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Tucson Roadrunner defenseman Montana Onyebuchi goes toe to toe with San Jose Barracuda forward Scott Sabourin during a fight at center ice at Tech CU Arena on Friday FEB 7, 2025. (San Jose Barracuda)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE — Sammy Walker had an impressive debut for the Tucson Roadrunners.

Walker scored four points and was involved in every goal as his team overcame a two-goal deficit for a 4-3 comeback victory over the San Jose Barracuda on Friday evening at Tech CU Arena.

San Jose has lost two games in a row. Tucson snapped its season worst eight-game losing streak.

Walker, who was picked up off of waivers by the Utah Hockey Club after being released by the Minnesota Wild, was assigned to Tucson on Monday after the AHL All-Star break.

A scoreless first period featured a heavyweight bout of a fight between each team’s respective enforcers, San Jose’s Scott Sabourin and former Cuda defenseman Montana Onyebuchi at the 8:51 mark. Tucson (20-19-2-1-43 points) outshot San Jose 13-7 in the opening frame that featured the Barracuda killing a double minor for high sticking by Joey Keane.

‘Cuda goalie Yaroslav Askarov, who made his first start with San Jose since being sent back down by the parent team Sharks, was the ‘Cuda’s best penalty killer during the first 20 minutes of the game.

San Jose (23-14-2-3-51 points) drew first blood early in the second period. A shot attempt by Ethan Cardwell was blocked by Onyebuchi. The puck pinballed in a sea of traffic in front of the crease before leaking out to Thomas Bordeleau who snapped home a wrist shot past Roadrunners goalie Jackson Stauber for his eighth goal of the season at the 1:55 mark.

The Barracuda doubled their lead with a power play goal exactly six minutes later. Ethan Cardwell sent a pass back up to the point to Luca Cagnoni. The rookie defenseman weaved his way between two Roadrunners defenders before finding Pavol Regenda in front of the crease. Regenda walked around Stauber before depositing the puck into an open net for his first goal in a ‘Cuda uniform and fifth of the season at the 7:55 mark.

The Roadrunners cut the Barracuda lead in half with a power play goal on its fifth attempt. Ben McCarthy made a drop pass back up to the point to Robbie Russo. The veteran defenseman whipped a wrist shot past a screened Askarov for his first goal of the season at the 17:09 mark.

Tucson scored its second power play of the game just 30 seconds later as San Jose continued its undisciplined parade to the penalty box. Egor Sokolov found Sammy Walker down low in front of the crease. Walker cleaned up his own rebound for his first goal in a Roadrunners uniform and third of the season at the 17:39 mark.

Walker picked up the primary assist on the Roadrunners third unanswered goal to start the third period. Walker skated down the right wing before centering pass over to Austin Poganski who buried a one-timer top shelf past Askarov for his 10th goal of the season 16 seconds into the period to give Tucson their first lead of the game.

San Jose responded with the equalizer just over three minutes later. A shot from the point by Lucas Vanroboys caromed off the back boards and off the pad of Stauber. Brandon Coe, who crashed the net, tapped the puck into an empty net for his third goal of the season at the 3:42 mark.

Tucson regained the lead near the halfway mark of the period. On a counterattack, Curtis Douglas from the right-wing boards slung a pass in front of the crease that caromed off the skate of Walker for what proved to be the game winning goal, his second goal of the game and fourth of the season, at the 9:07 mark.

Stauber (7-5-0) finished the game stopping 26 of the 29 shots he faced to earn his seventh win of the season in just his 12th start. Askarov (9-5-1-3) didn’t deserve the hard luck loss as he made 30 saves on 34 shots.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished 1-for-4 on the power play. Tucson went 2-for-6.

The Three Stars of the Game: 1) Walker (2G, 2A) 2) Coe (1G, 1A) 3) Cardwell (0G, 2A).

UP NEXT: San Jose and Tucson conclude their two-game weekend series on Saturday 2/8 at 2:00pm at Tech CU Arena.

San Jose Barracuda defenseman Shakir Mukhamadullin (#85) delivers a shot in front of the crease while Henderson Silver Knights goaltender Akira Schmid (#40) does his best to keep the puck out of the net at Tech CU Arena on Friday JAN 31, 2025. (San Jose Barracuda)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE — Luca Cagnoni scored a power play goal in the third period to break a third period deadlock as the San Jose Barracuda defeated the Henderson Silver Knights 6-2 on Friday evening at Tech CU Arena.

San Jose has won three out of their last four games. Henderson has lost two games in a row after winning five of its past six games.

Cagnoni’s game winning goal was set up by Collin Graf just past the halfway mark of the third period. Graf sent the puck back up to the point. Cagnoni made a move around a Silver Knights defender and skated down the left wing before burying a wrist shot top shelf to the far corner for his 11th of the season at the 10:43 mark.

San Jose Sharks goaltender Vitek Vanecek made his first ever start in a ‘Cuda uniform as the Sharks sent home down for a conditioning assignment. Vaneck is recovering from a fractured cheekbone, an injury he sustained back on December 17th, 2024, when a puck sailed on to the bench striking him in the face.

San Jose (23-13-2-2-50 points) drew first blood early in the first period. Danil Gushchin had a shot attempt blocked in front of the crease. Filip Bystedt picked up the puck and made a backhand pass out to the right wing over to Gushchin who beat Silver Knights goalie Akira Schmid with a one-timer to the short side for his ninth goal of the season at the 2:56 mark.

Gushchin has scored in back-to-back games as Bystedt recorded his 13th assist of the season.

Henderson (14-27-2-0-30 points) scored the equalizer just past the halfway point of the opening frame thanks to a turnover by San Jose inside the Silver Knights zone. Jake Furlong was pickpocketed by Mason Morelli at the blueline. Morelli raced down the left wing on an odd man rush. The Silver Knight forward beat Vanecek to the glove side with a wrist shot for an unassisted goal, his eighth of the season at the 10:46 mark

The Silver Knights gained it first and only lead of the game after a faceoff win inside the ‘Cuda zone. Kai Uchacz won a battle behind the net and fed the puck back up to the point over to Jake Bischoff. The Silver Knight defenseman used a screen in front of the crease by Gage Quinney to beat Vanecek with a wrist shot for his third goal of the season at the 12:20 mark.

Barracuda defenseman Luca Cagnoni was injured in the first period when a puck hit him just under the visor. Cagnoni was able to walk off on his own power back to the locker room. He returned to the bench with 2:38 remaining in the opening 20 minutes.

San Jose tied it up early in the second period with an even strength goal. Shakir Mukhamadullin found Tristen Robins up ice in the neutral zone. Robins beat two Silver Knights defenders up the middle before depositing a backhander past Schmid for his sixth goal of the season at the 3:44 mark.

Robins, who has 10 points in his last 11 games, snapped a six-game goal-less draught.

Mukhamadullin, who was hurt temporarily injured when Morelli boarded him into the end boards that drew the penalty that led to Cagnoni’s ensuing goal, set up an insurance goal for the Barracuda under two minutes later. Mukhamadullin’s shot from the point was redirected by Anthony Vincent for his seventh goal of the season at the 12:01 mark. Vincent has also scored in back-to-back games.

San Jose put the game away with two goals in the final two minutes of the contest. Graf walked in on a breakaway for an empty net goal, his eighth of the season, at the 18:15 mark. Then Lucas Carlsson completed the scoring when he finished off a pass from Pavol Regenda for his eighth goal of the season with 1:07 remaining in the contest.

Vanecek (1-0-0) picked up his first win in a Barracuda uniform by stopping 22 of the 24 shots he faced. Schmid (6-15-1) made 34 saves on 39 shots in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished 1-for-3 on the power play. Henderson went 0-for-2.

MILESTONES: Barracuda forward Scott Sabourin played in his 500th AHL game. His family dropped the ceremonial first puck before the game. San Jose defenseman Ethan Frisch played in his 100th AHL game.

The Three Stars of the Game: 1) Graf (1G,1A) 2) Mukhamadullin (0G, 3A) 3) Regenda (0G, 2A).

UP NEXT: San Jose and Henderson conclude their two-game weekend series on Saturday 2/1 at 6:00pm at Tech CU Arena.

San Jose Barracuda forward Lucas Vanroboys (#67) and goalie Gabriel Carriere (#35) celebrate their team’s 4-2 victory over the Toronto Marlies on the ice after the final whistle at Tech CU Arena on Sunday JAN 26, 2025. (San Jose Barracuda)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE — The San Jose Barracuda learned a lesson from yesterday’s defeat. They held down the fort at the end of the game for a 4-2 victory over the Toronto Marlies on Sunday afternoon at Tech CU Arena.

San Jose split the weekend series and have won two of its past three games. Toronto had its four-game winning streak snapped with the series split.

The opening 20 minutes featured a scoreless period. San Jose (22-13-2-2-48 points) had three power play opportunities but weren’t able to cash in on them as the Marlies penalty kill led by goalie Artur Akhtyamov kept the Barracuda off the board.

Toronto (22-11-2-3-49 points) only registered nine shots on goal as they were busy killing penalties. A couple of giveaways inside San Jose’s zone on the same led to two quality chances by Toronto, but ‘Cuda goalie Gabriel Carriere held his ground and made stops on both opportunities.

San Jose drew first blood near the halfway point of the second period with an even strength goal. Lucas Vanroboys intercepted a clearing attempt out of the Marlies zone by Nicolas Mattinen. Vanroboys found Anthony Vincent in the slot and Vincent’s shot deflected off of a stick and floated over the shoulder of Akhtyamov for his sixth goal of the season at the 8:40 mark.

The Barracuda doubled its lead late in the middle frame. Ethan Cardwell led an odd man rush up the ice with newly acquired Pavol Regenda. Cardwell’s intended pass caromed off of Regenda and then off of Cardwell’s skate as the puck went underneath Akhtyamov into the back of the net. After video review it was determined a good goal, Cardwell’s fifth of the season at the 15:05 mark. Regenda was credited with the primary assist, his first point in a Cuda uniform.

Toronto cut San Jose’s lead in half two minutes into the third period. Robert Mastrosimone picked off the puck off of Shakir Mukhamudullin’s stick and raced down the ice. Mastrosimone blasted a slapshot past Carriere for his fifth goal, unassisted, of the season at the 2:11 mark.

San Jose regained its two-goal lead just over a minute later. Danil Gushchin’s breakaway attempt was stoned aside by Akhtyamov. Thomas Bordeleau intercepted a pass off a Marlie’s defender. Bordeleau quickly passed it back to Tristen Robins creating a two-on-one with Gushchin. Robins made the cross ice pass over to Gushchin who buried a one-timer past Akhtyamov for his eighth goal of the season at the 3:48 mark.

Once again, the Marlies made it a one-goal game with an even strength goal just under three minutes later. A shot from the point by Matt Benning was redirected by Joseph Blandisi for his eighth goal of the season at the 6:53 mark. Blandisi scored two goals in the weekend series against San Jose.

Collin Graf ended any chance of a second straight comeback for Toronto when he scored an empty net goal on a two-on-zeor with Robins for his seventh goal of the season with 36 seconds remaining in the contest.

Carriere (3-1-0) finished the game stopping 23 of the 25 shots he faced to earn his third win of the season. Akhtyamov made 23 saves on 26 shots in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished 0-for-5 on the power play. Toronto went 0-for-3.

The Three Stars of the Game: 1) Gushchin (1G,OA) 2) Poturalski (0G, 2A) 3) Cardwell (1G, 0A).

UP NEXT: San Jose continues its five-game homestand with a weekend series with the Henderson Silver Knights on Friday 1/31 at 7:30pm at Tech CU Arena.

Toronto Marlies center Joesph Blandisi toppled over San Jose Barracuda winger Thomas Bordeleau during the Marlies 3-2 win over the Barracuda at Tech CU Arena on Saturday JAN 25, 2025. (San Jose Barracuda)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE — Logan Shaw scored the game winning goal on the power play a minute into overtime to give the Toronto Marlies a 4-3 victory over the San Jose Barracuda on Saturday afternoon at Tech CU Arena.

San Jose have lost three out of their last four games. Toronto has won four games in a row.

Shaw cleaned up the rebound off of an Alex Steeves shot from the left slot for his fifth goal of the season at the 1:05 mark of the overtime period that completed a comeback for the Marlies who were down 2-0 after the opening 20 minutes.

Toronto (22-10-2-3-49 points), who made its first ever trip to the South Bay, had the game’s first scoring opportunity when Jimmy Schuldt went into the sinbin for hooking at the 11:20 mark of the first period. ‘Cuda goalie Georgi Romanov and San Jose’s penalty kill kept the Marlies off the board.

San Jose (21-13-2-2-46 points) took advantage of their power play opportunity three minutes later as they drew first blood. Danil Gushchin sent a pass out to Collin White that bounced off of him over to Andrew Poturalski and he blasted a one-timer top shelf past Marlies’ goalie Dennis Hildeby for his team leading 18th goal of the season at the 16:12 mark.

It was also the Barracuda captain’s team leading eighth power play goal of the season that has him tied for second place in the AHL.

The Barracuda doubled its lead early in the second period just after its second power play opportunity had expired. Ethan Cardwell sent a pass to the net from the left boards that deflected off of Tristen Robins. A crashing Jack Thompson cleaned up the rebound into an open net for his second goal of the season at the 1:44 mark. Thompson has scored in back-to-back games for San Jose.

Toronto cut San Jose’s lead in half with an even strength goal late in the middle frame. Off a faceoff win, Joseph Blandisi skated around up to before finding Alex Steeves along the right slot and the Marlie winger rifled home a slap shot past Romanov for his team leading 22nd goal of the season at the 12:18 mark.

The Marlies scored the equalizer with 1:25 left in the period after a clean faceoff win that mirrored their first goal. Logan Shaw won the faceoff back up to the slot and Nick Abruzzese lasered a one-timer to top shelf to the far post that Romanov never saw for his 10th goal of the season.

“Yeah, I thought we got in trouble turning over pucks in the neutral zone. They were able to get back in it. And then at the end we had a shot. I liked our resiliency to come back with the goalie out on the PK actually. Obviously, the penalty caught up to us in overtime,” ‘Cuda head coach John McCarthy said.

Toronto gained its first lead of the game a second after its power play opportunity expired early in the third period. After killing off the majority of a double-minor penalty by Marshall Rifai, the Marlies gained momentum and drew a penalty against Donovan Houle.

The Cuda failed to clear the puck out of its own zone with seconds left on the minor to Houle. Zach Solow sent a pass toward the middle of the crease and Blandisi redirected the puck past Romanov for his seventh goal of the season at the 6:22 mark.

Jimmy Schuldt sent the game to overtime when he scored the equalizer with 14 seconds left in the period, a short-handed goal, when his shot from the left boards deflected off of a Marlies defender’s skate in the crease and into the back of the net for his fourth goal of the season.

Hildeby (5-2-2-1) finished the game stopping 30 of the 33 shots he faced to earn his fifth victory of the season. Romanov (9-7-1) made 26 saves on 30 shots in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished 1-for-5 on the power play. Toronto went 0-for-4.

The Three Stars of the Game: 1) Shaw (1G, 1A) 2) Blandisi (1G, 1A) 3) Abruzzese (1G).

UP NEXT: San Jose and Toronto conclude their two-game weekend series on Sunday 1/26 at 2:00pm at Tech CU Arena.

San Jose Barracuda center Andrew Poturalski (#22) celebrates his second goal against the Bakersfield Condors with teammate Justin Bailey (#90) during the Barracuda’s 4-2 win at Tech CU Arena on Friday JAN 10, 2024. (San Jose Barracuda)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE — Andrew Poturalski continued his stellar offensive season for Team Teal.

The San Jose Barracuda captain scored two goals during a three-goal second period as the ‘Cuda defeated the Bakersfield Condors 5-2 on Friday evening at Tech CU Arna.

San Jose has won two games in a row and three of its last four games as they went 2-1 during their three-game homestand. Bakersfield has lost two games in a row and three of its past five.

Bakersfield (13-13-3-1-30 points) drew first blood 36 seconds into the game as they pressured San Jose inside its own zone from the opening faceoff. Ronnie Attard found Phil Kemp along the right boards. The Condors defenseman beat ‘Cuda goalie Georgi Romanov a seeing eyed wrist shot up high over the glove for his fifth goal of the season.

San Jose (20-11-0-2-42 points) answered back with an even strength goal less than three minutes later. Tristen Robins centered a pass from behind Bakerfield’s net out to Justin Bailey who fanned partially on his shot. The puck deflected off of Connor Carrick’s stick out to Robins who buried a wrist shot past Condor’s goalie Collin Delia for his fifth goal of the season at the 3:25 mark. Poturalski picked up the secondary assist on the play.

San Jose’s number one-line struck again as Poturalski gave the Barracuda its first lead of the game with his first goal of the contest early in the second period. Thomas Bordeleau made a cross ice to pass over to Bailey inside the Condor’s zone. Bailey made a touch pass over to Poturalski and the veteran forward tapped home the puck into an empty net for his 14th goal of the season at the 2:17 mark. It was the first time San Jose had a lead against Bakersfield this season.

Then Poturalski took advantage of a fortunate bounce while the Barracuda were on the power play with the team’s third unanswered goal. A backhanded clearing attempt by the Condors pinballed off of three players into the middle of the ice where Poturalski was all alone and beat Delia top shelf with a wrist shot for his second of the game and team leading 15th goal of the season at the 6:07 mark.

Poturalski also scored his team leading seventh power play goal as he was involved in the ‘Cuda’s first three goals.

San Jose scored its third goal of the middle frame with under six minutes remaining. Jake Furlong intercepted a pass from the point inside his own zone. Furlong fluttered a home run pass up the ice that sprung Donovan Houle on a breakaway. Houle skated in and beat Delia with a wrist shot top shelf to the right corner of the net for his eighth goal of the season at the 14:36 mark.

Houle has scored in back-to-back games and have three goals in his last four games.

Bakersfield cut San Jose’s lead in half with a four-on-four goal late in the period. Cam Dineen skated around the ‘Cuda defense before he centered a pass from behind the net over to Noah Philp who beat Romanov with a one-timer for his ninth goal of the season at the 18:09 mark.

The third period featured an abundance of physicality and chippy-ness with extra-curricular activities that occurred after the whistle between both teams. Jacob Perreault was given a five-minute major for spearing with an automatic ejection from the game from the game at the 14:42 mark.

Houle completed the scoring with his second goal of the goal, a power play goal, when he scored an empty netter when the Condors pulled Delia for an extra attacker at the 15:43 mark. Robins and Ethan Cardwell picked up helpers on the play. It was Cardwell’s 19th assist on the season.

Romanov (9-5-1) stopped 23 of the 25 shots he faced to earn his ninth win of the season and has won a season best three games in a row. Delia (3-6-2) made 40 saves on 44 shots in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished 2-for-3 on the power play. Bakersfield went 0-for-2.

The Three Stars of the Game: 1) Poturalski (2G, A) 2) Houle (2G, 0A) 3) Bailey (0G, 2A).

Poturalski and goalie Yaroslav Askarov were selected to the 2025 AHL All-Star game which will be held on Monday February 3rd at Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert, Calif. It will be Poturalski’s third all-star game and Askarov’s first.

Bailey played in his 400th AHL game of his career.

San Jose is 1-2 against Bakersfield in the season series.

UP NEXT: San Jose and Bakersfield conclude their home-and-home series on Saturday 1/11 at 7:00pm at Mechanics Bank Arena.

The San Jose Barracuda celebrate Thomas Bordeleau’s first period goal during their 4-3 win over the Colorado Eagles at Tech CU Arena on Sunday JAN 5, 2025. (San Jose Barracuda)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE — The San Jose Barracuda jumped out to an early lead and then held on for dear life as they defeated the Colorado Eagles 4-3 on Sunday afternoon at Tech CU Arena.

San Jose split the weekend series and has won two of its past three games. Colorado has lost for just the second time in their past seven games with the split.

San Jose (19-11-0-2-40 points) drew first blood in a three-goal first period. ‘Cuda captain Andrew Poturalski led a counterattack up the ice. Tristen Robin skated inside the Eagles zone where he found a trailing Justin Bailey in the middle of ice and Bailey beat Eagles goaltender Kevin Mandolese with a one-timer for his sixth goal of the season at the 8:30 mark.

The Barracuda doubled its lead just over three minutes later with an even strength goal. A shot from the point by Jimmy Schuldt was initially saved by Mandolese but Lucas Vanroboys, who crashed the net, cleaned up the rebound for his eighth goal of the season at the 11:37 mark.

70 seconds later, Thomas Bordeleau made a great individual effort to score the Barracuda’s third unanswered goal of the opening frame. Bordeleau pick pocketed the puck off of Jayson Megna at the Eagles blue line. Bordeleau skated down the left wing and blasted a slap shot to the far corner for an unassisted goal, his seventh of the season at the 12:47 mark.

Colorado (17-10-1-2-37 points) cut into San Jose’s lead early in the second period. A shot from the point by John Ludvig pinballed around in front of the crease. Maros Jedlicka poked home the rebound with a backhander past ‘Cuda goalie Georgi Romanov for his second goal of the season at the 3:15 mark.

The Eagles made it 3-2 with a four-on-four goal. Matthew Phillips skated down the right wing and centered a pass from behind the ‘Cuda net out to Jack Ahcan who buried a one-timer past Romanov for his third goal of the season at the 7:26 mark.

San Jose stole one back off a lucky bounce to regain its two-goal lead. Scott Sabourin sent a puck into the Eagles zone. Donovan Houle tried to center a pass out in front from behind the Eagles net. The puck deflected off the skate of Mark Seden and past Mandolese on the far side for Houle’s seventh goal of the season at the 13:21 mark. Jack Thompson was credited with the secondary assist.

“I saw I was actually just kind of trying to pass the puck to Sab (Scott Sabourin). So, I saw him driving to the net, tried to give him a pass, but (when you) gets pucks to the net good things happen. I got lucky there,” Houle said.

Colorado once again made it a one goal game with 22 seconds left in a wild middle frame. The Eagles had pressure inside the ‘Cuda zone when Ahcan fed a cross-ice pass over to Jacob MacDonald who slammed home a one-timer past Romanov for his ninth goal of the season.

San Jose were more focused and more disciplined on this afternoon staying out of the sin bin and limited Colorado’s opportunities both with the man advantage and even strength.

“I thought we did a nice job with the referees and staying off of them and letting them do their job. We also checked pretty well. We checked with our legs, we didn’t get ourselves, our sticks in a lot of feet. I think those two things put together equals, well we had a short penalty kill,” ‘Cuda head coach John McCarthy said.

The Eagles pulled Mandolese with just under three minutes remaining in the game for an extra attacker. However, Romanov and the ‘Cuda defense held down the fort and kept Colorado from scoring the equalizer as they escaped with two points on the afternoon.

Romanov (8-5-1) stopped 33 of the 36 shots he faced to earn his eighth win of the season. Mandolese (9-7-2) made 31 saves on 35 shots in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished 0-for-4 on the power play. Colorado went 0-for-1.

The Three Stars of the Game: 1) Houle 2) MacDonald 3) Bordeleau.

UP NEXT: San Jose hosts the Bakersfield Condors on Friday 1/10 at 7:30pm at Tech CU Arena.

San Jose Barracuda forward Scott Sabourin (#49) attempts a shot on goal while being checked by Colorado Eagles defenseman John Ludvig (#10) at Tech CU Arena on Saturday JAN 4, 2024. (San Jose Barracuda)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE — The Colorado Eagles scored four unanswered goals en route to a 4-2 comeback victory over the San Jose Barracuda on Saturday evening at Tech CU Arena.

San Jose has lost two of its past three games. Colorado has won five of its past six games.

San Jose (18-11-0-2-38 points) drew first blood late in the first period with an even strength goal. A shot from the right point by Joey Keane pinballed around the crease. Anthony Vincent’s chance was saved by Eagles goaltender Adam Scheel, but Lucas Vanroboys slammed home the rebound for his seventh goal of the season at the 17:26 mark.

Colorado (17-9-1-2-37 points) was dominated in the opening frame by San Jose as they were outshot 17-6. Jean-Luc Foudy took two minor penalties at the 9:32 mark and 19:57 mark.

Scheel kept the Eagles in the game during the first 10 minutes of the second period. He stopped two ‘Cuda short–handed breakaway attempts, one by Justin Bailey and the other by Ethan Cardwell. San Jose killed off both penalties.

The Barracuda doubled its lead with a power play goal late in the middle frame. Tristen Robbins found ‘Cuda captain Andrew Poturalski down below the left faceoff circle. Poturalski made a move in before wiring a wrist shot that beat Scheel to the short side for his team leading 13th goal of the season at the 14:21 mark.

The Eagles cut the lead in half just under three minutes later. Foudy slid a pass over to Jake Wise between the faceoff circles. Wise’s shot deflected off of Donovan Houle and past ‘Cuda goalie Aaron Dell to the short side for his eight goal of the season at the 17:18 mark.

“We controlled the game in the beginning, then I thought our puck decisions slipped in the second period and started to turn against us. (We) took too many penalties. We were (penalty) killing the whole third period. We can’t win that way,” Barracuda head coach John McCarthy said.

Colorado scored the equalizer with a short-handed goal early in the third period. Wyatt Aamodt cleared the puck out of their own zone up the ice to TJ Tynan who just stepped out of the penalty box. Tynan skated around Anthony Vincent, who also just stepped out of the penalty box, and beat Dell with a shot to the short side for his fourth goal of the season at the 4:57 mark.

The Eagles gained its first lead of the game with a power play goal, and its third unanswered. A shot from the point by Jack Ahcan deflected off of Tynan over to Jacob MacDonald who beat Dell with a backhander to the short side for his eighth goal of the season at the 8:35 mark.

San Jose spent the majority of the final frame killing penalties, but was also the victim of some calls and non-calls by the officiating late in the game that went Colorado’s way that helped prevent a comeback by the Barracuda in the final minutes of the contest.

Wise completed the scoring with an empty net goal as time expired for his second goal of the game and ninth of the season.

Scheel (3-0) finished with stopping 38 of the 40 shots he faced to earn his third win of the season. Dell (1-1-1) made 34 saves on 37 shots in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished 1-for-5 on the power play. Colorado went 1-for-7.

The Three Stars of the Game: 1) Tynan 2) MacDonald 3) Poturalski.

UP NEXT: San Jose and Colorado complete their two-game weekend series on Sunday 1/5 at 3:00pm at Tech CU Arena.