Category: San Jose Barracuda

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

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Photo credit: @AHL

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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Photo credit: @sjbarracuda

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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Photo credit: @sjbarracuda

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

Barracuda sweep home-and-home series with 7-3 win over Heat

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Photo credit: @sjbarracuda

By Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE — The San Jose Barracuda (31-26-4-4), with their backs against the wall, received the game-winning goal from defenseman Julius Bergman seven minutes into the third period, where they scored four unanswered goals, to defeat the Stockton Heat (32-27-2-4) 7-3 and swept the home-and-home series on Saturday afternoon at the SAP Center. The Cuda’s current three-game win streak have their playoff hopes still hanging by a thread.

Ivan Chekhovich, playing in only his third game for San Jose, skated down the left boards, and passed it back to the right slot where Bergman fired a shot top-shelf in the left corner beating Heat goalie David Rittich (7-5-0) for his 10th goal of the season at the 7:12 mark of the third period. Rourke Chartier received the secondary assist.

“Got a great pass in the middle,” said Bergman on eventual game winning goal. “Just trying to find a hole. Shot it there and it went in.”

San Jose continued its hot streak on the power play. Adam Helewka fed a pass down low to Alex True, who then sent a cross-ice pass through the crease over to Middleton. His shot ricochet off Dalton Prout’s skate into the net past Rittich. Middleton’s sixth goal of the season came at the 6:44 mark of the first period.

Stockton would answer back before the fans had a chance to sit back down in their seats. Just 13 seconds later, Oliver Kylington pinched in from the point as Brett Findley sent over a cross-ice pass that found Kylington all alone in the right slot and he snapped a wrist shot past Cuda goalie Antoine Bibeau (21-14-4) for his sixth goal of the season.

Stockton would take the lead after a pretty tic-tac-toe goal scored by Emile Poirier. Mike McMurtry skated along the right board and fed the puck over to Ryam Lomberg. Lomberg one-timed a pass between his legs over to Poirier, who quickly shot the puck past Bibeau for his sixth goal of the season at the 15:03 mark.

Rittich made two point-blank saves with under two minutes left in the period on shots by Nick DeSimone and Rudolfs Balcers to keep the score 2-1 heading into the first intermission. San Jose outshot Stockton 12-4.

Chartier breakaway attempt was stopped by Rittich midway the second period. Bibeau stopped a point-blank chance on a 2-on-1 less than a minute later.

“I think we’re just having fun,” said Bibeau regarding his the Cuda’s three-game win streak. “I don’t think we’re thinking too much about (getting into the) playoffs right now. Everyone is playing well right now and we’re just having fun.”

San Jose tied it up after a shot by True ricochet off Rittich right to Colby McAuley, who tapped in a rebound into the empty net. McAuley skated into the middle of the slot, fed a pass over to True, who fired a shot on Rittich that went back to McAuley for his fourth goal of the season at the 14:09 mark. Radim Simek received the secondary assist.

Emerson Clark gave the Cuda the lead when he scored off a mad scramble in front of the net. Tim Heed’s shot trickled all the way through to the net, Manny Wiederer poked at the puck twice in front of Rittich before the puck squeezed out to a crashing Clark who punched it home for his ninth goal of the season at the 16:01 mark. Noah Rod received the secondary assist.

Colin Smith tied the game up on a 3-on-2 rush. Dillion Dube started the rush at center ice, fed a pass over to the left slot to Morgan Klimchuck, who fired a pass over to a wide-open Smith in between the circles, who snapped home the puck past Bibeau for his ninth goal of the season at the 4:07 mark of the third period.

True gave the Cuda a two-goal lead at the 9:41 mark when McAuley skated in from the red line, went through two Heat defenders and passed over to a wide-open True just to the right of the crease, who buried the puck into an empty net for his 13th goal of the season.

Balcers made his way into the goal party as he danced his way all the way up to an empty net, with Rittich pulled for an extra attacker, for his team leading 22nd goal of the season at the 17:47 mark to give the Cuda 6-3 lead.

Sasha Chmelevski completed the scoring on a 2-on-1 break with Adam Helewka. Helewka skated in, fed a pass over to Chmelevski, who made a nice move around Rittich and slid the puck into an empty net for his second goal in three games at the 18:47 mark.

“We got a lot of juice in the our lineup right now,” said head coach Roy Sommer. “With the kids that we brought in and they’ve played really well and made a big difference.”

Bibeau had another strong showing in net, making 21 saves on 24 saves to earn the victory. Rittich made 27 saves on 32 shots, suffering the defeat.

GAME NOTES: San Jose went 1/2 on the power play. It was the eighth consecutive game the Cuda have scored a power-play goal.

Stockton went 0/2. They were 0/8 in the two-game series.

UP NEXT: The Barracuda travel to Bakersfield to take on the Condors on Wednesday, April 11 at 6:30 pm PT.

Barracuda keep hope alive as they cool off the Heat 6-2

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Photo credit: @sjbarracuda

By Marko Ukalovic

Desperate times call for desperate hockey. The San Jose Barracuda (30-26-4-4) gave their fading playoff hopes a shot in the arm as six different goal scorers powered the way to a  6-2 victory over the Stockton Heat (32-26-2-4) on Friday evening at Stockton Arena.

San Jose’s victory along with the Texas Stars’ 3-2 shootout loss to the Rockford IceHogs kept the Barracuda mathematically alive. They will need to win out and need Texas to lose out in order to make the playoffs.

The Cuda would get off to the start it wanted midway through the first period. Manny Wiederer’s wrist shot pinballed off of Heat goalie David Rittich’s (7-4-0) equipment and before he could corral the puck it went his under the right arm into the back of the net. The rookie forward’s eighth goal of the season came at the 9:20 mark. Radim Simek and Noah Rod received assists on the goal.

Stockton generated a couple of scoring chances late in the first period, but weren’t able to get a puck past Cuda goalie Stephon Williams (2-1-0). They outshot San Jose 8-5 in the first period.

A close call early in the second period almost resulted in a goal for Stockton on the power play. A one-timer shot from the point deflected on Williams and off his pads as it was laying in the crease that created a mad scramble in front of the net. The Cuda were able to clear the puck with no harm done.

Noah Rod, playing just his seventh career game, gave the Cuda a 2-0 lead when he scored his first career AHL goal. Rod was able to pounce on a rebound off a Julius Bergman shot and back-handed the puck top-shelf past Rittich at the 9:20 mark of the second period. Emerson Clark received the secondary assist.

Rudolfs Balcers continued his sensational rookie season when he scored his team leading 21st goal of the season after receiving a pass from Rourke Chartier, he was able to collect his own rebound on his initial shot and fired it home past Rittich at the 13:47 mark.

Stockton would get on the board when Mike McMurtry scored his fifth goal of the season exactly a minute later. Emile Poirier’s shot pinballed off Williams and McMurtry punched home the rebound at the 14:47 mark. Ryan Lomberg received the secondary assist.

San Jose regained their three-goal lead just 50 seconds into the third period. Tim Heed, in his fifth game with the Cuda, scored his first goal on the season on the power play. Heed blasted a shot from the right point inside the near post past Rittich. Jacob Middelton and Alex True received assists on the goal.

Williams made a great save while Stockton was on the power play five minutes into the period. He had lost his stick during a mad scramble, but was able to use a defenseman’s stick and reached back across the crease to stop a shot that was headed for an empty net.

Chartier put the game away with his sixth goal of the season at the 13:40 mark. The Cuda had sustained pressure inside the Heat zone as Ivan Chekhovich fed Chartier, who snapped home the puck inside the post. The goal snapped a 12-game goalless drought for Chartier. Balcers received the secondary assist.

Lomberg tipped home the puck past Williams from a shot from the point. McMurtry sent a shot toward the net that Lomberg was able to deflect home for his 10th goal of the season at the 16:40 mark.

Chekhovic iced the game with an empty-netter for his second goal in as many games to close out the scoring at the 17:46 mark. Chartier received the only assist on the goal.

Williams made 22 saves on 24 shots to earn the victory. Rittich made 16 saves on 21 shots in the defeat.

GAME NOTES: San Jose went 1/2 on the power play. Stockton was 0/6.

This was the 10th meeting of the season between the two teams. They play each other twice more in the final four games of the regular season.

Brodie Dupont gave a hard check on Zach Frye that cause some pushing and shoving after the whistle late in the first period.

Heed’s power play goal made it seven consecutive games with a power play goal for San Jose. They are 10/29 in their last seven games on the power play.

With the FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT! Colby McAuley and Luke Gazdic exchanged fisticuffs with less than two minutes left in the game.

UP NEXT: The Barracuda take on the Stockton Heat to close out the home-and-home series on Saturday at 1:15 pm PT at SAP Center.

Barracuda get two debut goals to shoot down Gulls in a 4-0 shutout victory

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Photo credit: @sjbarracuda

By Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE — The saying goes you only get one chance to make a good first impression. For the San Jose Barracuda (29-26-4-4), the debuts of Sasha Chmelevski and Ivan Chekovich couldn’t have come at a better time for the team. Both scored in their Cuda debuts to help the Cuda dominate the San Diego Gulls (35-24-3-1) in a 4-0 shutout victory on Wednesday evening at the SAP Center.

Both players got the first two goals of the game for the Cuda. Adam Helewka started a 3-on-1 rush inside the Gulls zone. Captain John McCarthy then sent over a sweet backhand pass over to Chmelevski, drafted by San Jose Sharks in sixth round of 2017 draft (185th overall), who was wide open in between the circles. Chmelevski then made a nifty move around Gulls goalie Kevin Boyle (18-11-2) and buried the puck into the empty net for his first AHL career goal at 5:15 of the first period.

“I saw that I had a lot of ice so I just screamed for it (the puck),” said Chmelevski about his goal. “Luckily he (McCarthy) got it over to me and I was able to be creative and score a goal. It’s pretty surreal. It’s something you dream about as a kid to play professional hockey and I couldn’t be more happy.”

Chekovich, who was drafted by the Sharks in the seventh round of the 2017 draft (212th overall), was able to pick-pocket the puck off Julius Nattinen that bounced over to Rourke Chartier. Chekovich was able to get the puck back and fired a wicked wrist shot past Boyle into the lower right corner for his first goal of his AHL career at the 14:50 mark. Chartier received the only assist on the goal.

“The kids did real well (in their debuts),” said head coach Roy Sommer. “It’s hard to score in this league. Both of them got their first goals in the first period. So that was nice to see.”

“I just closed my eyes and shot the puck,” Chekovich said jokingly about his goal. “My first experience (playing) in a pro league, I was pretty excited.”

San Jose had a chance to increase their lead with a minute left in the first period with two great scoring chances by Heleweka and Rudolfs Balcers. Helewka skated in around the Gulls defense for a point-blank shot saved by Boyle. Balcers then had an empty net to shoot at seconds later only to be stoned by Boyle. The Cuda dominated the play in the first period, outshooting the Gulls 14-5.

Antoine Bibeau (20-14-4) made a sprawling leg save on Nattinen with just over 10 minutes left in the second period.  A shot ricochet over to Nattienen and his wrap around attempt was stopped by the Cuda netminder.

Balcers increased the lead to 3-0 at the 12:19 mark of the second period when he was rewarded for crashing the net. Tim Heed, sent down by the Sharks today, made a nice play by keeping the puck inside the blue line. He then sent a pass over to Radim Simek who one-timed the puck from the middle of the point. Balcers who was screening Boyle on the play was able to push home the rebound after Boyle failed to freeze the puck. It was Balcers’ team-leading 19th goal of the season.

The Gulls tried to climb back in the game early in the third period with Simek in the sin bin for tripping. Kalle Kossila, the Gulls leading scorer, was all alone in the left slot when he took a cross-ice feed, however, his shot that was headed into an empty net was sticked away at the last second by Bibeau, in what arguably could be the save of the year for Cuda.

“I didn’t have time to get my whole body (over to the left side),” said Bibeau. “I just tried to put some equipment in front and made the save.”

Baclers would get his second of the game and team-leading 20th of the season on a 5-on-3 power play. Chmelevski won the faceoff that Helekwa was able to kick over to Balcers, who lasered a wrist shot past the five-hole of Boyle at the 10:04 mark. The goal came just two seconds after Corey Tropp went into the penalty box to produce the 5-on-3 opportunity.

“(After) I scored, I was laughing (afterward),” said Balcers. “The puck just came out to me, the d-man was there and I just tried to whack it on the net and it just went through his legs.”

Bibeau was spectacular in the net, stopping all 27 shots he faced for his fifth shutout of the season. Boyle stopped 29 out of 33 shots in the loss.

“He was really good tonight,” said Sommer about his goaltender. “Especially on that save on the penalty kill (on Kossila). He deserved the shutout, well deserved.”

GAME NOTES: San Jose was 1/5 on the power play.

While San Diego, the league’s best power play, went 0/2.

“We talked about it. You gotta stay out of the box against them as that’s the key against that team. They can light you up,” said Sommer on limiting San Diego’s power play opportunities.

FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT! Emerson Clark and Mike Liambas exchanged fisticuffs 16 seconds into the second period. Clark also got into it with Boyle later on in the second period after Boyle shoved Clark in attempt to help out his teammate who was tussling with Clark after the whistle had blown. Colby McAuley and Corey Tropp also exchanged pleasantries with one another at the 12:23 mark of the third period.

The announced crowd was 3,395.

UP NEXT: The Barracuda travel up to Stockton to take on their NorCal rival, the Heat, to start a home and home series on Friday, April 6 at 7 pm PT.

San Jose Barracuda podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Barracuda need to answer the bell tonight against San Diego after getting KO’d in Rockford

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sjbarracuda.com photo: The Rockford Ice Hogs center Matthew Highmore (9) and San Jose Barracuda goaltender Stephon Williams (29) look stickside for the puck last Saturday night at BMO Harris Bank Center in Rockford

On the SJ Barracuda podcast with Marko Ukalovic:

#1 How concerned should the Barracuda be after facing the Rockford Ice Hogs in their last game to four unanswered goals in a 5-3 loss?

#2 Do the Barracuda figure rookie goalie Stephon Williams’ lack of experience playing in his second game was part of the reason for some of the unanswered goals. Williams stopped 25 shots last Saturday in Rockford.

#3 Earlier on, the Cuda had a 3-1 lead after 40 minutes of play when they got goals from Brandon Mashinter and Caleb Herbert.

#4 It didn’t hold as Rockford in the third period got a goal from left winger Lance Bouma and Hendrik Samuelson who scored a game-tying goal at 17:49. The Ice Hogs’ Luc Snuggerud scored a go-ahead goal, which turned out to be the gamer.

#5 The San Diego Gulls skate against the SJ Barracuda tonight at SAP Center. What will the Cuda expect in this matchup?

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

 

IceHogs score four unanswered goals to down Barracuda 5-3

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Photo credit: @sjbarracuda

By: Ana Kieu

Hawaiian Night was underway at the BMO Harris Bank Center in Rockford, Ill., on Saturday night and the San Jose Barracuda took on the Rockford IceHogs.

Apparently, the Barracuda and IceHogs got to witness flowers on the ice, which was a pleasant, tropical sight to see on a chilly 48 degree evening in the Windy City.

Cuda goalie Stephon Williams made his second start for the club and made a noteworthy save on a short-handed breakway early in the opening period. After that, the Cuda played 4-on-4 hockey following an IceHogs penalty.

The IceHogs made the unfortunate mistake of leaving the puck unattended at the blue line and Sam Warning picked up the first goal of the game, beating IceHogs goalie Jeff Glass, at the 12:11 mark of the period. Noah Rod collected the lone assist on Warning’s fifth goal on the season.

But the IceHogs were able to score just three seconds into their power play as Adam Clendening fired a long wrist shot from the high slot that beat Williams to get his team on the board and tie the game at one apiece with 4:22 left in the period.

Both teams were tied at one apiece after 20 minutes of play. In addition, the Cuda had some fun on Twitter by coming up with a random poll in the first intermission. The Cuda asked: “Thoughts on bacon?” and 83% answered “Really delicious” while 17% answered “Delicious.”

The Cuda scored two quick goals to start the second period. Brandon Mashinter got his 11th goal on the season at the 13:02 mark of the period. The assists on Mashinter’s goal went to Radim Simek and Rourke Chartier. Just 32 seconds later, Caleb Herbert scored on the power play to make it five straight games in which the Cuda have scored on the man advantage. Warning collected the lone assist on Herbert’s second goal on the season.

The Cuda thanked the IceHogs via Twitter for the nice tribute for left winger Brandon Mashinter in Rockford.

The Cuda led the IceHogs 3-1 after 40 minutes of play.

The IceHogs’ “Rally Crab” apparently helped the home team dominate in the third period. IceHogs left winger Lance Bouma scored a goal to pull his team within one just 41 seconds into the period. Clendening and Chris DiDomenico got the assists on Bouma’s fifth goal on the season. Then, Henrik Samuelsson scored the game-tying goal at the 17:49 mark of the period. Highmore Luc Snuggerud got the assists on Samuelsson’s eighth goal on the season.

The IceHogs continued to pour in the goals as Snuggerud scored the go-ahead goal, his fifth on the season, and Matthew Highmore expanded the lead to 5-3 with his 22nd goal on the season.

The Cuda pulled their goalie (Williams) for an extra attacker late in the game. That didn’t help the road team at all.

The Cuda lost to the IceHogs 5-3. Williams allowed five goals and made 25 saves in a losing effort for San Jose. Meanwhile, Glass stopped 19 of 22 shots in a Rockford win.

Notes
Barracuda starting lineup: Adam Helewka, Manny Wiederer, Jon Martin, Jacob Middleton, Nick DeSimone and Stephon Williams.

IceHogs starting lineup: Matthew Highmore. Tyler Sikura, Henrik Samuelsson, Viktor Svedberg, Cody Franson and Jeff Glass.

Up Next
The Barracuda return home to host the San Diego Gulls Wednesday night at 7:00 pm PST.

Barracuda lose 3-2 in shootout against Griffins

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Photo credit: @sjbarracuda

By Marko Ukalovic

The hourglass has just about ran out on the San Jose Barracuda’s (28-25-4-4) playoff chances. Their latest loss was to the Grand Rapids Griffins (38-24-1-7) by a score of 3-2 in a shootout on Friday evening at the Van Andel Arena. The victory extended the defending AHL champions’ point streak to six games.

Grand Rapids controlled the game during the 1st period as they outshot San Jose 19-6. However, the strong play of Cuda goalie Antonie Bibeau (19-14-4) kept the period scoreless after the opening 20 minutes.

The Griffins would break the deadlock just 16 seconds into the second period when Dylan Mcllarth scored his fifth goal of the season after firing home a rebound past Bibeau after a Dominic Turgeon. Mcllarth snapped a 30-game scoreless drought.

Jacob Middleton would tied the game up while the teams played 4-on-4. Middleton took a pass from Adam Helewka and blasted a shot from the point passed Griffins goalie Tom McCollum inside the far right post for his fifth goal of the season at the 12:15 mark of the second period.

In the third period, Grand Rapids would regain the lead when Colin Campbell found Ben Street wide open along the right side and was able to slide the puck into an open net for his 18th goal of the season at the 7:10 mark.

The Cuda wouldn’t go away quietly as the evened up the game with a power play goal from Alex True. Nick DeSimone fired a shot from the point that True was able to tip past McCollum for his 12th goal of the season at the 13-minute mark.

The final 12 minutes of the game, including the overtime, would remain scoreless. In the shootout Matt Puempel would send the 9,860 fans home happy when his goal in the fourth round of the shootout clinched it for the Griffins.

McCollum earned the victory making 33 saves on 35 shots. Bibeau suffered the tough luck loss making 36 saves on 38 shots.

GAME NOTES: San Jose went 1/3 on the power play, while Grand Rapids was 0/2.

UP NEXT: The Barracuda travel to Rockford to take on the IceHogs on Saturday afternoon at 4 pm PST.