge Reign 2-1

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Photo credit: @sjbarracuda

By Marko Ukalovic

Less than 24 hours later, the San Jose Barracuda were able to get the bad taste of the loss to San Diego out of their mouths. Two second period goals were enough to take down the Ontario Reign in a 2-1 victory on Saturday evening at Citizens Business Bank Arena. San Jose is now 3-0 against their Pacific Division rival.

The first 20 minutes was a deadlock at zero as San Jose outshot Ontario (10-15-3-2) 16-12 as Cuda goalie Antoine Bibeau (7-5-3) looked impressive, making some key saves in the opening frame.

San Jose (20-7-1-3) drew first blood early in the second period. Evan Weinger moved in on net from along the left wing and snapped a shot past Reign goalie Cal Petersen (2-4-3) on the short-side for his seventh goal of the season at the 2:26 mark. Jeffery Viel and Keaton Middleton received assists.

Ontario tied the game up as Kale Clague slapped in a shot from the right point that beat a screened Bibeau for his third goal of the season at the 8:25 mark. Kurtis MacDermid and Michael Amadio received assists.

The Cuda regained the lead 22 seconds before the end of the middle frame. After a bad Ontario change, Nick DeSimone snapped a pass from San Jose’s zone to Anti Suomela and he streaked up the right wing before he found a trailing uncovered Alex True in the slot and True wired the pass in from the high slot past Petersen for his 11th goal of the season at the 19:38 mark.

Despite being outshot 12-5 by Ontario, San Jose went into the second intermission with a one-goal lead.

San Jose spent the first half of the third period on the penalty kill as they were able to kill off separate penalties taken by Jayden Halbgewachs and Suomela. The number four penalty kill in the AHL held their own as the Reign would not be able to find the back of the net the rest of the game as the Cuda netminder stoned away all nine shots that he faced in the final frame.

Bibeau made 32 saves on 33 shots to earn his seventh victory of the season. Petersen stopped 27 of the 29 shots he faced in suffering the defeat.

GAME NOTES: San Jose 0/2 on the power play. Ontario was 0/3.

Defenseman Jacob Middleton, who was called up to the Sharks earlier this week, made his NHL debut tonight against the best team in the NHL, the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The announced attendance was 9,462.

UP NEXT: The Barracuda return home on Wednesday to take on the Reign at 7:00 pm at SAP Center.

Gulls take down Barracuda 4-3

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Photo credit: @sjbarracuda

By Marko Ukalovic

The San Diego Gulls continued their dominance over the San Jose Barracuda as they scored three unanswered goals to hang on for a 4-3 victory on Friday evening at Pechanga Arena. It was San Diego’s fifth win in a row and fourth in a row over San Jose.

San Jose (19-7-1-3) drew first blood when Dylan Gambrell set up Vincent Praplan late in the first period. Praplan beat Gulls goalie Kevin Boyle (12-5-0) for his fourth goal of the season at the 16:28 mark. Kyle Wood received the secondary assist.

San Diego (16-11-1-3) tied it up with 11 seconds left in the opening frame. Maxim Letunov lost the puck in the Gulls zone when he blew a tire. It led to a 2-on-1 odd man rush where Troy Terry finished off a nice give-and-go with Joe Blandisi as he snapped home the puck past Cuda goalie Josef Korenar (13-2-1) for his 13th goal of the season. He now has six points in five games against San Jose.

Korenar stopped Ben Thomson on a break away half way through the second period.

Adam Cracknell gave the Gulls the lead when he was set up with a pretty touch pass from Chase De Leo on the left wing and snapped a wrister past Korenar for his fourth goal of the season at the 14:52 mark. Thomson received the secondary assist.

Terry gave San Diego a two-goal cushion with second goal of the night to open the third period. Once again, Blandisi fed a wide-open Terry, skated in from his left to his right and slid the puck past the five-hole of Korenar for his 14th goal of the season at the 1:32 mark. Terry now has five goals in five games against San Jose.

Gambrell gave life to San Jose with a power play goal. Nick DeSimone fed a pass over to the point to Gambrell who blasted a shot off the goal post into the back of the net for his ninth goal of the season at the 13:16 mark. With the goal, Gambrell is currently on a six-game point streak.

Blandisi put the game away with a power play goal late in the period. Andrej Sustr set up Blandisi, who had a three-point night, scored his seventh goal of the season at the 16:21 mark. Trevor Murphy received the secondary assist.

Jon Martin completed the scoring with a power play goal right as the horn sounded to end the game. Martin scored his fifth goal of the season at the 19:59 mark. Alex True and Gambrell received assists.

Boyle made 27 saves on 30 shots to earn his seventh victory in a row. Korenar made 22 saves on 26 saves in suffering only his second regulation loss of the season.

GAME NOTES: San Jose was 2/3 on the power play. San Diego was 1/4.

Defenseman Jacob Middleton was called up to the San Jose Sharks earlier in the day to help fill a roster position with Radim Simek out with an upper body injury.

Francis Perron was out of the lineup due to a lower body injury. He will miss the rest of the road trip this weekend.

Perron, Middleton and Korenar will represent the Cuda at the 2019 AHL All-Star Game as they were selected to the Pacific Division team earlier this week. The game will be played in Springfield, Massachusetts on January 28th.

The announced attendance was 10,253.

UP NEXT: The Barracuda conclude their road trip up in Ontario as they take on the Reign on Saturday, January 5 at 6:00 pm at Citizens Bank Arena.

San Jose Barracuda podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Cuda have won five of last nine games as they head to San Diego Friday

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Photo credit: San Diego Gulls goaltender Kevin Boyle makes a save against San Jose Barracuda forward John McCarthy. Photo courtesy of the San Jose Barracuda.

On the San Jose Barracuda podcast with Marko:

#1 It was like a shootout on Sunday as the Barracuda just got by the Stockton Heat 6-5.

#2 The Heat had struggled against the Barracuda this season, but even though they lost they must have studied film and see the Cuda enough just to make it close game.

#3 The Barracuda opened up their offense in the second period with four goals and that was the difference for the win.

#4 The Heat tried to come back with a goal in the second and two in the third, but the Barracuda didn’t cave.

#5 The Barracuda are back at it again Friday night in San Diego. This again, is another team that could play some tight scoring hockey with the Cuda.

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

Barracuda use 4-goal second period to cool off the Heat 6-5

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Photo credit: @sjbarracuda

By Marko Ukalovic

In what resembled an old wild, wild west shoot out, the San Jose Barracuda needed all four-second period goals to hold on late to upend the Stockton Heat 6-5 on New Year’s Eve at Stockton Arena.

San Jose (19-6-1-3) drew first blood in the first five minutes of the game in a seesaw first period. Jayden Halbgewachs collected the puck at the far side, circled around the net and centered the puck over to Alex True, who beat Heat goalie Tyler Parsons (3-3-0) for his 10th goal of the season at the 5:36 mark. Jacob Middleton received the secondary assist.

Stockton (14-15-3-0) evened it up on the power play just over two minutes later. Curtis Lazar moved the puck over Matthew Phillips who threaded a pass over to Kirby Rychel and he buried the puck from point-blank range past Cuda goalie Josef Korenar (13-1-1) 15th goal of the season at the 7:47 mark.

The Cuda regained the lead when Maxim Letunov skated into the Heat zone from the neutral zone went up high and then down low, very similar to Halbgewachs, and fed a pass over to Manny Wiederer, who buried the puck past Parsons for his eighth goal of the season at the 16:47 mark.

However, like the first lead, the second one would be short-lived as well. Rob Hamilton fed a pass over Buddy Robinson, whose shot deflected off the left pad off Korenar. Brett Pollack was in front to clean up the rebound for his second goal of the season at the 17:34 mark. Pollack has two goals in last four games.

Jon Martin gave the Cuda their third lead at the beginning of the second period on a 3-on-2 odd man rush. Halbgewachs led the rush and drop passed the puck over to the Martin who snapped a wrister past Parsons inside the far post for his fourth goal of the season at the 1:49 mark. True received the secondary assist.

Phillips tied it up for the third straight time when his initial shot was stopped by Korenar, but he followed up on his rebound and put it through the five-hole of Korenar for his ninth goal of the season. The rookie forward is on a six-game point streak.

Vincent Praplan gave San Jose their fourth lead when he skated down the left-wing side, went behind the net and his wrap-around shot sneaked past underneath the pad of Parsons for his second goal of the season at the 8:56 mark. Captain John McCarthy and Dylan Gambrell were credited with assists.

Halbgewachs gave the Cuda their first two-goal lead of the game just 15 seconds later. Spencer Foo’s shot off a face off was blocked and True sprung a pass out that led to a breakaway for Halbgewachs, who put a deke on Parsons and snapped the puck in the back of the net for his seventh goal of the season at the 9:11 mark. It was Halbgewachs’ first goal in his last nine games. Martin received the secondary assist.

Praplan padded the lead for San Jose with his second goal of the night. He ended up with the puck out of a scramble in front of the net was able to beat Parsons for his third goal of the season at the 17:06 mark. The sixth goal allowed by Parson would be enough to send him to the showers for the rest of the night. He was replaced by Jon Gillies. Anti Suomela and Calvan Fitzgerald were credited with assists.

Stockton inched closer at the beginning of the third period with their second power play goal. Hamilton sent in an innocent looking wrist shot on net that had eyes of its own as Korenar never saw the puck and was in the back in the net for Hamilton’s third goal of the season at the 2:55 mark. It was his first goal in his last 12 games. Phillips and Rychel received assists.

Ryan Lomberg made it a one-goal game when he was able to poke the puck past Kornear in a mad scramble, where Korenar lost vision of the puck. Lomberg’s third goal of the season came at the 11:38 mark. left pad over and into the back of the net. Alan Quine received the only assist.

Korenar made 21 saves on 26 shots, including a huge save on Phillips with just seconds remaining to preserve the win, to earn his 13th victory of the season and seventh in a row. Parsons suffered the loss giving up six goals on 31 shots. Gillies stopped all 14 shots he faced in 22 minutes of mop up duty.

GAME NOTES: San Jose was 0/2 on the power play. Stockton was 2/2.

In seven games against San Jose, Rychel has scored eight points (6G, 2A).

The announced attendance was 3,450.

UP NEXT: San Jose continues their three-game road trip in San Diego as they take on the Gulls on Friday, January 4 at 7:00 pm.

Gulls sink the Barracuda 5-1

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Photo credit: @sjbarracuda

By Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE, Calif. — The San Diego Gulls stormed out to an early lead and never looked back as they dominated the San Jose Barracuda in a 5-1 victory on Sunday evening at SAP Center.

San Diego (14-11-1-3) drew first blood early in the first period when Chase De Leo scored his seventh goal of the season at the 4:13 mark when he was able to beat Cuda goalie Antoine Bibeau (6-5-3) with a wrist shot on a 2-on-1 odd man rush. Joseph Blandisi and Matt Berry received assists.

Max Jones doubled San Diego’s lead when he scored his 10th goal of the season late in the opening frame. Jones’s shot from point-blank range that beat Bibeau through the five-hole came at the 14:27 mark. Sam Carrick and Luke Gadzic received assists.

Gulls goalie Kevin Boyle (10-5-0) was the main reason for San Diego’s success as he frustrated San Jose from start to finish. The Cuda outshot San Diego 13-5 in the first period, but weren’t able to get one in the back of the net.

San Diego extended its lead to 3-0 when Sam Steel finished off a pretty cross-rink pass from Troy Terry that beat Bibeau for his sixth goal of the season at the 6:23 mark. Trevor Murphy received the secondary assist.

San Jose (18-6-1-3) finally got on the scoreboard just before the end of the middle frame when Dylan Gambrell skated down the right side and found an uncovered John McCarthy all alone in the slot and the captain’s backhander beat Gulls goalie Kevin Boyle for his seventh goal of the season at the 19:54 mark.

Despite outshooting San Diego 18-5 in the second period, Boyle would continue his dominance over the Cuda, only allowing one goal on 31 shots through 40 minutes of action.

San Diego ended any thought of a San Jose comeback with two late third period goals. Carrick cashed in on a 3-on-1 opportunity when he scored his 17th goal of the season at the 14:02 mark. Then, Terry closed out the scoring with an empty-net goal at the 18:06 mark.

Boyle, who was reassigned back to Gulls yesterday, ended up making 34 saves on 35 shots for his 10th victory of the season. Bibeau suffered the loss after allowing four goals on just 16 shots.

GAME NOTES: San Jose was 0/6 on the power play. San Diego went 0/3.

Barracuda mascot Frenzy celebrated his birthday during the game.

The announced attendance was 3,666.

UP NEXT: The Barracuda travel up to Stockton to take on the Heat to close out the calendar year on Monday, December 31 at 5:00 pm at Stockton Arena.

Barracuda ground the Eagles 3-1

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Photo credit: @sjbarracuda

By Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Once the San Jose Barracuda were able to get their legs underneath them in the second period, they took full advantage, scoring three unanswered goals in a 3-1 victory over the Colorado Eagles on Thursday afternoon at SAP Center.

Colorado (15-10-3-1) drew first blood just past the halfway mark of the first period. Micheal Joly pick pocketed the puck off of Calvan Fitzgerald. He raced down the right-wing and centered a pass over to Dominic Toninato who buried the puck off the crossbar past Cuda goaltender Josef Korenar (12-1-1) for his fourth goal of the season at the 10:57 mark. It was the first ever goal by Colorado on San Jose ice.

San Jose (18-5-1-3) put pressure on Eagles goaltender Pavel Francouz (13-6-2) late in the period when Truchon-Viel had a point-blank chance that he shot wide with under three minutes left. Then, while on the power play, captain John McCarthy’s attempt was stoned away by Francouz off a nice give and go with Francis Perron. San Jose outshot Colorado 9-8 in the opening frame.

Nick DeSimone had a breakaway chance early in the second period seconds after he stepped out of the penalty box, but the puck slid off his stick on his shooting attempt on Francouz.

Perron evened the game at 1-1 on the power play for San Jose. His wrist shot had some english on it that was too much for Francouz to handle at the 9:16 mark. Perron leads the Cuda in overall goals with 13 and power play goals with six. He is on a three-game goal streak.

San Jose received their first lead of the game half way through the middle frame.  Maxim Letunov picked up the puck in the neutral zone and moved in to the Eagles zone away from the defense. He found a wide-open Kyle Wood, who snapped home a perfectly timed wrist shot past Francouz on the short side for his second goal of the season at the 11:26 mark.

The Cuda managed only five shots in the second period, but two of them were in the back of the net. The Eagles had even less shots with just three.

Letunov gave the Cuda an insurance goal to take a 3-1 lead on the power play half way through the third period. Letunov’s attempted pass to Alex True was broken up, but he quickly pounced back on the puck and snapped it past Francouz for his sixth goal of the season at the 11:27 mark. Letunov was finally rewarded for all his hard work as that was his first goal in his last 17 games. Wood and Jeremy Roy received assists.

Korenar made 14 saves on 15 shots to earn his 12th victory and sixth in a row. Francouz made 29 saves on 32 shots in suffering the defeat. He is now currently 2-1 against San Jose.

GAME NOTES: San Jose was 2/5 on the power play. Colorado was 0/2. San Jose is second in the AHL on the penalty kill with a percentage of 86.8%.

Colorado is now 9-2-2 over their last 12 games. San Jose is now 2-0 against the Eagles at SAP Center and have earned at least a point in all four games this season.

The victory clinched the best record for the first half for San Jose and means head coach Roy Sommer will be the head coach of the Pacific Division at the AHL All-Star Game, held on January 28th, 2019 in Springfield, Mass. This will be the third time for Sommer coaching in an All-Star Game.

The announced attendance was 2,525.

UP NEXT: The Barracuda host the San Diego Gulls on Sunday, Dec. 30 at 5:00 pm at SAP Center.