Category: San Jose Barracuda

Barracuda shoot down Condors in 5-0 shutout win

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photo from: sjbarracuda.com

By Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE, Calif. — It doesn’t matter what time of the day the San Jose Barracuda take the ice to play a game. For the second straight game, they dominated and shutout their opponent in a 5-0 victory over the defending Pacific Division champion Bakersfield Condors on Wednesday morning at SAP Center.

The early start time of 11:00 am was due to the annual Cuda Classroom Day where students from the area’s elementary and middle schools were among the 3,648 spectators inside the arena.

The game featured the first game back for Radim Simek, the San Jose Sharks defenseman who suffered an ACL injury to his knee back on March 12. The Sharks sent him down to the Cuda for an rehab assignment to get him into game shape before he joins the parent club.

“I felt great on the ice,” said the Czech native Simek. “The first period was harder for me. It was eight months without (playing) hockey for me. The second and third period was better and we got a big win.”

San Jose (4-3-0-0) jumped out to a 1-0 lead late in the first period with the man advantage. Jayden Halbgewachs sent a pass along the left boards over to Joel Kellman. Kellman found a wide open Joachim Blichfeld in between the circles and he sent a quick wrist shot past Condors goalie Dylan Wells into the lower right corner of the net for his first goal of the season at the 18:49 mark.

“Great play by Blichy (Blichfeld) to start it off on the power play,” said Cuda head coach Roy Sommer. “Which is starting to click a little bit. It’s starting to finally find some traction.”

Alex True found himself in the right place at the right time as he doubled the ‘Cuda lead just halfway past the second period. Kellman cleared the puck out of the zone just as the penalty to True had expired. It found its way right to True’s stick as he skated in on a breakaway using a backhand shot to beat Wells for his third goal of the season at the 11:56 mark.

Less than three minutes later, Blichfeld scored his second goal of the game when received a pass from Lean Bergmann and wristed in his second goal of the season at the 14:17 mark. Keaton Middleton received the secondary assist on the goal.

Despite out shooting San Jose 19-14 through 40 minutes, Bakersfield (3-5-1-0) found it self trailing 3-0 and not being able to find any answers on their five power play opportunities, including a five-on-three they failed to cash in on.

“I though the goalie (Korenar) kept us in the game early,” said Sommer. “It was similar to the Colorado game where we kind of got opportune goals.”

San Jose put the game away with 6:17 remaining in the third period. Halbgewachs led a two-on-one odd man break with Evan Weinger. Halbgewachs made a spin-o-rama move around Dmitri Samorukov before centering the puck out in front of the crease over to Weinger who one-timed it into the back of the net for his second goal of the season.

The ‘Cuda put the icing on the cake less than three minutes later on the power play. Thomas Gregoire fed a cross-ice pass over to Simek who fired a shot toward the middle of the ice where Bergmann camped out and used his stick to tip the puck past Wells for his third goal of the season at the 16:43 mark. With the goal and assist, Bergmann has scored in all four games he’s played with San Jose totalling six points (3G, 3A).

“The penalty kill has been good for us the last few games,” said Sommer. “Last two teams have been 0 for 12 or 0 for 13. That makes a big difference and we’re scoring (goals) five-on-five.”

Korenar (3-2-0) finished the game stopping all 28 shots he faced for his second shutout in a row. Wells finished with 22 saves on 27 shots in the losing cause.

GAME NOTES: San Jose was 2/6 on the power play. Bakersfield was 0/6.

Kellman recorded two assists to extend his point streak (1G 7A=8) to six games.

The Barracuda had five players earn multiple points in the victory.

UP NEXT: The Barracuda travel up north to Stockton to take on the Heat on Friday, November 1 at 7:00 pm at Stockton Arena.

San Jose Barracuda podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Cuda host Bakersfield in Wednesday matinee at SAP Center

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Photo credit: @sjbarracuda

On the Barracuda podcast with Marko:

#1 The Barracuda (3-3-0) are coming off a split in Colorado last Friday and Saturday nights taking the second game. How important is it for the Cuda to get that split going into Wednesday’s game against the Bakersfield Condors (3-4-0)?

#2 The Barracuda not only got the win last Saturday in Colorado (4-3-0) in game 2, but they threw a shutout 4-0 after getting beat on Friday night.

#3 Cuda goalie Josef Korenar (2-2-0) made 31 saves to collect his first shutout of the season and his fifth of his AHL career.

#4 The game last Saturday against the Eagles was the Barracuda’s 150th victory in franchise history.

#5 The Condors are a team that could give the Barracuda fits and their looking to pick up their fifth win. Meanwhile, the Barracuda have won two of their last five games and have home ice for today’s matinee.

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

Barracuda’s first period outburst shoots down Eagles in 4-0 shutout win; San Jose-Colorado split series

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photo from sjbarracuda.com

By Marko Ukalovic

Never underestimate the difference 24 hours can make. After being shut down, the night before, the San Jose Barracuda used a four-goal first period outburst en route to a 4-0 shutout victory over the Colorado Eagles for their first road victory of the season on Saturday evening at the Budwiser Events Center.

San Jose (3-3-0-0) drew first blood on the power play early in the first period. Sasha Chmelevski fed a pass up to Maxim Letunov. The second year forward raced in from center ice down the left side and skated in with a backhanded wrist shot from a tough angle that deceived Eagles goalie Adam Werner (4-2) as it sneaked in past his pad near the left post for Letunov’s second goal of the season at the 2:24 mark.

The goal snapped a 0-for-11 streak for the 25th ranked stuggling power play. It was just their third power play goal of the season.

Evan Weinger doubled San Jose’s lead short-handed after some determination. Alex True sent a no-look pass that led to a breakaway for Weinger whose intital shot was stopped by Werner. Weinger then picked up a loose puck and he buried a backhander past Werner for his first goal of the season at the 7:49 mark. It was the Cuda’s first shorthanded goal of the season.

San Jose scored their third goal of the period when Joachim Blichfeld made a nice move around a sprawled out defender and centered a pass over to Lean Bergmann, open in the middle of ice, who rifled a shot past Werner for his second goal of the season at the 16:55 mark. Bergmann’s goal extended his point streak to three games. He now has four points in three games.

The Cuda concluded their four goal outburst when Letunov sent Jeffery Viel on breakaway with just over a minute remaining. Viel skated in and snapped a wrist shot through the five-hole of Werner for his second goal of the season at the 18:55 mark.

Hunter Miska replaced Werner to start the second period. Werner went to the showers early after giving up four goals on just seven shots.

Colorado (4-3-0-0) had two power play opportunities in the middle frame but San Jose penalty kill led by goalie Josef Korenar (2-2) kept the Eagles off the scoreboard. The Cuda held the Eagles to just four shots in the period.

Korenar stopped all 31 shots he faced for his first shutout of the season. Miska stopped all 21 shots he faced coming in on mop up duty.

There was no scoring in the third period despite the Cuda having two power play opportunities in the second half of the final frame.

GAME NOTES: San Jose 1/3 on the power play. Colorado 0/6.

The victory was the 150th all-time in franchise history.

UP NEXT: The Barracuda host the Bakersfield Condors on Wednesday, October 30 at 11:00 am at SAP Center.

Eagles’ quick start dooms Barracuda in 4-2 win

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Photo credit: @sjbarracuda

By Marko Ukalovic

The Colorado Eagles used two goals in the first three minutes of the first period to take down the San Jose Barracuda 4-2 in the first game of the two-game weekend series on Friday evening at Budwiser Events Center.

Michael Joly got things started just 69 seconds into the opening 20 minutes when he scored an unassisted goal with a shot that beat Cuda goalie Andrew Shortridge (1-1) for Joly’s fourth goal of the season.

Nick Henry joined the scoring party under two minutes later when he scored his first goal of the season at the 2:53 mark. Collin Campbell and Kevin Connauton picked up assists on the play.

Neither team scored in the second period. Colorado had a chance to take a three-goal lead 55 seconds into the middle frame when Cuda captain John McCarthy went to the sin-bin for hooking. However San Jose’s penalty kill came through to keep them in it heading into the third period.

San Jose (2-3-0-0) cut the lead in half at the 7:33 mark of the third period when Lean Bergmann scored his first AHL goal after beating Eagles goalie Adam Werner (4-1) with a wrist shot. Joel Kellman and Evan Weinger received assists on Bergmann’s goal.

Colorado (4-2-0-0) extended their lead to 3-0 less than three minutes later with an insurance goal when Julien Nantel scored his first goal of the season at the 10:27 mark. Campbell and Henry were credited with assists.

San Jose wouldn’t go down quietly when defenseman Keaton Middleton scored his first goal of the season with just under five minutes remaining in the game. Bergmann and Jeremy Roy assisted on Keaton’s goal.

T.J. Tynan iced the game for Colorado with an empty net goal with 1:03 left in the game as the Cuda pulled Shortridge for an extra attacker.

Werner made 33 saves on 35 shots in earning his fourth win of the season. Shortridge made 23 saves on 26 shots in the losing effort.

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

Forward Sasha Chmelevski led the Cuda with five shots on goal.

UP NEXT: Both teams faceoff against each other once again on Saturday, October 26 at 6:05 pm at the Budweiser Events Center.

San Jose Barracuda podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Barracuda look to improve their game against the Reign; Ontario beats SJ twice already

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Photo credit: @sjbarracuda

On the SJ Barracuda podcast with Marko:

#1 The Ontario Reign scored three first period goals in their win over the San Jose Barracuda at SAP Center on Saturday.

#2 Josef Korenar, the Barracuda goalie, recorded his second loss of the season facing three goals on 17 shots.

#3 The Cuda’s Carl Grunstrom and Tobias Bjorn each scored goals in their AHL debuts.

#4 Nick DeSimone collected his first goal of the season and the Barracuda goal of the first period.

#5 The Barracuda open up the first of two games on Friday against the Colorado Eagles to be played in Colorado.

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

Reign take down Barracuda in 5-2 victory in SJ

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sjbarracuda.com photo: After the Ontario Reign defeated the San Jose Barracuda back on opening day 5-0 the Reign came calling on Saturday at SAP Center in San Jose and beat the Barracuda again 5-2.

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE, Calif- The Ontario Reign lived by the quality over quantity moto as they scored three-first period goals en route to a 5-2 victory over the San Jose Barracuda on Saturday afternoon at SAP Center.

The game featured the first AHL action for forwards Lean Bergmann and Danil Yurtaykin, who both recently were reassigned to the Barracuda after spending the first two weeks of the season with the parent club Sharks.

Ontario (3-2-0-0) drew first blood halfway through the first period. Carl Grundstrom was cherry-picking at center ice when he received a long feed from Martin Frk. Grundstrom skated in all alone and wired a wrist shot from the left slot that beat Cuda goalie Josef Korenar for first goal of the season at the 9:18 mark.

San Jose (2-2-0-0) tied it up less than 90 seconds later when Alex True won a face inside the Reign zone. Joachim Blichfeld tapped it back to the point over to Nick DeSimone, who sent a rocket top-shelf over the left shoulder of Reign goalie Cal Petersen for his first goal of the season at the 10:46 mark.

Ontario regained the lead on the power play. Rasmus Kupari entered into the Cuda zone and fed a drop pass to the left point over to Tobias Bjornfot. The Swedish defenseman sent a innocent looking wrist shot, that fooled Korenar, into the back of the net for his first goal of the season at the 13:19 mark.

The Reign went into the first intermission with a two-goal lead when Brett Sutter centered a pass from behind the goal line that kicked off the skate of Lance Bouma into the back of the net for his second goal of the season with 24 seconds remaining in the opening 20 minutes. San Jose head coach Roy Sommer challenged the call believing that Bouma used a kicking motion, but after a replay review, the call was upheld.

Tonight (we got) kind of behind the 8-ball”, said Sommer. “Down 3-1, especially the first 10 minutes we were all over them. (Then) they’d come down and score, come down and score. The one that killed us was the one with 24 seconds left in the first (period).”

The Cuda made it a one-goal game late in the second period. Joel Kellman sent a pass up to Lean Bergman that ended up on a two-on-two with Jonny Brodzinski. Bergman stopped on a dime, spun around with a back hand pass over to Brodzinski who was able to chip the puck over the stick of Petersen for his second goal of the season at the 13:15 mark.

“You know I played a lot today”, said Bergmann after being a healthy scratch the past few games with the Sharks. “Playing a lot is always good. Just get more comfortable with the (Sommer’s) system. Just learning everything (I can).”

San Jose controlled the play in the third period. However, despite out shooting Ontario 14-5 and creating all kinds of havoc in front of Petersen, the Reign goaltender made many key stops throughout the final 20 minutes, frustrating the Cuda for a second straight time this season.

Ontario wrapped up the game with two empty net goals with under a minute remaining when San Jose pulled Korenar for an extra attacker. First Frk scored his fourth goal of the season with 1:10 left to seal the deal for Ontario. Then Grundstrom finished off his two-goal afternoon with his own empty netter with 15 second left in the game.

“I was actually happen with our game”, said Cuda captain John McCarthy. “We carried the pace of play. They were opportunistic on their chances and it came back to bite us (in the end).”

Petersen finished his busy afternoon stopping 32 shots of the 34 he faced to earn his third win of the season. Korenar made 14 saves on 17 shots in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose was 0/3 on the power play. Ontario was 1/3.

Fisticuffs! Cuda’s Keaton Middleton danced the tango with Ontario’s Boko Imama at 11:36 of the second period.

Sasha Chmelevski, Manny Wiederer and Evan Weinger were healthy scratches.

UP NEXT: San Jose travels out to Colorado to take on the Eagles on Friday 10/25 at 6:05pm.

San Jose Barracuda podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Comeback game last Sunday may prove to Barracuda to be ready for Ontario Saturday

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Photo credit: @sjbarracuda

On the Barracuda podcast with Marko:

#1 Down 2-0 in the second period to the Bakersfield Condors, the San Jose Barracuda made a comeback scoring three unanswered goals at SAP Center last Sunday to end up beating the Condors 4-3.

#2 This was the second straight win for the Barracuda who handled the San Diego Gulls on Friday with authority in a 5-1 and exhibited the ability to attack the net and shoot without hesitating.

#3 After the Cuda’s first loss of the season to the Ontario Reign 5-0 it looked like coach Roy Sommer changed the offense up a bit what was those changes?

#4 In that second period the Condors led the Barracuda 3-2 but in the third period the Barracuda got goals from Noah Gregor and Ivan Chekovich to tie and go ahead

#5 The Barracuda host the Ontario Reign next Saturday Oct 19th at SAP Center for a 1:15pm matinee, Ontario took the Barracuda to the woodshed last time they met after the way they won their last two games do you see a different outlook for Saturday’s game?

Marko Ukalovic is a San Jose Barracuda beat writer for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Barracuda overcome two-goal deficit, down Condors 4-3

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photo from sjbarracuda.com

By Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE, Calif. — The San Jose Barracuda have a flair for the dramatic. Down by two goals late in the second period, they went on to score three unanswered goals to storm back in a 4-3 comeback victory over the Bakersfield Condors on Sunday afternoon at SAP Center.

The second consecutive victory for San Jose (2-1-0-0) over the defending Pacific Division champions was also a sweep of the weekend games at home after dropping the season opener nine days ago in Ontario.

After a scoreless first period where neither team generated many scoring chances, Bakersfield (1-1-1-0) drew first blood early in the middle frame. Cooper Marody won a battle along the right boards. He then fed Sam Gagner near the slot and Gagner found a wide open Kailer Yamamoto back door on the left side, who skated in and blasted a one-timer past Cuda goalie Andrew Shortridge for his third goal of the season at the 2:00 mark.

The Cuda scored the equalizer when Joel Kellman led a three-on-two odd man rush from center ice. He fed Jonny Brodzinki along the right side. Brodzinki returned the favor back to Kellman, who beat Condor defenseman Evan Bouchard up the ice, and the rookie forward sneaked in a point-blank shot to the left side of Condor goalie Shane Starrett for his first career AHL goal at the 4:24 mark. Noah Gregor received the secondary assist.

“We won the puck low in their end,” said the Swedish forward Kellman. “I just chipped it out to Brodzi (Brodzinski), tried to drive to the net and it was a great pass (from Brodzinski).”

The Condors regained the lead when a shot from Keegan Lowe took a tricky hop from behind the net and ended up out in front of the crease where a scrum of players ensued. After a couple of attempts from Bakersfield, Joe Gambardella poked home the loose puck for his first goal of the season at the 9:10 mark.

Bakersfield gained a two-goal lead two and half minutes later when after a failed clearing attempt by San Jose led to Tyler Bensen feeding out a puck from behind the net over to the left slot where Ryan McLeod skated in and wired a wrist shot over the shoulder of Shortridge for his first goal of the season at the 11:37 mark.

Alex True made it a one-goal game later in the second period when he camped out in front of the crease and tipped the puck through the five-hole of Starrett thanks to a wrist shot from Jayden Halbgewachs just beyond the face off circles. True’s second goal of the season came at the 16:53 mark.

San Jose took the momentum from True’s goal and carried it into the third period where they would do all the scoring. A turnover up high in the Cuda zone led to a three-on-one odd man rush for San Jose. Gregor skated in and beat Starrett top-shelf with a quick wrist shot for his first career AHL goal to tie the game at 3-3 at the 6:51 mark.

“Going back to junior and having a strong a year really helped with my confidence,” said Gregor. “Coming into this year, I knew I could play at the American League level and play pro. I think I carried that into this season.”

With just under three and half minutes remaining in the game, a weak passing attempt into the middle of the ice by Condors defenseman Caleb Jones, hit off the skate of Kellman and went right to the stick of Ivan Chekovich, who brought the puck back before firing a wrist shot over the head of Starrett into the back of the net for the game-winning goal at the 16:40 mark. Chekovich’s first goal of the season earned him the first star of the match.

Shortridge earned his first win of his AHL career making 26 saves on 29 shots. Starrett made 16 saves on 20 shots in the losing effort.

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

UP NEXT: San Jose closes out their three-game homestand on Saturday 10/19 when they take on the Ontario Reign at 1:15 pm at SAP Center.

Barracuda dominate Gulls in home opener with 5-1 victory

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Photo credit: @sjbarracuda

By Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE, Calif. — The San Jose Barracuda had a week to stew on their horrible seasoning opening loss against Ontario. They came out chomping at the bit as they used three-first period goals to rout the San Diego Gulls 5-1 in their home opener on Friday evening at the SAP Center.

San Jose (1-1) drew first blood late in the first period on the power play. Joel Kellman sent a pass back over to the point to Thomas Gregoire, who fired a shot toward the net. Maxim Letunov camped out in front and the Russian forward was able to tip the puck past Gulls goalie Anthony Stolarz for his first goal of the season at the 15:47 mark.

“I got stronger,” said Letunov, who had a two-point night. “I think that’s where my biggest improvement was made. I think I’m going to get a lot of goals this year, dirty goals like you said in front of the net.”

The Cuda doubled their lead 72 seconds later. Letunov stole the puck on a clearing attempt. As he was knocked off the puck, Jeffery Viel skated in for the loose puck near the left slot and wired a wrist shot past Stolarz for his first goal of the season at the 16:59 mark.

“Last game our forecheck wasn’t very good,” said Viel. “Our d-zone was sloppy. We had a good week of practice. I think it showed today on both sides (of the ice) so it’s good.”

Alexander True appeared to have scored his first goal with 2:08 remaining, but the goal disallowed as he kicked the puck in with his skate.

San Jose scored their second power play goal of the period when Gregoire fed a pass over to Noah Gregor at the right slot where his shot was saved by Stolarz. However, a big rebound carried out to Jayden Halbgewachs near the left side of the net, where he buried the puck into an empty net for his first goal of the season at the 18:32 mark.

The Cuda outshot the Gulls by a 2-1 margin, 16-8 in the opening 20 minutes.

“I think it was the camping trip, the rangers making us pour all of our beer out,” head coach Roy Sommer bemused about his team’s start. “I think we found two descent forechecks. Tonight there was a barrel of them. Great effort.”

San Diego (0-2) received two power plays in the first 10 minutes of the second period, but weren’t able to cash in on either opportunity, thanks to some good goaltending from Cuda goalie Josef Korenar. He made two consecutive point-blank saves during the second power play attempt that kept the Gulls off the scoreboard.

San Jose added to their lead late in the middle frame when the line of Halbegwachs, Joachim Blichfeld and True generated two good scoring chances before True found himself all alone in front of the net. After jamming away at the puck twice, the third time was a charm as the puck slid underneath Stolarz for True’s first goal of the season at the 14:36 mark.

The highlight of the period came when Chase De Leo stormed in on a breakaway attempt, only to have Korenar hold his ground and turn away De Leo’s shot with under four minutes remaining.

“The big saves early (on), those are the ones that usually win you games,” said Sommer. “Like the NHL, this league is a hard league to come back from when you’re down. It got us going and we took off from there.”

San Diego broke the shutout bid for Korenar on the power play late in the third period when Kiefer Sherwood sent over a cross-ice pass to Hunter Drew at the right point. Drew skated in and snapped a wrist shot past Korenar for his first goal of the season at the 14:22 mark.

Jonny Brodzinksi put the bow on the box when he closed out the scoring on a breakaway 42 seconds later. Brodzinski intercepted a pass at the center ice and skated in on Stolarz and finished off the play with a forehand-to-backhand move over the right shoulder of Stolarz for his first goal of the season at the 15:00 mark.

Korenar (1-1) finished the game, stopping 23 of the 24 shots he faced to earn his first win of the season. Stolarz (0-2) had a busy night, making 37 saves on 42 shots in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose was 2/6 on the power play. San Diego was 1/6.

Fisticuffs! Viel and Coey Tropp got into it with each other five minutes into the first period. Both went off for fighting majors.

UP NEXT: San Jose hosts the Bakersfield Condors on Sunday, October 13 at 1:15 pm at SAP Center.

San Jose Barracuda podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Barracuda and Gulls in home opener tonight at SAP Center

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Photo credit: @sjbarracuda

On SJ Barracuda podcast with Marko:

#1 With the Barracuda parent club going 1-4 to start the season, will the San Jose Sharks dip into the Cuda well to farm out some players to help out in some SOS situations?

#2 Another concern is the Ontario Reign got what is known in hockey, a 5-0 shutout laugher, on the Barracuda last Friday night in the Southland in the season opener?

#3 Cuda goalie Josef Kornear was made of target practice Friday stopping 27 shots out of 32. Is this something that he can shake off coming into tonight’s opener or should head coach Roy Sommer be concerned?

#4 The power play was weak for San Jose they went 0-4. Those are some critical opportunities where they could have got on the scoreboard, but ended up getting shutout.

#5 The Barracuda open up against the San Diego Gulls, who also lost the Bakersfield Condors last Friday night 2-1. The Gulls gave the Barracuda fits last season to knock them out of the playoffs. Marko set this one up as the Barracuda host the Gulls for the home opener tonight.

Marko Ukalovic is a Barracuda beat writer for http://www.sportsradioservice.com