Category: AHL

Barracuda cool down the Heat with 5-2 win

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Photo credit: @sjbarracuda

By Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE, Calif. — There’s something about the second period for the San Jose Barracuda (9-1-0-1). They scored three unanswered goals to defeat their NorCal rival Stockton Heat (4-6-1-0) 5-2 at SAP Center on Monday evening. It was the fourth win in a row for the Cuda.

The Heat didn’t waste much time taking advantage of Jeffery Truchon-Viel’s slashing penalty to draw first blood five minutes into the first period. Glenn Gawdin sent a pass to the net from the left slot where Kerby Rychel was camped in front of the crease. He collected his own rebound and jammed the puck past Cuda goalie Antoine Bibeau (4-1-1) into the back of the net for his sixth goal of the season at 5:01 mark.

Dylan Gambrell came a few inches of evening up the score with 20 seconds left in the frame while the Cuda were on the power play. Showcasing his speed and skill, he skated around two Heat defenders and was all alone on Heat goalie Jon Gillies (3-4-1), but his shot just sailed wide of the net.

Despite outshooting Stockton 13-7, San Jose heading into the first intermission down 1-0.

San Jose tied it up on the power play halfway through the second period. Gambrell sent over a pass to the point where Jeremy Roy rifled a shot that hit the left pad of Gillies and into the back of the net for Roy’s second goal of the season at the 9:23 mark. Vincent Praplan received the secondary assist.

The Cuda seized the lead just 17 seconds later when captain John McCarthy won a battle along the left boards and skated in on goal where his shot was stopped by Gillies. Truchon-Viel crashed the net hard and jammed home the rebound past Gillies for his second goal in two games at the 9:40 mark. Evan Weinger received the secondary assist.

“We’ve been playing together for a few games now,” said McCarthy about his gritty line. “I think we play a simple game, a straight ahead game. We get on the forecheck, that’s how we scored our goal tonight. That’s our strength.

“He brings so much, the little details,” said Truchon-Viel about his experienced linemate. “It’s so good for young guys like me and Evan (Weinger). For him to be on our line (makes it) even better.”

Matt Fonteyne completed the scoring in the second period off a nice cycle play by the Cuda. Alexander True fed Nick DeSimone, who then fed an open Fonteyne, who skated in and slammed the puck past the five-hole of Gillies for his second goal on the season at the 12:31 mark.

“We answered back with a power play goal,” said head coach Roy Sommer about his team outscoring their opponents 5-0 in the last two second periods. “Next shift Johnny Mac and Viel get their goal and then we’re kind of rolling. Kind of smelt a little blood and just kept going.”

Francis Perron would put the game away for the Cuda in the third period with the team’s second power play goal of the evening. Lukas Ridal carried the puck into the zone and dropped a back pass for Perron who wristed a shot just to the inside corner of the goal past Gillies for his team-leading sixth goal on the season at the 9:07 mark. Jayden Halbgewachs received the secondary assist.

Andrew Mangiapane cut the lead in half on an odd man rush. He skated in from the right slot and wristed a shot on Bibeau that hit off his blocker and into the back of the net for his 5th goal of the season at the 14:24 mark. Curtis Lazar received the only assist on the goal.

Keaton Middleton immediately pushed down Mangipane after the goal and then exchanged fisticuffs with the Heat’s Anthony Peluso, who defended his teammate, in a long-spirited fight that sent both players to the showers for the night.

DeSimone closed out the scoring with an unassisted, empty-net goal with 56 seconds left for his third goal of the season.

Bibeau had another stellar outing in the net with 17 saves on 19 shots to earn the win. Gillies suffered the tough luck loss, making 33 saves on 37 shots.

“He made key saves at the right moment,” said Perron about his goaltender. “Every time we need him, we know he’s back there, he’s always (plays) huge for us.”

GAME NOTES: San Jose was 2/9 on the power play. Stockton was 1/4.

San Jose is currently 3-1 against Stockton on the season. Overall they are 26-11-2-1, including 13-6-0-0 at SAP Center.

Dynamic duo! Bibeau and Josef Kornear are number one and two in the AHL goals against average and third and fourth in save percentage.

San Jose is is ranked first in the AHL in goal differential with a +22.

The announced attendance was 1,894.

UP NEXT: The Cuda travel out to the Arizona desert to start a two-game series with the defending Pacific Division champion Tucson Roadrunners on Friday, November 9 at 6:05 pm PT.

Barracuda remain hot, topple Rampage 3-1

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Photo credit: @sjbarracuda

By Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE, Calif. — It was a night made for debuts. A goal for a pair of San Jose Barracuda (8-1-0-1) forwards. The goaltending was stellar and three unanswered goals were enough for the Cuda to send the visiting the San Antonio Rampage (2-9-0-0) to their ninth loss in 10 games in a 3-1 victory at SAP Center on Friday evening. It was San Jose’s third win a row.

The first period ended scoreless with both teams registering nine shots on goal. The best chance for both teams came seconds apart with six and half minutes remaining in the period. The Rampage had a 2-on-1 chance that failed to get a shot on Cuda goalie Josef Korenar (5-0-0). San Jose countered immediately as Evan Weinger was sent in with a breakaway attempt at San Antonio blue line and his shot was stoned by Rampage goalie Ville Husso (1-7-0).

Lukas Radil would draw first blood for the Cuda early in the second period. Nick DeSimone sent cross ice over to the left point to rebound Keaton Middleton where he fired a shot on net that was blocked out in front of the crease by Husso. Radil pounced on the rebound and went forehand to backhand to score his 1st goal of the season and first goal as a member of the Barracuda at the 1:03 mark.

Evan Weinger was credited with his fourth goal of the season after a wraparound attempt by Maxim Letunov was stopped. The rebound trickled out to the slot, where Weinger was able to deflect the puck off a Rampage defender past Husso for a 2-0 lead. Jeffery Truchon-Viel received the secondary assist on the goal at the 8:25 mark of the second period.

“Hey you win a lot of hockey games in the second period”, said Cuda head coach Roy Sommer. “Because most of the time if you have the lead going into the third (period) you’re in pretty good shape. We found a way to that this year.”

Truchon-Viel gave the Cuda a little insurance early in the third period. Jacob Middleton sent in a shot from the point that deflected off a body in front of the crease. Truchon-Viel was able to collect the rebound and in a 360 degree motion swooped the puck through traffic as it trickled past Husso for his first goal as a Barracuda at the 2:57 mark.

“All the guys are pushing together,” said Truchon-Viel. “We had 10 forwards (after the first period) and (yet) we found a way to win the game.”

Samuel Bias would spoil the shutout bid for Korenar when he skated in all alone on a rush and flipped a pretty backhander top-shelf past Korenar for his first goal of the season at the 15:23 mark.

“It’s really fun playing with these guys,” said Weinger. “If you’re having fun, good things will happen.”

Korenar remained unbeaten making 22 saves on 23 shots saves for the victory. Husso suffered the loss making 30 saves on 33 shots.

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

Dylan Gambrell was back in the lineup for San Jose after being reassigned from the San Jose Sharks.

Cuda goalie Antoine Bibeau was named CCM/AHL goaltender of the month for October after allowing just nine goals on 149 shots with a 3-1-1 record . He ranks first goals-against average 1.75 and save percentage .940.

San Antonio have only five players who were a holdover from last season’s squad.

The announced attendance was 3,156.

UP NEXT: The Barracuda host their Nor Cal rival the Stockton Heat on Monday, November 5 at SAP Center at 7:00 pm PT.

Bigger than AHL hockey: Barracuda fight for the City of San Jose

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Photo credit: @sjbarracuda

By: Ana Kieu

SAN JOSE, Calif. — The San Jose Barracuda didn’t just skate onto the ice at SAP Center on Friday night. Sure, the Barracuda were ready to wrap up their two-game season series versus the San Antonio Rampage after San Jose topped San Antonio 2-1 at AT&T Center last Friday, but this team was more than high-caliber goaltending and red-hot rookies who took the ice by storm. The Barracuda were ready to honor not only the cancer fighters and survivors in their lives, but also anyone else who has been coping with the disheartening disease in the City of San Jose.

The Barracuda wore custom decals that said “Hockey Fights Cancer.” The decals were easy on the eyes, as they were in a shade of lavender, and they definitely served a purpose. And, while the Barracuda players may not hail from California or even the West Coast, they all had one thing on their mind–Barracuda can bite cancer.

As usual, the Barracuda players prepared for the game versus the Rampage with their exercise bikes and soccer drills on the first floor of the SAP Center. The Barracuda were all smiles as they did those two things, which was a good thing as it’s important to stretch before a game to avoid potentially painful injuries.

Barracuda fans in attendance enjoyed the team’s happy hour featuring $2 beers and $1 hot dogs, which were unusual prices to see in today’s hockey games at arenas across the country. But they enjoyed those very low prices and that’s all that matters.

The Barracuda prepared to beat the Rampage again. San Jose is 11-5-2-1 all-time against San Antonio and 6-2-1-0 at SAP Center. Hopefully, San Jose’s hard work will pay off.

Barracuda supernova the Stars 6-1 to sweep Texas trip

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Photo credit: @sjbarracuda

By Marko Ukalovic

It wasn’t exactly the “Four Dead in Five Gun Fight” 137 years ago in Texas, but it was as close as it could get for a hockey game. The San Jose Barracuda (7-1-0-1) scored four goals in the second period in a 6-1 thrashing of the Texas Stars (4-3-1-1) on Saturday evening at H-E-B Center at Cedar Park to sweep their two-game Texas road trip.

Texas didn’t take long to get the opening goal. Michael Mersch tipped in a shot from Denis Gurianov past the five-hole of Cuda goalie Antoine Bibeau (3-1-1) for his fourth goal of the season at the 1:17 mark of the first period.

San Jose would respond with the equalizer just over a minute later, in what would start six consecutive unanswered goals by the Cuda. Jayden Halbgewachs would score his fifth goal of the season after receiving a pass from co-team goal leader Maxium Letunov and jammed in his own rebound past Texas goalie Colton Point (1-2-1) from point-blank range at the 2:33 mark. Filip Sandberg received the secondary assist.

The Cuda took over the lead just 61 seconds later and never looked back when defenseman Keaton Middleton jumped all over a loose puck and wristed it inside the far left post for his first career AHL goal at the 3:34 mark. Alexander True and Lukas Radil received assists on the Middleton’s first ever professional goal.

San Jose expanded their lead early in the second period when Manny Wiederer was able to deflect a shot from the point from Jacob Middleton that just trickled past the goal-line at the 3:50 mark. It was Wiederer’s third goal of the season. Kyle Wood received the secondary assist.

The Cuda poured it on the rest of the second period. Jeremy Roy received a pass from Radil, skated in from the point and rifled a shot past Point for his first goal of the season at the 14:24 mark. Matt Fonteyne received the secondary assist.

Radim Simek joined the goal party over a minute later when his shot from the point beat Point through his five hole for a 5-1 lead at the 15:36 mark. Simek’s second goal of the season would send Point to the showers as he was replaced by Landon Bow. Praplan and Manny Weiderer received assists.

Letunov, who assisted on Halbgewachs goal, beat Bow through his five hole to complete a four-goal second period. His fifth goal of the season was assisted by Halbgewachs at the 16:18 mark.

Bibeau was sharp in the net with 20 saves on 21 shots for the win. Point allowed five goals on only 16 goals in suffering the defeat. Bow finished with nine saves on 10 shots in mop up relief.

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

San Jose stays undefeated on the road at 5-0. This is the first time in franchise history they finished the month of October with a perfect road record.

This was only the second time this season the Cuda didn’t score the first goal.

Fisticuffs! San Jose’s Jeffery Viel and Texas’ Samuel Laberge late in the second period.

Gurianov has scored a point in six straight games.

The Cuda will only play Texas twice this season as the Stars were realigned into the Central Division (along with San Antonio) of the Western Conference.

The announced attendance was 4,841.

UP NEXT: San Jose returns home on Friday, November 2 to host the San Antonio Rampage at SAP Center at 7:00 pm PT.

Barracuda get quirky goal to send Rampage to eighth straight loss with 2-1 win

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Photo credit: @sjbarracuda

By Marko Ukalovic

When you are off to your best start in franchise history, the luck usually goes your way. The San Jose Barracuda (6-1-0-1) took advantage of a weird bounce to score the game-winning goal to beat the San Antonio Rampage (1-8-0-0) 2-1 at AT&T Center on Friday evening. The Rampage have now lost eight games in a row.

Kyle Wood sent in a puck along the boards from the right side of the neutral zone that caromed off a glass stanchion out to the middle of the slot where Rampage goalie Ville Husso (1-6-0) was out of position and waiting for Matt Fonteyne who tapped it into an empty net for his first goal of his season at the 7:14 mark of the third period. Lukas Radil received the secondary assist.

Neither team scored in the first period as it was a tightly-checked defensive battle in the opening frame. Each team only registered six shots on net. Both teams had an abbreviated power play that didn’t generate any chances.

San Jose had a chance to take the lead with just 30 seconds left when Manny Weiderer fed a pass over to Jayden Halbgewachs. He then fed it over to Vinnie Praplan, who misfired on a shot wide of an open net.

Francis Perron took advantage of a two-man advantage power play for the Cuda to break the deadlock in the second period. Kyle Wood retrieved his own rebound and sent a pass over to Perron at the point where he skated in front of the circles and picked his spot, wiring a wrist shot off the near post past Husso for his team-leading fifth goal season of the season at the 5:50 mark. It was also his third power play goal for San Jose.

San Antonio had a 2-on-1 odd man chance late in the second period, but they weren’t able to get a shot on goal at Cuda goalie Josef Korenar (4-0-0). San Jose out shot San Antonio 11-7 in the second period.

San Antonio scored the equalizer in the third period, thanks to a bad line change by the Cuda. Nolan Stevens made a heads up pass over to Klim Kostin, who skated in on a 2-on 0 with Adam Musil. Kostin sent the puck over to Musil, who tapped it into the net for his second goal of the season at the 5:28 mark.

Korenar had an excellent third period, including a point-blank save on Nikita Soshnikov just 27 seconds into the period to stay perfect on the season. He finished with 27 saves out of 28 shots for the victory. Husso made 19 saves on 21 shots in suffering the tough luck loss.

GAME NOTES: San Jose went 1/4 on the power play. The came into the game ranked 23rd in the AHL. It was the first time they have scored on the power play in two games.

San Antonio was 0/4 on the power play.

San Jose is 4-0 on the road this season.

Forward Lukad Ridal returned to the lineup after missing the past two game due to a lower body injury. Fonteyne also returned to the lineup after being a healthy scratch the past two games.

The Rampage celebrated Dia De Los Muertos night by wearing a special game jersey “Los Chimuelos De San Antonio.”

The announce attendance was 7,703.

UP NEXT: San Jose continues the Texas road trip up to Austin to take on the Texas Stars on Saturday, October 27 at 5:00 pm PT.

San Jose Barracuda podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Cuda had punchless effort against Heat Sunday; SJ gets set for trip to San Antonio on Friday night

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Photo credit: @sjbarracuda

On the San Jose Barracuda podcast with Marko:

#1 How tough was it to lose to Stockton on home ice last Sunday after winning five of their first seven games in San Jose’s best start?

#2 The previous night before San Jose on Saturday got a three-goal win in Stockton 5-2, but the Heat was hot and wanted a revenge and bounced back on Sunday with a 3-2 win.

#3 In the second period, the Barracuda were in penalty trouble and they got shelled when Spencer Foo hit a goal for his fifth of the season and the Heat took a 3-0 lead.

#4 The Barracuda also struggled to score in the first ten minutes of the second period and that also costed them time and effort, especially when Stockton was converting shots.

#5 The Barracuda get set for San Antonio on Friday, October 26th at 5:30 pm. Marko sets this one up for us.

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

Barracuda fall 3-2 to Heat at SAP Center

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Photo credit: @AHLHeat

By: Ana Kieu

SAN JOSE, Calif. — The San Jose Barracuda and Stockton Heat wrapped up their home and home series at SAP Center on Sunday. In case you missed it, San Jose downed Stockton by a score of 5-2 last night. San Jose used a four-goal third period to leave Stockton in shock.

Barracuda head coach Roy Sommer went with Antoine Bibeau, Dylan Gambrell, Vincent Praplan, Francis Perron, Cavan Fitzgerald and Keaton Middleton for his starting lineup.

However, Stockton got on the board first. Andrew Mangiapane scored his second goal of the season with 6:25 left in the first quarter. Oliver Kylington and Tyler Graovac collected the assists on Mangiapane’s goal.

Stockton doubled their lead a little less than two minutes later. Graovac scored his third goal of the season with 4:31 left in the first. Mangiapane and former Barracuda right winger Buddy Robinson collected the assists on Graovac’s goal.

The Heat were fired up and held a 2-0 lead over the Barracuda at the end of the first. Stockton edged San Jose in shots, 9-8.

The second period was chock full of penalties for both teams, but Stockton was the only team who capitalized on a man advantage. Spencer Foo notched his third goal of the season on the 5-on-3 to give the Heat a 3-0 lead with 8:12 left in the second. Graovac collected the assist on Foo’s power play goal.

Also, San Jose struggled to find the back of the net in the second for the first 10 minutes of the second. But the Barracuda avoided a shutout, thanks to Maxim Letunov’s fifth goal of the season with 5:02 left in the second. Praplan collected the lone assist on Letunov’s goal.

The Barracuda made it a one-goal game when Jayden Halbgewachs scored his third goal of the season with 1:11 left in the second.

The Heat still held a 3-2 lead over the Barracuda at the end of the second. Shots were even at 20 apiece.

The Heat were unable to capitalize with the man advantage on both Barracuda penalties, but they managed to hold on for a 3-2 win in the second game of the home-and-home series. Heat goalie Tyler Parsons stopped 26 of 28 shots for the road win, while Barracuda goalie Antoine Bibeau made 26 saves on 29 shots in a home loss.

Notes 
The San Jose Sharks announced that the club reassigned center Dylan Gambrell to the San Jose Barracuda. Gambrell played today.

Barracuda goalie Antoine Bibeau played in his 150th AHL game today.

There’s a Second Harvest food drive going on at SAP Center. This is one of the most difficult times of the year, so if you have any canned goods, please donate them at a Barracuda home game to help families in need.

Up Next 
The Barracuda head out on the road to take on the San Antonio Rampage on Friday, October 26 at 5:30 pm PT.

Barracuda bury the Heat with a four-goal third period en route to a 5-2 win

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Photo credit: @sjbarracuda

By Marko Ukalovic

The San Jose Barracuda (5-0-0-1) continued their best start in franchise history by getting four third-period goals to take down the Stockton Heat (1-3-1-0) 5-2 at Stockton Arena on Saturday evening.

Maxim Letunov broke a 1-1 deadlock in the third period for the game-winning goal. Jayden Halbgewachs set up the Letunov, who was able to shoot the puck past Heat goalie Jon Gillies (1-1-1) for his third goal of the season at the 8:26 mark. Filip Sandberg, who made his season debut, received the secondary assist.

San Jose drew first blood late in the first period. Halbgewachs was able to shoot the puck past Gillies for his third goal of the season at the 12:48 mark.  Letunov received the primary assist on the goal and Sandberg received the secondary assist.

The Cuda had an early opportunity to increase their lead early in the second period when they had a two-man advantage for a minute but weren’t able to cash in. They also weren’t able to capitalize late in the frame when Ollad Mattson went into the sin bin for interference at the 17:48 mark.

Despite out shooting the Heat 10-1 in a second period they dominated, San Jose went into the second intermission with only a one-goal lead.

Stockton would tie the score early in the third period. Andrew Mangipane scored an unassisted goal for his first goal of the season when he beat Cuda goalie Joesef Kornear (3-0-0) at the 1:42 mark.

San Jose sealed the game late in the third period with two goals in 20 seconds. Manny Weiderer scored an unassisted goal at the 14:12 mark for his second goal of the season. Letunov then scored his second goal of the game and fourth of the season at the 14:32 mark. Kyle Wood and Sandberg, who earned a three-point night, received assists on the goal.

Stockton scored a power play goal with 40 seconds left in the game to make the result look respectable. Glenn Gawdin scored his second goal of the season. Brett Pollock and Oliver Kylington received assists.

Evan Weinger made it official with his third goal of the season with seven seconds left in the game. Wood and Jacob Middleton were credited with assists.

Korenar made 19 saves on 21 shots to earn the victory. Gillies had a busy night stopping 34 saves on 39 shots in suffering the defeat.

GAME NOTES: San Jose was 0/6 on the power play. Stockton was 1/4.

The announced attendance was 3,428.

UP NEXT: The home and home series shifts back to San Jose on Sunday, October 21 as the Barracuda and Heat face off at SAP Center at 3:00 pm PT.

San Jose Barracuda podcast with Marko Ukalovic: True Blue from the Blue Line helps Cuda get past Roadrunners last Monday night

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Photo credit: sjbarracuda.com

On the San Jose Barracuda podcast with Marko:

#1 Not too many people knew about the schedule change when the Barrcuda added a home game on Monday, October 15th vs. the Tuscon Roadrunners just a little over 2,000 fans turned out for the Monday night game at SAP Center. How was the turn out, despite the schedule change?

#2 The Barracuda’s Alex True scored the only goal in the shootout to give the Barracuda the edge over the Roadrunners in the 3-2 victory.

#3 The Barracuda are in their best start in their history with a 4-0 record and they’ve shown great command over the other AHL teams with their next game in Stockton on Saturday night.

#4 The goal by Dylan Gambrell was a pretty goal with a shot into the left corner of the goal for the Barracuda at 14:43 of the second period to give the Barracuda the 3-2 lead and eventual win.

#5 There were some big names that ended up in the big club last season, but how bout these guys who are making history this season? Who do you like on the roster that has a shot to make it to the show?

Marko will be covering the Barracuda at Stockton on Saturday, October 20th at 6:00 pm.

Ana Kieu will be covering the Stockton Heat and the Barracuda from SAP Center on Sunday, October 21st at 3:00 PM.

Marko Ukalovic does Barracuda hockey podcasts each Wednesday and covers all home and away Barracuda games at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Barracuda shoot down the Roadrunners in 3-2 shootout win

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Photo credit: @sjbarracuda

By Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Alex True was the only one to score in the shootout and that was enough for the San Jose Barracuda (4-0-0-1) as they came back to defeat the Tucson Roadrunners (3-0-0-1) 3-2 in a shootout victory at SAP Center on Monday evening. This is the best start to a season in the Barracuda’s history.

The first period didn’t feature much action as both teams combined for just 15 shots. San Jose had two descent chances to take the lead. Dylan Gambrell, just recalled back from the Sharks, had his short-handed back hand attempt stopped by Roadrunners goalie Hunter Miska (1-0-1) with eight minutes left in the first period. Manny Wiederer had his shot from the slot ring off the post with five minutes remaining in the opening frame.

Gambrell broke the deadlock late in the second period. Nick DeSimone won a battle along the right boards, fed a pass over to Francis Perron who then one-timed a quick pass over to Gambrell skating in from the point and he wired a shot into the left corner of the goal for his third goal of the season at the 14:43 mark.

“I think we were getting kinda too cute at the blue line,” said Gambrell. “We started chipping pucks in (getting them) below the goal line getting stuff to the net. (The goal) shifted the momentum of it.”

Dakota Mermis would get the equalizer for Tucson just under two minutes later when he was able to keep the puck inside the Cuda zone on the left side of the blue line. He then sent in what looked like an innocent looking shot on goal that sneaked past Cuda goalie Antoine Bibeau (2-0-1) for his first goal of the season at the 16:15 mark.

Former Cuda forward Adam Helewka, who was sent to the Arizona Coyotes in the June trade for defenseman Kyle Wood, would come back to haunt San Jose when he tipped in a pass by Laurent Dauphin just 51 seconds after Mermis’ goal. Helewka was able to skate in past the Cuda defense and was all alone to tip the puck past Bibeau for his fourth goal of the season at 17:06.

San Jose came back in the third period to tie the game up at 2-2, thanks to a delay of game penalty that sent them on a power play. They would need only nine seconds to convert as Perron rifled a wrist shot from the middle of the slot past Miska into the upper left corner of the goal for his fourth goal of the season at the 12:20 mark. Gambrell and Jeremy Roy received assists.

“It was a scrambling puck, a battle in front of the net,” said Perron. “(There was) a good screen in front of the goalie and I just picked my spot and it went in. It was a huge goal for us.”

Helewka had a breakaway attempt with under three minutes left in the overtime period, but Bibeau stood his ground and made the save on Helewka’s backhander.

San Jose had a glorious chance to end it in overtime. A slashing penalty on Kyle Capobianco with 1:47 left in overtime gave the Cuda a power play to finish out the game. Then Dauphin took a tripping penalty with 41 seconds left to give the Cuda a two-man advantage. However, San Jose was unable to capitalize.

“I think so,” said head coach Roy Sommer when asked if this was the most satisfying win on the season thus far. “When you’re down and you find a way to tie it up and then you win it in overtime, it makes it a little special.”

Both goalies put on a clinic in the shootout. Bibeau, who was perfect in the shootout, finished the game with 31 saves on 33 shots for the victory. Miska had 34 saves on 36 shots in suffering the defeat.

“I was hoping we would score in overtime,” said Bibeau. “I didn’t want a shootout after what happened last game. I was ready and I wanted to be aggressive tonight and dictate their play of their shootout attempt.”

GAME NOTES: San Jose went 1/5 on the power play. Tucson was 0/3.

Cuda defenseman Zach Frye was injured halfway through the second period when a puck hit him in the face. He did not return to the game.

Fisticuffs!
Tucson’s Trevor Cheek took exception to a clean hit by San Jose’s Jeffery Viel and the two had a spirited brawl at center ice with just under three minutes left in the third period.

The announced attendance was 2,095.

UP NEXT: The Cuda travel up to Stockton on Saturday, October 20 to begin a home and home series with the Heat at 6:00 pm PT at Stockton Arena.