Category: AHL

Roadrunners end Barracuda’s season with 3-0 shutout victory in Game 4

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By Marko Ukalovic

The San Jose Barracuda (1-3) were veterans of playing with their backs against the wall this season. Winning six straight games just to make the playoffs, their luck ran out on their season as the Pacific Division champion Tuscon Roadrunners (3-1) finished off the best of five series 3-1 with a 3-0 shutout victory in Game 4 on Friday evening at Tuscon Convention Center Arena. Tuscon will take on the Texas Stars in the second round of the playoffs.

The Cuda gave a much better performance from the other night, but it wasn’t enough to force a decisive Game 5 as they were shutout in back-to-back games, thanks to another solid performance by goaltender Adin Hill (3-1). Hill stopped all 25 shots in doing his part to help the Roadrunners advanced to the next round. Tuscon outscored San Jose 9-0 in the final two games of the series.

San Jose had an early scoring chance in the first period when captain John McCarthy, with 40 seconds left on the penalty kill, had his short-handed wraparound attempt stopped by a sprawling Hill to keep the puck out of the net.

However, the ice would be tilted in favor of Tuscon in the first 20 minutes. Antoine Bibeau (1-3) was Superman making big saves on a breakaway chance by Michael Bunting eight minutes into the game, robbed Lawson Crouse of a goal two minutes later and a point-blank chance on Mario Kempe after he skated in all alone right out of the penalty box seconds after the Roadrunners killed off his slashing penalty. Tuscon outshot San Jose 10-4.

Joachim Blichfeld’s empty-net chance was taken away when two Roadrunner defensemen collapsed on him to knock the puck away from Blickfeld’s stick two minutes into the second period.

Tuscon would break the seal in the second period after a failed clearing attempt by the Cuda. Carter Camper was able to feed the puck over to Kempe, who snapped home a shot from the hash marks that trickled past Bibeau’s arm into the back of the net for his third goal of the playoffs at the 4:24 mark. Andrew Campbell received the secondary assist.

Conor Garland would give the Roadrunners an insurance goal with his first goal of the series. A Campbell shot from the point rattled off Adam Helweka’s body and hit off Garland into the back of the net for a 2-0 lead at the 4:53 mark in the third period. Dylan Strome received the secondary assist. It was his eight straight game with a point.

Kempe completed the scoring with his fourth goal of the series with an empty-net goal with 59 seconds left to seal the fate for the Cuda.

Bibeau had another MVP performance in net, making 31 saves on 33 shots in the tough luck loss. Hill, over the past two games, stopped 46 Cuda shots.

GAME NOTES: San Jose went 0/2 on the power play. Tuscon went 0/4.

Rourke Chartier and Brandon Mashinter were out of the lineup due to suffering injuries in Game 3. Jon Martin was in the lineup for the Cuda.

The Barracuda resigned defenseman Radim Simek to a two-year contract extension. They also resigned McCarthy to a one-year deal earlier this week.

 

Roadrunners make road kill out of Barracuda with 6-0 shutout in Game 3 of AHL first round series

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By Marko Ukalovic

The Tuscon Roadrunners (2-1) flexed their muscles early and often against the San Jose Barracuda (1-2) as six different goal scorers combined for a dominating 6-0 shutout victory in Game 3 to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series on Wednesday night at Tuscon Convention Center Arena.

The Pacific Division Champion would dominate from the drop of the puck and drew first blood early in the first period. Dylan Strome created a turnover inside the Cuda zone. He passed it over to Michael Bunting, the team co-leader in goals during the regular season with 23, in the low slot and he fired the puck past Antoine Bibeau (1-2) at the 2:27 mark.

San Jose dodged a bullet at the midway mark of the first period when a goal by defenseman Kyle Capobianco was disallowed after Bunting was called for goaltender interference. Bunting collided with Bibeau before he was able to center a pass to Capobianco who wristed a shot into the back of the net.

The Roadrunners would increase their lead 2-0 with Alex True in the sin bin for hooking. Lawson Crouse scored on a tic-tac-toe scoring play when Strome and Carter Camper made pretty one-time passes to get the puck to Krouse, who buried it home past Bibeau at the 12:47 mark. Crouse’s first goal of the series was also the first power play goal of the series for the Roadrunners.

Lane Perderson, who scored the game-winning goal in Game 1, skated down the left wing side and sent a rising wrist shot top-shelf past Bibeau’s left shoulder at the 16:16 mark. Andrew Campbell and Trevor Creek received assists on Pederson’s second goal of the series.

The closest chance the Cuda came toward a scoring chance was when Jacob Middleton’s shot hit the post during a mad scramble that Tuscon was able to clear the puck out that led to Pederson’s goal. They didn’t get their first shot on goal on Roadrunners goalie Adin Hill (2-1) until the 17:41 mark of the first period. They were outshot 10-3.

The Cuda responded with a better effort in the first five minutes of the second period as they outshot Tuscon 6-3 during that time frame. However, they weren’t able to get a puck past Hill.

Mike Sislo made it 4-0 with his first goal of the series when he tipped in a shot from the point by Dakota Mermis at the 6:53 mark of the second period. Strome received his third assist on the night. He now has six points in three games for the Roadrunners (3G, 3A).

Campbell fired a shot from the left point off the post into the back of the net for his first goal of the series. Campbell’s first goal of the playoffs ended a 32-game goalless drought at the at the 14:19 mark of the second period. Ryan MacInnnis–son of Hall of Fame defenseman Al MacInnis–and Conor Garland received the assists.

Bibeau’s night was done after that as he let in five goals on only 15 shots to suffer the loss. Stephon Williams relieved Bibeau to finish out the game with seven saves on eight shots. Hill earned the shutout victory stopping all 21 Cuda shots.

Mario Kempe made it 6-0 when he scored his second goal of the series just 53 seconds into the third period. Crouse and Mermis received assists on the goal.

GAME NOTES: San Jose was 0/3 on the power play. Tuscon was 1/1 on their only attempt. They are now 1/5 overall in the first three games.

Tuscon had a .574 home ice winning percentage (18-13-0) at home during the regular season.

Forward Joachim Blichfeld and defenseman Thomas Gregoire made their debuts for the Barracuda.

FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT! A big scrum that was led by Emerson Clark included 11 of the 12 skaters on the ice getting into it with Hill taking jabs at Clark with under eight minutes left in the lopsided game. Crouse also went after Julius Bergman with under five minutes left in the 3rd period. Crouse received a roughing penalty for his antics.

The 6-0 drubbing was the worst defeat for the Cuda since March 24th when they lost 7-3 to the Ontario Reign. It was also the first time they have been shutout in the post season.

The announced attendance was 4,799.

UP NEXT: Both teams return to action for Game 4 on Friday evening April 27 at 7:05 pm PT at Tuscon Convention Center Arena.

San Jose Barracuda podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Barracuda need to pick up win in Game 3; Balcers what the doctor ordered

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On the San Jose Barracuda podcast with Marko:

#1 The series restarts tonight in Tucson as both the Tucson Roadrunners and San Jose Barracuda are tied at one apiece. Is tied series an indication of who these two teams are?

#2 In Game 2 played at SAP Center on Friday, April 21, the Barracuda evened the series with a 6-3 win. Rudolfs Balcers scored two goals. Also, Balcers got four points in the game.

#3 The Cuda lost the first game last Wednesday night 4-2, but in Game 2, it was a quick turnaround. The Cuda also got goals from Helewka (1), Wiederer (1), and Chartier (2).

#4 In goal for tonight’s game in Tucson, Antoine Bibeau, who stopped 22 shots and they needed the defense to keep them in the Game 2.

#5 Game 3 is tonight. How do you see these two teams matching up in Tucson? Will San Jose be able to handle a series on the road that could possibly go five games?

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

 

 

Barracuda even series with dominant 6-3 win over Roadrunners

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By Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE — The San Jose Barracuda (1-1) went back to well that they have relied on throughout the season. Rookie winger sensation Rudolfs Balcers scored two goals on his way to a four-point night in helping power his team to a 6-3 victory over the Pacific Division Champion Tuscon Roadrunners (1-1) on Saturday evening at SAP Center. With the win, San Jose evened up their best of five playoff series at one game apiece.

The Barracuda received the fast start they wanted. Ivan Chekhovich picked up the puck behind the net and fed a pass over to Balcers at the left slot. Balcers spun around and snapped home a shot, using the defenseman as a screen, past Roadrunners goalie Adin Hill (1-1) at the 1:25 mark of the first period for a 1-0 lead.

“Had one line really going tonight,” said head coach Roy Sommer about the Chartier-Balcers-Chekhovich line. “Those guys were really good. It was fun to watch.”

The Roadrunners would tie the score under three minutes later. Conor Garland pick pocketed Nick DeSimone inside the Cuda zone, fed the puck back to Dylan Strome who skated in from the right slot in between the faceoff circles and fired home a shot past Cuda goalie Antoine Bibeau (1-1). The unassisted goal came at the 4:18 mark of the first period.

Strome would give Tuscon the lead at the 6:16 mark after a successful faceoff win in the Cuda zone. Mario Kempe fed Strome a pass just beyond the right face off circle and Strome would send in a knuckleball of a shot toward the net that Bibeau never saw thanks to the screen by Garland for a 2-1 lead. It was Strome’s third goal of the playoffs.

In a period that went back and forth between the two teams, Adam Helewka tied it up on the power play. Alexander True’s pass went through the middle of the crease that found Jacob Middleton. Middleton, from the right side of the net, sent a pass back through the crease out in the middle that Balcers was able to touch pass over to Helewka and he buried a backhander into an empty net with Hill down on the ice at the 11:45 mark.

Rourke Chartier gave the Cuda the lead, scoring off the rebound of a Tim Heed shot. Balcers’ initial rebound attempt was stopped by Hill, but he couldn’t get to Chartier, as he was able to lift the puck past Hill for his first goal of the playoffs at the 15:08 mark.

The Roadrunners tied it up while the teams were skating 4-on-4 when Carter Camper carried the puck into the Cuda zone. As two San Jose defensemen gravitated toward him, he fed a behind the back pass over to a wide open Kempe who buried the point-blank shot top self in the left corner past Bibeau for his first goal of the playoffs at the 6:36 mark of the second period. Trevor Murphy received the secondary assist.

Each team had a breakaway opportunity to give their respective team the lead only to see each netminder come up with a huge save. Michael Bunting skated in all alone but was stoned by Bibeau with seven minutes left in the period. Sasha Chmelevski skated down the left boards 1-on-1 with Hill but his bank hand attempt was stymied by Hill less than a minute later in end-to-end action.

In the third period Balcers would give back the Cuda the lead they would not relinquish with his second goal of the evening. On a pretty give and go play Chartier passed the puck over to Balcers at the blue line, Balcers return the favor to find Chartier in the right shot, where his shot hit off the pads of Hill, and trickled out to the middle, where Balcers crashed the net and slammed home the puck past Hill into the left corner at the 3:45 mark.

“It’s always nice when you get that goal early, it got us going,” said Balcers about scoring his two goals. “I think the whole line was hot tonight. We had our chances and we scored them.”

San Jose would get an insurance goal as Chmelevski came in on a 3-on-2 rush, waited for everybody to skate past him, spun around and then fired a shot from the left point. Manny Weiderer drove to the net and was able to tip in the shot top self in the left corner of the goal for his first playoff goal at the 16:00 mark. Captain John McCarthy received the secondary assist.

Chartier completed the scoring with an empty-net goal when he was able to take a cross-ice feed from Chekhovich at the 18:28 mark. Chartier finished with a three points on the night (1G, 2A).

“I think I got to create out here,” said Chartier after the game. “That’s part of my job this year. Some nights it goes in, some nights it doesn’t. Tonight was one of those nights that it did.”

Bibeau, who was once again fabulous in the net for the Cuda, stopped 22 pucks on 25 attempts for the victory. Hill made 26 saves on 31 shots in a losing effort.

“I’ll tell you what, (in) the second period he (Bibeau) basically won us the game,” said Sommer. “They came in the power play, he made the first save and then he came out and made the next save. He did what he needed to do for us tonight.”

GAME NOTES: San Jose was 1/4 on the power play while Tuscon went 0/2.

CHIPPY AFTERMATH! Tempers flared at the end of the first period when a skirmish broke out right in front of the net. No actual fights occurred and there were no penalties enforced. Then with under a minute left in the 3rd period the teams exchanged pleasantries once again with a big scrum that led to fighting majors for San Jose’s Wiederer and Emerson Clark Tuscon’s Trevor Murphy.

“That happens, it’s the playoffs,” said Chartier regarding the extracurriculars during the game. “We don’t like them, they don’t like us and it’s only going to get more physical as it (the series) goes on.”

The announced attendance was 5,197. The Barracuda drew over a combined 9,000 fans for Games 1 and 2 of the series.

UP NEXT: The series shifts back to the desert for Game 3. The Barracuda take on the Roadrunners on Wedneday, April 25 at 7:05 pm PT.

Roadrunners’ late goal upends Barracuda 4-2 in Game 1 of AHL playoffs

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By Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE — A heartbreaking ending wasn’t what the San Jose Barracuda (0-1) deserved on a night where they were the more aggressive team, yet that was their fate as the Tuscon Roadrunners (1-0) received the game-winning goal from Lane Pederson late in the third period to defeat San Jose 4-2 in Game 1 of the first round of the Calder Cup Playoffs on Thursday evening at the SAP Center.

Michael Bunting came into the left slot and fed a pass over to Pederson, who was able snap home a shot between the five-hole of Cuda goalie Antoine Bibeau (0-1) with just 1:15 to play in the third period.

San Jose would control the first 10 minutes of the first period as they had quality scoring chances from captain John McCarthy on a wraparound attempt and Alexander True’s point blank chance from the right face off circle, both stymied by Roadrunners goalie Adin Hill (1-0).

“You can’t be disappointed in the effort,” said head coach Roy Sommer. “We had 14 grade A’s (scoring chances) in the second (period). I’m disappointed in the loss, but there was a lot more good than bad in that game.”

Tuscon would be the one to draw first blood at the 11:04 mark of the first period. Dakota Memis took a cross-ice feed from Carter Camper on an odd-man rush. Memis skated in from the right slot and snapped home a shot top-shelf past Bibeau for a 1-0 lead.

The Cuda had a chance early on in the second period to tie up the game when they had a 4-on-3 power play opportunity. Hill was under siege from a barrage of shot attempts by San Jose, but survived it, thanks to a combination of blocked shots by his penalty kill and some good glove work by the Tuscon netminder.

True continued to stay red hot for the Cuda. With Camper in the sin bin for tripping, Tim Heed fired a shot from the point that deflected off Hill onto the stick of a crashing True and he poked home the rebound past Hill for a power play goal at the 9:33 mark of the second period. It was True’s third goal in the past two games. Helewka received the secondary assist.

“Good play by Helewka on the half wall getting the puck off to Heeder (Tim Heed),” said True about his first goal in the playoffs. “I saw that he had a good lane and he made a perfect shot. The rebound just happened to land on my stick, a pretty easy tap in.”

The Roadrunners needed only 23 seconds to regain the lead. Joel Hanley fed Ryan MacInnis a pass in the neutral zone. MacInnis drove the down the right side of the boards and skated into the middle of the crease, where he slid a backhander past Bibeau at the 9:56 mark.

Despite outshooting the Roadrunners 22-6 and outchancing them in the second period, San Jose would head into the second intermission down by a goal.

“It’s a little frustrating because I think we played a complete game,” said McCarthy. “They (Tuscon) buried their chances and we had a lot of chances we didn’t bury. That’s something we gotta look to going forward (for game two). But as far as the compete level and being positionally sound, I thought we did a good job.”

The Cuda would get the equalizer when Heed sent in a shot on goal that rebounded back out to the end of the right faceoff circle. Helewka spun around and fired it back toward the net where it hit off Sasha Chmelevski’s chest into the net for the tying goal at the 5:16 mark of the third period. It was Helewka’s second assist on the night.

“It just hit me in the chest,” said Chmelevski. “When you go hard to the net, sometimes you get those fortunate bounces. It was obviously a huge goal (at the time), but unfortunately we couldn’t get the win today.”

Dylan Strome completed the scoring with an empty-net goal with 13 seconds left in the game.

Hill, who was the best player for the Roadrunners, made 36 saves on 38 shots for the victory. Bibeau made 20 saves on 23 shots in suffering the tough luck loss.

“I think we definitely have confidence going into the next game, knowing that we can definitely dominate the game,” said Chmelevski.

GAME NOTES: San Jose went 1/4 on the power play. Tuscon was 0/2.

McCarthy re-signed a one-year extension deal with the Barracuda before the game.

Rourke Chartier suffered an upper-body injury when he was high-sticked in the face with under two minutes remaining in the second period.

San Jose was 5-2-0-1 against Tuscon during the regular season.

UP NEXT: The Barracuda look to earn a split in the series in Game 2 of the first Round of the Calder Cup Playoffs on Saturday, April 21 at 7 pm PT at SAP Center.

San Jose Barracuda podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Big series starts Thursday night with Roadrunners; Series opens on home ice

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On the Barracuda podcast with Marko:

#1 The Barracuda are in the playoffs, but it took the last two games of the season to get there they had to win on Friday and then on Saturday home and away to get in.

#2 How vital was Alexander True in scoring twice for San Jose to help them get to the post season?

#3 Do you see Alexander getting a shot at the NHL in his future?

#4 The Barracuda ended the season on a very strong note with six straight wins.

#5 The Barracuda face off with the Tucson Roadrunners starting on Thursday night for Game 1 of the first round in San Jose can the Barracuda get this first round?

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

 

Barracuda make the playoffs with 2-1 victory over Heat and San Diego loss to Tuscon

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By Marko Ukalovic

In what turned out to be an elimination game on the seasonal finale, the San Jose Barracuda (34-26-4-4) were not going to be denied. Alexander True provided all the scoring and the Cuda held on in the final minute to defeat the Stockton Heat (34-28-2-4) 2-1 on Saturday evening at Stockton Arena. San Jose closed out the season on a six-game winning streak, their longest of the season.

What looked like an impossible scenario just a couple of weeks ago, the Barracuda are playoff bound thanks to San Diego’s 6-3 loss to Tuscon.

There was no scoring in an entertaining first period. Each team had chances to score only to be thwarted by the other team’s goaltender. Stockton dominated late in the period however they weren’t able to put a puck past Cuda goalie Antoine Bibeau (23-14-4). He made five key saves late in the first period, including on Austin Carrol with five minutes left in the period.

He also received some help from defenseman Jacob Middleton who sacrificed his body diving down to make a save with Bibeau out of position with eight minutes remaining left.

Heat goalie Jon Gillies (17-16-5) stopped a breakaway chance by Rourke Chartier. Stockton out shot the Cuda 12-10 in the first period.

The Cuda would break the seal in the second period. Brandon Mashinter started a rush up the ice on the right wing side, his shot on goal was stopped, but not controlled by Gillies. Rookie forward Alexander True cleaned up the rebound for his 14th goal on the season at the  mark.

True, the 20-year-old native from Copenhagen, Denmark, would score his second goal of the night seconds after their second power play opportunity ended. True was able to take a pass in between the circles from Colby McAuley and fired a shot past Gillies for his 15th goal on the season. Ivan Chekhovich received the secondary assist.

Brett Findley would cut the lead in half at the 17:16 mark of the second period. He skated down the left-wing side, was able to collect the puck and snap a shot past the five-hole of Bibeau for his 12th goal on the season.

Bibeau would come up huge in the second period when he was able to stop a 2-on-1 short-handed chance by Stockton and robbed Rasmus Andersson on an odd man chance just two minutes into the second period.

Gillies kept the Cuda from increasing their lead twice in the third period. First, Rudolfs Balcers had a great scoring chance only to be stopped by Gillies. Then, Gillies stoned Adam Helewka on a pretty tic-tac-toe play from John McCarthy an Sasha Cmelevski with six minutes left.

Bibeau, reassigned back to Cuda, made 30 saves on 31 shots to earn the victory. Gillies, who stood on his head in the third period to keep it a one goal game, made 28 saves on 30 shots, suffering the loss.

GAME NOTES: San Jose went 0/3 on the power play. Stockton was 0/1. Their 10-game scoring streak on the power play came to an end.

San Jose finished 7-5 against Stockton this season.

UP NEXT: The Cuda will open up on the road in Tuscon as they take on the Pacific Division Champion Roadrunners in the first round of the AHL Playoffs.

2018 Calder Cup Playoffs San Jose Barracuda and Tucson Roadrunners

Game #1: Thursday, April 19, 2018 (7 p.m.) – SAP Center
Game #2: Saturday, April 21, 2018 (7 p.m.) – SAP Center
Game #3: Wednesday, April 25, 2018 (7:05 p.m.) – Tucson Convention Center
Game #4: Friday, April 27, 2018 (7:05 p.m.) – Tucson Convention Center
 
Game #5: Saturday, April 28, 2018 (7:05 p.m.) – Tucson Convention Center 
If necessary*

 

Barracuda defeat Condors 4-3 for fifth straight win; stay alive for AHL playoffs

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By Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE — The San Jose Barracuda (33-26-4-4) are doing their part to keep their post season aspirations alive with another thrilling one-goal victory. They swept the home-and-home series against the Bakersfield Condors (30-27-9-1) with their 4-3 win on Thursday evening at SAP Center. They are currently on a five-game winning streak.

On Fan Appreciate Night and final home game of the regular season, the Cuda gave their fans some hope and a reason to pay attention to the season finale on Saturday by scoring two-third period goals and holding off the Condors’ threat late in the game. They now have to play the waiting game to see what the outcome of the San Diego Gulls at Tuscon Roadrunners game tomorrow night. If the Gulls get a point, San Jose is eliminated from the playoff contention.

“We put ourselves in this hole,” head coach Roy Sommer said about his team not controlling their own fate. “We just kinda have to live with it. You can’t say anybody has thrown in the towel here. I’m really proud of the way they’ve been playing.”

Bakersfield drew first blood in the first period. Tyler Benson fed a pass over to Kyle Platzer who fired a shot top-shelf past Cuda goalie Stephon Williams (3-1-0) for his eighth goal of the season at the 8:45 mark. Dmitri Samorukov received the secondary assist.

San Jose would stay red-hot on the power play as the were able to get the equalizer goal when Emerson Clark fed a cross-ice pass over to Manny Wiederer, who came crashing in from the right slot and one-timed a shot top-shelf past Condors goalie Nick Ellis (9-10-2) for his ninth goal of the season at the 16:43 mark of the first period. Radim Simek received the secondary assist. It was the 10th consecutive game the Cuda converted on the man advantage.

“That (goal) kinda got us jump started,” said Sommer. “The power play has scored in 10 straight games. A lot of good things are happening for us right now. I just hope it’s enough (to make the playoffs).”

The Cuda would gain the lead in the second period when Rourke Chartier fed a pass at the blue line up to Rudolfs Balcers that led to a 2-on-1 with Ivan Chekhovich. Balcers fed a perfect pass over to Chekhovich and he buried the puck past Ellis for his third goal in five games for the Cuda at the 7:46 mark.

Bakersfield would tied the game on the power play when Cooper Marody pinched in from the point to punch home a rebound that pinballed off David Gust to the left side of the crease where Marody was set up. Marody’s first professional goal of his career came at the 13:48 mark of the second period.

San Jose would go up 3-2 in the third period after a wild play in front of Ellis. Maintaining pressure inside the Condor zone, Colby McAuley put on a shot on net that created a mad scramble in front of the net with four Barracuda players that swarmed in front of the net. In a sea of madness, Radim Simek was able to poke home the puck past Ellis for his seventh goal on the season at the 6:43 mark. Alex True received the primary assist.

Sasha Chmelevski gave the Cuda what proved to be the game-winning goal when he was able to anticipate a clearing attempt in the Condor zone. He was able to strip the puck off the Condor defenseman, skate toward the middle of the ice and from the right slot lasered the puck in the upper left hand corner of the net for his third goal in five games at the 12:50 mark.

“The D was coming right at me, so I made a move around them,” said Chmelevski after the game. “Shot across the grain, it was a good shot. Anytime I like to cut across the ice, I feel more comfortable doing it. It’s more instinct than anything.”

Bakersfield wouldn’t go away quietly. Joey Leleggia cut the lead to the one when he scored his 14th goal on the season. Zach O’Brien skated into the Cuda zone, passed it over to Benson, who one-timed a pass over to Leleggia. With Noah Rod draped all over him, Leleggia snapped a shot past Williams with exactly five minutes left in the period.

Williams made 15 saves on 18 shots to earn the victory. Ellis made 30 saves on 34 shots in valiant effort in the defeat.

“The beautiful thing about hockey is, it’s not always perfect,” said Williams. “It’s about the team who buys in the most and wants it. I think it showed in the final scoreboard.”

GAME NOTES: San Jose was 1/4 on the power play. Bakersfield scored on their only power play opportunity.

All-Star goalie Antoine Bibeau was called up to the San Jose Sharks for their first round playoff series against the Anaheim Ducks. Nick Cafrelli served as the backup goaltender.

Balcers’ four-game goal streak was snapped.

The announced crowd for the final regular season home game was 6,250.

UP NEXT: The Barracuda travel up to Stockton for the final game of the regular season against the Heat on Saturday, April 14 at 7 pm PT.

Barracuda down the Condors 2-1 in a must-win game

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By Marko Ukalovic

The San Jose Barracuda (32-26-4-4) continued their late season magic in another must win game with a 2-1 victory over the the Bakersfield Condors (30-26-9-1) on Wednesday evening at Rabobank Arena. Combined with the San Diego Gulls 4-0 loss to the Tuscon Roadrunners, the Cuda’s fourth consecutive victory kept their faint playoff hopes alive for another day.

In order for San Jose to make the playoffs, they need to win out their final two games AND San Diego to lose out their final two remaining games as the Texas Stars have already clinched a playoff berth.

There was no scoring or penalties in the first period. Both goaltenders kept the game scoreless, thanks to a big save by each netminder. Cuda goalie Antonie Bibeau (22-14-4) made a point blank save on Joe Gambardella midway through the first period. Condors goalie Laurent Brossoit (14-10-4) made a fantastic stop on a Rourke Chartier shot headed toward the back of the net and then seconds later on a Rudolfs Balcers rebound attempt with under three minutes left in the opening frame. San Jose outshot Bakersfield 12-11.

Chartier had a chance to give the Cuda an early lead three minutes into the second period when he skated in on a breakaway. However, his shot missed to the right of the goal.

San Jose would cash in on a 5-on-3 power play opportunity. Chartier sent over a pass to Balcers, who fired home a shot past Brossoit for his team-leading 23rd goal (and eighth power play goal) on the season at the 13:36 mark of the second period.  His 23rd goal had tied the Cuda rookie goal record set last year by Danny O’Reagan. Tim Heed received the secondary assist.

The Cuda dominated the second period as they out shot the Condors 16-3 and controlled play throughout period, thanks to three power play opportunities.

Chartier, who was snake-bitten earlier in the game, gave the Cuda an insurance goal when he buried a one-timer underneath the pad of Brossoit after a set-up pass by Ivan Chekhovich at the 10:59 mark of the third period. In just four games with the Cuda, Chekhovich already has seven points (2G, 5A). Chartier’s seventh goal makes it two goals in the past three games after going the previous 10 without a goal. Nick DeSimone received the secondary assist.

Tyler Vesel would get the Condors on the board late in the third period. Cooper Marody led a 2-on-1 odd man rush and sent a pass over to Vesel, who fired a shot past the left pad of Bibeau for his second goal of the season at the 16:43 mark. It was Vesel’s fourth point in just his ninth game with Bakersfield. Marody’s assist was his first professional point of his career.

Bibeau made 22 saves on 23 shots he faced to earn the victory. He is now 4-3 against Bakersfield this season.

Brossoit made 32 saves on 34 shots in the defeat. He is now 2-3 against San Jose this season.

GAME NOTES: San Jose went 1/4 on the power play. It was the 9th straight game they have scored a power play goal. Bakersfield was 0/2.

Balcers is currently on a four-game goal streak. Cuda killer Josh Currie was kept off the score sheet. He has seven goals and five assists in eight games against the Cuda this season, including two hat tricks.

Jacob Middleton was injured with a lower body injury under two minutes in the first period. He returned back to action in the second period.

This was the first regulation win at Rabobank Arena for San Jose this season.

UP NEXT: The Barracuda return home for the season home finale and Fan Appreciate Night against the Bakersfield Condors in the back end of the home and series tomorrow 4/12 at the SAP Center.

San Jose Barracuda podcast with Marko Ukalovic: It’s a long shot for Cuda to make postseason; play last home game of season Thursday

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Photo credit: @sjbarracuda

On the Barracuda podcast with Marko:

#1 The Barracuda, in their last game on Saturday at SAP Center, scored four unanswered goals after defenseman Julius Bergman scored the game’s go-ahead goal.

#2 The Cuda won by four goals 7-3 and swept a home-at-home series, getting the second game. How significant is that going into the last two games of the season?

#3 How about the Cuda’s Ivan Chekhovich playing in only his third game? Chekhovich skated down the left boards and passed the puck to the right side for Bergman and Bergman shot for a goal.

#4 The Cuda on the power play Adam Helewka fed Alex True, who sent it cross-ice to the crease to Middleton, whose shot ricocheted off Dalton Prout’s skate and passed the Heat’s goalie David Rittich.

#5 It’s Fan Appreciation Night on Thursday night as the Bakersfield Condors come to SAP Center in what will be the Barracuda’s last home game of the season. At this point, can the Cuda still have a shot at making the postseason?

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