Tag: AHL

Barracuda fail in comeback attempt in 5-2 loss to Reign

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By: Marko Ukalovic

The Ontario Reign (25-19-3-1) scored three goals in the first period and held on with two late insurance goals to defeat the San Jose Barracuda (22-21-3-3) 5-2 on Wednesday evening at Citizens Business Bank Arena. The loss is the third in a row and seven out of their last eight games for San Jose.

The Reign didn’t waste any time getting off to a fast start when Matt Moulson drew first blood after Brett Sutter won a clean faceoff. He was able to pass it back to the point where Sean Walker blasted a slap shot that Moulson tipped past Cuda goalie Troy Grosenick (6-9-4) at the 2:57 mark of the first period.

Sutter would give the Reign a 2-0 lead when he scored a short-handed goal 59 seconds into a Cuda power play when the puck ricocheted off of Matt Roy’s stick and found a wide open Sutter who skated in on a breakaway and slid the puck right through the five-hole of Grosenick for his 10th goal at the 6:36 mark.

The Reign received a gift from Jacob Middleton when he turned over the puck to Justin Auger who skated it in all alone on Grosenick and was able to sneak the puck past the five-hole for his seventh goal of the season. The unassisted goal gave Ontario a 3-0 lead at the 10:25 mark.

Ontario had the ice tilted in their favor throughout the entire first period as they out shot San Jose 19-6. The Cuda weren’t able to get any of the goals back, despite three power play opportunities.

Colby Mcauly was able to get the Cuda on the board when he scored the first goal of his AHL career when he was able to poke home a rebound of a shot from Radem Simek. Simek’s shot sailed over the goal where McCauly was able to collect the puck off the back wall and put it past Reign goalie Cal Petersen’s (14-9-0) top self at the 6:29 mark of the second period.

Alexander True brought the Cuda to within one goal when he scored a power play goal when his wrap around shot deflected off the left pad of Petersen and trickled into the back of the net. True’s eighth goal of the season came on an extended power play with the Reign’s Stepan Falkovski in the sin bin for a double-minor high sticking penalty that drew blood from Rudolfs Balcers at the 16:58 mark. Simek and Nick DeSimone received assists.

San Jose had two power play opportunities in the third period to tie the game, but weren’t able to convert.

Ontario wrapped up the game with a pair of goals scored with under two minutes left in the game. An even-strength goal by TJ Hensick for his sixth goal of the season at the 18:09 mark. Andrew Crencenzi added an empty netter with his 10th goal of the season with 1:02 left in the game to complete the scoring for the Reign and end any comeback attempt by San Jose.

Petersen made 19 saves on 21 shots to earn the victory. He is now 3-0 against San Jose. Grosenick had another busy night, making 31 saves on 35 shots in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose was 1/8 on the power play, while Ontario–who has the sixth best-ranked power play in the AHL–went 0/4.

This was the first game of the season the Cuda didn’t have John McCarthy or Paul Martin on the penalty kill. Balcers was able to return to the game after being cut by the high stick from Falkovski. Simek was hit in the face by the puck after a shot caught him up high late in the 3rd period. Hensick’s goal was his fifth goal in 13 games against San Jose.

UP NEXT: The Barracuda conclude their four-game road trip traveling up Highway 99 to take on the Bakersfield Condors on Friday evening (February 23) at Rabobank Arena. Face off is scheduled at 7 pm PT.

San Jose Barracuda Podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Getting swept twice in two game series in a month is cramping the Barracuda’s style

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On the Barracuda Podcast with Marko:

1 The San Jose Barracuda were swept twice this month by the San Diego Gulls in San Jose on February 10th and 11th and in Stockton by the Heat February 16th and 17th

2 It was Law Enforcement night at Stockton Arena on Saturday and the Heat was on as theyt capitalized on the Cuda’s mistakes with too many men on the ice being one of the penalties

3 Then, there was the Cuda’s Brandon Mashinter and the Heat’s Tyler Wotherspoon who got into a scrap for a four-minute double-minor

4 The Heat got goals from Colin Smith for his 19th of the season and Heat rookie Spencer Foo got the second goal for his 13th

5 The SJ Barracuda continue this roundtrip in Ontario tonight a 7:00 pm PT face off

San Jose Barracuda Podcast with Marko can be heard each Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

Barracuda’s hopes for weekend split gets erased as they lose 2-1 to Heat

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By: Ana Kieu

The San Jose Barracuda and Stockton Heat met again for Game 2 of the weekend series at the Stockton Arena on Saturday night. The Barracuda were looking to split its series against the Heat. Meanwhile, the Heat hosted a special Law Enforcement Appreciation Night to honor the local law enforcement.

The Barracuda got a little too feisty early in the first period. As a result, they were handed a penalty for too many men on the ice and their penalty kill went into effect.

After the first San Jose power play of the night, Barracuda’s Brandon Mashinter dropped the gloves with Heat’s Tyler Wotherspoon. Consequently, both players sat in the sin bin with a four-minute double-minor.

Barracuda goalie Antoine Bibeau made 14 saves in the first period, but the game remained scoreless after 20 minutes of play.

The Heat broke open the scoreless deadlock when left wing Andrew Mangiapane finished a pass from newcomer Colin Smith for his 19th goal of the season and a 1-0 lead midway through the second period. After the game’s first goal, Stockton headed to the power play after San Jose’s Cavan Fitzgerald was called for hooking.

Heat rookie forward Spencer Foo tapped the power play goal in for his 13th of the season. The Heat took a 2-0 lead late in the second.

The Barracuda got to work after receiving a power play and then they were back on the penalty kill when Mike Brodzinski went to the box for slashing. Yet, the Heat carried a 2-0 lead to their locker room after 40 minutes of play.

The Barracuda finally got on the board as Rourke Chartier scored an unassisted goal–his second since coming back from injury–to cut the lead in half. Chartier has gotten three points in his last three games.

The Barracuda went on the power play at the 10-minute mark, but they were unable to capitalize with the man advantage.

The Barracuda lost to the Heat 2-1 in the Port City. Bibeau made 36 saves on 38 shots in a losing effort for San Jose.

Notes
Barracuda’s lineup and starters:
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Up Next
The Barracuda return to action on Wednesday, February 21 at 7 pm PT in southern California against the Ontario Reign.

Heat comeback from three-goal deficit to upend Barracuda 5-4 in OT

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By Marko Ukalovic

The San Jose Barracuda (22-19-3-3) blew a three-goal lead as the Stockton Heat (23-17-2-3) scored four unanswered goals for a 5-4 dramatic comeback victory on Friday evening at the Stockton Arena.

Hunter Shinkaruk scored the game winning goal with 39 seconds left in the over time for his 13th goal on the season. Oliver Kylington set up Shinkaruk and he was able to go up top-shelf on Cuda goalie Troy Grosenick (6-9-3).

San Jose would jump out to a quick start against their Nor Cal rival when Jacob Middleton led a 2-on-1 with Adam Helewka. Middleton stole the puck away from Brett Findley just inside the Cuda blue line, skated up the right wing and passed it over to Helewka who fired a shot past Heat goalie Mason McDonald (0-1-0) into the back of the net for his seventh goal of the season at 2:20 mark of first period.

Stockton’s Tanner Glass scored would tied the game when he was able to pounced on a rebound and put it past Grosenick for his second goal of the season at the 8:49 mark of the first period. Kylington’s shot from the point was initially saved by Grosenick but he could corral the rebound. Dalton Prout received the secondary assist.

Sam Warning would give San Jose back the lead with his first AHL goal of his career. Filip Sandberg sent in a pass into the Heat zone and Warning collected the puck and snapped a shot past McDonald with a sweeping spin-o-rama motion at the 17:20 mark of the first period.

Grosenick made two important saves in the first period. Brett Pollack had a wide-open chance after a turnover by Radim Simek that Grosenick was able to glove. Glass had a short-handed chance that Grosenick stoned away.

The Cuda had two short-handed chances to extend their lead midway through the second period but were stymied both times by McDonald. Danny O’Regan couldn’t convert on a breakaway. Moments later Rudolfs Balcers and Simek had a 2-on-1 chance only to have McDonald make a brilliant save on Balcers’ shot.

The Cuda were finally able to cash in on their fifth power play opportunity when rookie forward Alex True was able to light the red light on a rebound chance. Julius Bergman fed O’Reagan who one-timed a shot from the right point that McDonald stopped but True crashed the net and pounded home the puck past McDonald for his seventh goal of the season for a 3-1 lead at the 12:55 mark of the 2nd period.

San Jose scored their third unanswered goal when Simek gave the Cuda a 4-1 lead on a short-handed goal, thanks to a 3-on-1 chance with O’Regan and Balcers. O’Regan made a drop pass to an open Simek who buried the puck past McDoanld for his fourth goal of the season at the 15:52 mark. It was O’Regan’s second assist on the night.

San Jose were impressive in killing off a Heat 5-on-3 power play opportunity with five minutes remaining in the second period, thanks to the great goaltending by Groesnick. He stopped all 15 shots, including a couple of point-blank chances, he faced in the middle frame.

The Heat would dominate the third period. Austin Carrol would cut the Cuda lead in half after some dazzling stick handling by Rasmus Andersson at the 3:02 mark. Andersson was able skate down the left wing side, made a toe drag move around a defender before centering a pass to Carrol who was able shoot the puck over the left pad of Grosenick for his fourth goal of the season.

Andersson would draw the Heat to within one goal when he was able to bang home the puck into a wide open net thanks to a great feed from Andrew Mangiapane who was left all alone by the Cuda defense. Andersson’s fifth goal of the season came at the 7:50 mark.

The Heat would complete the come back with their third unanswered goal in the period when Andersson tied the game up with his second goal of the night (and sixth of the season) when he jumped on the rebound from a shot by Hunter Shinkaruk with 2:51 left in the third period. San Jose was outshot 18-3 in the third frame.

Mason, who made just his second start of his AHL career, earned his first career AHL victory on 25 saves on 29 shots. Grosenick, who made his second consecutive start, suffered the loss, despite making 41 saves on 46 shots.

GAME NOTES: San Jose was 1/6 on the power play (5/29 overall against Stockton this season) while Stockton went 0/6.

The Barracuda are now 2-1 at the Stockton Arena this season. This was the eighth game between the two clubs. They play each other four more times. Simek’s short-handed goal was the second short-handed goal on the road against Stockton. It was their fourth short-handed goal of the season overall. San Jose is now 12-1-2 when they have a lead after the second period. Alex True had a spirited first ever fight against Brett Pollock 42 seconds into the third period.

UP NEXT: The Barracuda conclude their two-game series against the Heat tomorrow at Stockton Arena. Face off is scheduled for 6 pm PT.

Barracuda snap losing streak with a 4-2 win over Roadrunners

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By Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE — The San Jose Barracuda (22-19-2-3) were happy to have Rudolfs Balcers and his scoring touch back in the lineup as his two goals led the way for a 4-2 victory over the Pacific Division leading Tuscon Roadrunners (27-15-2-1) on Wednesday night at the SAP Center. The win snapped the Cuda’s four-game losing streak.

Balcers’ second goal of the night proved to be the game winning goal for San Jose on the power play. Rourke Chartier kept the puck inside the blue line, passed it over to Tim Heed who fed Balcers who skated between the middle of the circles and fired a shot top self past Hunter Miska (15-5-0) for a 3-2 lead at the 8:26 mark of the third period. It was his team leading 14th goal on the season.

“It’s been a while (since I scored a goal),” said Baclers about his recent goalless streak. “I actually talked to my parents yesterday. We talked that I haven’t scored in a while. So it felt good.”

The Roadrunners would draw first blood when Mike Sislo skated in all alone on the right wing after taking a cross-ice feed from Lawson Crouse and fired a shot past Cuda goalie Troy Grosenick (6-8-3) into the back of the net for his 15th goal on the season at the 12:23 mark of the first period.

The Barracuda would even it up late in the first period when a turnover at the blue line gave the puck to Adam Helewka and he found a wide-open Emerson Clark who skated right down the middle all alone and buried a shot past Tuscon goalie Hunter Miska (15-5-0) for his sixth goal of the season at the 17:37 mark.

Despite the Roadrunners’ defense clogging up the middle of the ice and holding the Cuda to only three shots in the period, both teams headed into the first intermission tied at one apiece.

Tuscon regained the lead late in the second period with a power play goal from Lane Pederson. With Helewka in the sin bin for hooking, Laurent Dauphin found Pederson at the right point and he blasted a shot past Grosenick for his eighth goal of the season at the 16:14 mark.

Balcers tied it back up over a minute later with his first goal of the night when he received a pass from Tim Heed at the right slot and skated in on Miska and fired a shot that Miska wasn’t able to handle at the 17:21 mark.

In the third period, the Cuda took three undisciplined penalties (two too many men on the ice and one unsportmanlike conduct) that gave Tuscon a chance to come back but San Jose’s penalty kill along with Grosenick were perfect and didn’t allow another goal.

“Special teams were pretty good,” said head coach Roy Sommer. “It would’ve been a little disheartening if they had scored on those, but they didn’t.”

Chartier, back in the lineup after missing the last 30 games, gave the Cuda a huge insurance goal when Nick DeSimone connected with Chartier on a pass from center ice and he skated in from the left slot before firing a shot past Miska into the top right corner of the goal for his third goal of the season.

“He’s been through a lot these past couple of years,” said Grosenick about Chartier’s return to the lineup. “To see him comeback and get rewarded like that, with all his hard work, it’s a good thing to see.”

Grosenick made 37 saves on 39 shots, including a great sprawling save on Crouse in the second period while Tuscon was on the power play. Miska stopped 22 pucks on 26 shots for just his fifth loss on the season.

“It was big, it was big for him and just his psyche”, said Sommer about Grosenick finally getting a win. “He was kinda wondering when the next win was gonna come. He battled in there and made some big saves for us down the end for us.”

GAME NOTES: San Jose was 1/4 on the power play and snapped an 0/13 skid, while Tuscon went 1/6.

Along with Chartier, forward Danny O’Reagan was also back in the line up for the Cuda who has been up and down with the Sharks and Cuda this season.

Caleb Herbert made his debut for San Jose after recently signing with the team.

San Jose went 1-2-1-1 on their five-game home stand.

The announced attendance was 2,924.

UP NEXT: The Barracuda head out on the road to begin a four-game road trip beginning with a two-game weekend series in Stockton as they take on their Nor Cal rival the Heat on Friday 2/16. Face off is scheduled for 7 pm PT.

San Jose Barracuda Podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Barracuda coming off two straight losses; looking for win against Tucson tonight

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On the Barracuda Podcast with Marko:

1 On Sunday the San Diego Gulls (26-17-1-0) swept the San Jose Barracuda (21-19-2-3) at SAP Center. The Gulls came back down 1-0 with three unanswered goals to beat the Barracuda for the second time 4-3.

2 The Barracuda opened the game with a goal from defenseman Jacob Middleton who scored his second goal of the season at 24 seconds

3 Middleton’s goal would the only goal of the afternoon for San Jose as San Diego would put four goals past Barracuda goalie Antoine Bibeau (14-9-2) who kept busy stopping 24 out of 28 shots

4 The power play is hurting the Barracuda going 0-6 Sunday and 0-10 during the two game against the Gulls

5 The Barracuda will face off against Tucson tonight after dropping two the Barraducda will need this one against the Tucson Roadrunners

Marko Ukalovic covers Barracuda hockey for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

A dream come true for Team USA Olympian John McCarthy

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By Marko Ukalovic

The 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics is the first since 1994 that the NHL did not send their players to participate in at the Winter Olympics. For Team USA it is a group made up of college and minor league players that will compete in South Korea with the hopes of winning a gold medal for the first time since the Miracle on Ice team accomplished that feat back in 1980 in Lake Placid, New York.One of the members of Team USA is John McCarthy, captain of the San Jose Barracuda. McCarthy was picked among 24 other players to represent the red, white and blue by head coach, and former San Jose Shark, Tony Granato. For McCarthy this is a chance of a lifetime for him.

   “I’m really excited about it”, said the Boston, Mass native before he heading out to South Korea last Wednesday. “It’s going to be a fun experience.”
McCarthy described what the emotion was like when he received the call that he was going to be one of the 25 to represent Team USA at the Olympics.
“Yeah it was awesome, it’s really exciting. You know you dream that as a kid, so to get that phone call was awesome. Being able to tell my family, they were over the top excited for me too. So it was a very cool moment.”McCarthy didn’t get too specific on what activities he will do away from the hockey rink during his time in Pyeongchang.

“It’s going to be an awesome experience,” said McCarthy. “It’s going to be important to see everything and just take everything in.”

When asked if he expected to be on the team, McCarthy responded by saying, “No I was surprised for sure. They (the coaches) kinda let me they were looking at me and watching my games and everything. I didn’t want to get my hopes up, didn’t want to get ahead of myself. I just took the attitude of just playing my game. If it works out, it works out and it worked out. It was a really good feeling.”

While he didn’t know what his exact role would be on the team he has had conversations with the coaches of what they expect out of him. “I think it will become a little bit clearer when we get started. I’m just really excited to be on the team.”

Team USA begins group play today at 4:10 am PST as they take on Slovenia in their first matchup in Group B. Good luck to John and the rest of Team USA as they try to bring home gold for the first time in 38 years.

Gulls dominate Barracuda in 4-1 win; sweep two-game series

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By Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE — The San Diego Gulls (26-17-1-0) came from behind once again, scoring four unanswered goals in a convincing 4-1 win over the San Jose Barracuda (21-19-2-3) Sunday afternoon at the SAP Center. They swept the two-game series against San Jose and won their season best sixth win in a row.

It didn’t take the Barracuda long to get the bad taste of yesterday’s loss out of their mouth when defenseman Jacob Middleton scored his second goal on the season just 24 seconds into the game. Forward Adam Helewka’s shot hit off the pads of Gulls goalie Reto Berra (11-6-0) and Middleton crashed the net and was able to slam home the rebound past Berra.

“I’m used to being in front of the net in my own defensive zone,” said Middleton about scoring his goal. “It was an opportunity. I kinda just shoveled it toward the net and fortunately it went in.”

Antoine Bibeau (14-9-2) was busy earlier on having stopped two breakaway attempts by San Diego in the first three and a half minutes into the game, including one by Devin Sideroff.

San Jose had a golden opportunity to extend their lead when they had a 5-on-3 power play for 1:48 midway through the period when Sam Carrick and Mike Limabas went into the sin bin 12 seconds apart from each other. However, the Gulls penalty kill would keep the game at a one goal deficit.

The Gulls would answer back when Nic Kerdiles was able to tip in Andy Welinski’s shot from the point past Bibeau. The Gulls had sustained pressure inside the Cuda zone as Kerdiles was able to set up shop in front of Bibeau to deflect the puck in the back of the net for his ninth goal on the season at the 16:15 mark of the first period.

Kalle Kossila, who had his two-game goal streak snapped yesterday, gave the Gulls a 2-1 lead with 8.5 seconds left in the first period when he received the puck at center ice and was able to use his speed to skate around three Cuda defenders before putting a pretty backhander past Bibeau for his 13th goal of the season.

“The guy kinda goes through everybody and tucks it in,” said head coach Roy Sommer. “I think that was the biggest thing, the real back breaker.”

Dennis Rasmussen extended the Gulls lead to 3-1 on a nice give and go with Steven Olesky. Rasmussen skated into the Cuda zone, passed it over to Olesky on the right wing and Olesky gave it right back to Rasmussen who was able to fire a shot past Bibeau top self in the left corner of the goal for his fourth goal of the season and second consecutive game with a goal against San Jose at the 6:41 mark of the second period.

San Diego would keep pouring it on when a keep in at the blue line set up a tic-tack-toe goal by Eric Fehr. Fehr gathered the puck, passed it over to Kevin Roy who quickly sent it back to a wide open Fehr who slapped it into an open net for his team leading 15th goal on the season for a 4-1 lead at the 17:33 mark of the second period.

The Cuda were only playing with nine forwards throughout the game due to injuries and call up. Fatigue could have caught up to San Jose in trying maintain an offensive attack.

“As far as trying to keep any heat on, you know get a sustained pressure on the forecheck,” said Sommer about playing with a limited lineup. “I think that gets you a little bit.”

Berra stopped 33 of the 34 Cuda shots for the victory. Bibeau made 24 saves on 28 Gulls shots in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: The power play blues continued for San Jose as they went 0/6 on the power play and 0/10 in the two game series. San Diego was 0/4.

“You gotta get pucks through and I didn’t think we were very good on our flanks. Never really got a lot of second chances on the PP,” said Sommer.

Emerson Clark thought he had a power play goal at 7:01, but the referee waved it off and video review confirmed no goal. Bibeau made a big save on Kerdiles six minutes into the second period. Fehr has seven points in five games against San Jose this season.

Forward Marcus Sorensen missed the game due to an upper body injury he sustained yesterday. He is currently listed as day-to-day.

The announced attendance was 3,863.

San Diego is currently in second place in the Pacific Division with 53 points. The Cuda sit in seventh place with 47 points just one ahead of last place Bakersfield.

UP NEXT: San Jose host the Pacific Division leading Tuscon Roadrunners on Valentine’s Day 2/14 to conclude the five-game home stand. Face off is scheduled for 7 pm PT.

Gulls respond with three unanswered goals in 3-2 overtime win over Barracuda

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By Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE — Dennis Rasmussen scored the game-winning goal with over two minutes left in overtime as the San Diego Gulls (25-17-1-0) completed a 3-2 comeback victory over the San Jose Barracuda (21-18-2-3) Saturday afternoon at the SAP Center.

After successfully killing off a Barracuda power play that transferred over from the third period, Rasmussen was able to skate down the left wing on a 2-on-1 opportunity and was able to beat Cuda goalie Troy Grosenick (5-8-3) with a wrist shot just inside the left post at the 2:41 mark of overtime. It was Rasmussen’s third goal on the season.

There wasn’t much offense generated in a penalty-filled first period that saw neither team convert on their power play chances. The Barracuda had a four-minute advantage when Corey Tropp went into the sin bin for a double-minor high-sticking penalty.

However, an interference penalty by Tim Heed negated Tropp’s penalty. Both combined for only nine shots on goal.

The Barracuda would strike first after a clean faceoff win by Alex True, defenseman Paul Martin sent a shot in from the point that deflected off the skate of Gulls defenseman Steven Olesky right on to the body of Emerson Clark and into the back of net past Gulls goalie Kevin Boyle (14-8-1) for his fifth goal of the season at the 11:15 mark of the second period.

Brandon Bollig gave the Cuda a 2-0 lead when he tapped home a rebound of a Jon Martin shot for his eighth goal on the season. The goal came on a 2-on-1 opportunity created by Martin at the Gulls blueline at the 16:52 mark of the second period. Michael Brodzinski received the secondary assist.

“It’s been a long time coming,” said Bollig, after ending his long scoring draught. “Droughts like that are gonna happen. Unfortunately, it lasted a little longer than I would’ve liked. We could use that extra scoring and that’s what I’m looking to keep going.”

San Diego wouldn’t go quietly into that good afternoon as Kevin Roy would cut the lead early in the third period when the Cuda turned over the puck in the neutral zone. Sam Carrick was able to feed Roy open along the left boards and he was able to skate in and rifle a shot past Grosenick for his ninth goal of the season at the 3:08 mark.

The Gulls would tied the score just 87 seconds later as Carrick skated into the Cuda zone and his shot deflected off a skate right into the hands of Eric Fehr, who buried it past Grosenick for his 14th goal on the season at the 4:35 mark.

“A two minute burst, they score a couple of goals,” said Cuda head coach Roy Sommer. “We kinda were back on our heels a bit.”

Things would get nasty when Mike Liambas landed a vicious elbow to the upper body of an unsuspecting Marcus Sorensen five and half minutes into the third period. Sorensen would leave the ice under his own power. The hit lit a spark under the Cuda as the hitting picked up by both teams in the final 10 minutes of the third period.

The Cuda had scoring chances late in the third period and early in the overtime, but were the victims of bad luck as they hit two posts with a puck rolling just past the goal into the corner.

“We had some point blankers,” said Sommer. “We hit a cross bar, hit two posts. Hey I liked the way we played. I wish we had a better outcome. We play like that, we’re going to win a lot more (games) than we lose.”

Boyle had a busy afternoon making 37 saves on 39 shots for the victory. Grosenick, arguably the most hard luck goaltender in the AHL, made 21 saves on 24 shots in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: Both teams were 0/4 on the power play.

San Diego came into the game with the best power play in the AHL at over 24%, with a 38% success rate against San Jose.

The announced attendance was 3,162.

UP NEXT: San Jose looks for revenge Sunday afternoon against the San Diego Gull at SAP Center. Face off is scheduled for noon PT.

Roadrunners overcome Barracuda’s comeback, win 4-3 in a shootout

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By Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE — In a wild game that saw the Tuscon Roadrunners (25-14-2-1) cough up a three-goal lead, only to save face in the shootout with a 4-3 victory over the San Jose Barracuda (21-18-1-3) on Monday evening at SAP Center.

Lane Pederson scored the game winner in a long shootout period to give the Pacific Division leaders the two points in a game that saw each team score three unanswered goals after the first 20 minutes of play.

The first period featured each team getting a power play opportunity, but neither team could score as San Jose’s Antonie Bibeau (14-8-2) and Tuscon’s Adin Hill (10-10-1) were able to keep the puck out of their own respective nets. Scoring chances were few, far and between for both teams. The period featured only 14 total shots, with San Jose outshooting Tuscon 8-6.

The Roadrunners broke through early in the second period when Michael Bunting was on the receiving end of a pretty give and go with Tyler Gaudet. Bunting passed it over Gaudet from the right slot with Gaudet returning the favor right back to an open Bunting who slammed the puck into an empty net for his 13th goal of the season and a 1-0 lead at the 3:14 mark. Dysin Mayo received the secondary assist.

Bunting would get his second goal of the evening just a minute and a half later when he was able to tip in a Kyle Wood shot from the middle of the slot past Bibeau for a 2-0 lead. Bunting’s 14th goal of the season was also assisted by Conor Garland at the 5:55 mark of the second period.

Tuscon would get a lucky break that resulted in a power play goal at the 8:29 mark when Lawson Crouse was able to somehow get his stick on the puck that rolled past Bibeau into the net. After a shot from the point by Dakota Mermis was blocked away by Bibeau, a mad scramble ensued on the rebound with Crouse getting credited for his eighth goal on the season. Mike Sislo received the secondary assist on the goal.

“A power play goal, a tunrover and a quick play they make to the net, you’re down 3-0,” said head coach Roy Sommer. “It happens. But I liked the way we battled back.”

The Barracuda finally got on the board at the 10:55 mark of the second period when Nick DeSimone blasted a shot past Hill from the right point. The power play goal was DeSimone’s fifth goal on the season. Brandon Mashinter received the only assist on the goal.

Captain John McCarthy pulled the Barracuda to within one goal on the power play with just 38 seconds remaining in the period. He was able to tip in a shot past Hill from defenseman Julius Bergman, who launched the puck from the right point. Adam Helewka was also credited with an assist on McCarthy’s seventh goal of the season.

“We responded. It’s good to see the way we came back like we did,” said McCarthy on his team’s resiliency. “It would’ve been nice to get both points, but it was a good response by us.”

Bibeau kept the Cuda in the game midway through the third period when he stopped a point-blank tip attempt by Artur Tyanulin just as the tripping penalty by McCarthy had come to an end.

Jon Martin tied the game up at 3-3 when he was able to bury home the puck past Hill after receiving a great feed from Emerson Clark who had skated in from the left boards to feed a wide-open Martin at the left slot for his fourth goal of the season at the 9:48 mark of the period.

Both teams traded odd man rushes in overtime, but neither team could finish off their chances to win it in the extra session sending the game into the shootout.

“If we had any kind of scorers at all,” Sommer said jokingly. “We haven’t been too lucky in the shoot outs, but hey I’ll take the point.”

Hill made 35 shots on 38 shots to even his record for the victory, while Bibeau made 24 saves on 27 shots in the losing effort.

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

The shootout went seven rounds before Pederson’s goal and San Jose’s Manny Wiederer’s failed attempt ended it. This was captain John McCarthy’s last game with the Barracuda for the next couple of weeks as he will head off to Pyeongchang, South Korea, to join his Team USA hockey teammates for the XXIII Winter Olympics.

UP NEXT: The Barracuda will face off against Pacific Divison rival San Diego Gulls for a weekend series starting on Saturday, February 10 at 1:15 pm PT at SAP Center.