Tag: Bakersfield Condors

The San Jose Barracuda dropped their ninth out ten games against the Bakersfield Condors on Wed Feb 23, 2022 at SAP Center in San Jose (image from the San Jose Barracuda)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE— When you play with fire you usually get burned.

The San Jose Barracuda got into penalty trouble and the Bakersfield Condors made them pay in a convincing 6-3 win on Wednesday evening at SAP Center.

San Jose have lost nine of its last 10 games. Bakersfield snapped its three-game losing streak.

The Condors were in control from the start of the game and forced the Barracuda to chase the game early on, which they could not recover from.

Bakersfield (21-12-4-4) drew first blood early in the first period with an even strength goal. Luke Esposito centered a pass from the behind the net over to Raphael Lavoie who roofed a wrist shot to the short side past ‘Cuda goalie Alexei Melnichuk for his 12th goal of the season at the 4:46 mark.

The Condors doubled its lead on the power play under two minutes later. Yanni Kaldis set up Seth Griffith who sniped home a wrist shot for his team leading 18th goal of the season at the 6:22 mark.

Griffith, the AHL’s fifth leading scorer, has been on a hot streak with 16 points over his past 12 games. He has 14 points in 14 games against San Jose.

Bakersfield scored its third unanswered goal of the period near the halfway mark of the opening frame. Michael Kesselring’s shot from the right point was redirected past Melnichuk by James Hamblin for his 12th goal of the season at the 9:18 mark.

“We came out flat against a team and they took advantage of it,” ‘Cuda head coach Sommer said. “They basically put the game away in two periods and sat back in the third (period).”

San Jose (15-28-1-0) answered back with a power play goal late in the period. Nick Merkley centered a pass from behind the net and Jayden Halbgewachs beat Condor’s goalie Stuart Skinner with a one-timer to the short side for his 13th goal of the season at the 15:16 mark.

Bakersfield regained its three-goal lead 27 seconds into the second period. Dmitri Samorukov centered a pass to a trailing Dino Kambeitz who fired home a wrist shot past Melnichuk for his sixth goal of the season. Kambeitz has scored in back-to-back games.

The Condors continued their dominance with its second power play goal of the game. Dylan Holloway set up Griffith along the right slot and Griffith blasted a shot past Melnichuk for his second goal of the game and 19th of the season at the 3:24 mark.

Halbgewachs scored his second goal of the game when he cleaned up a rebound off of a Jake McGrew shot for his 14th goal of the season at the 8:19 mark.

Bakersfield responded back right away as a turnover in the neutral zone led to a break for the Condors. Cooper Marody set up Tim Schaller who beat Melnichuk with a wrist shot for his seventh goal of the season at the 9:57 mark.

“Without scoring, without defending down in our own end, we’re not going to win games. Right now (we need) everybody trying to buy in and we gotta give it our all to win games. We keep coming up short,” Halbgewachs said.

Sommer pulled Melnichuk after giving six goals on 15 shots and replaced him with Zachary Emond.

San Jose scored its second power play goal of the game near the halfway mark of the third period. Merkley skated in from the left wing a wired a wrist shot to the far side past Skinner for his eighth goal of the season at the 8:19 mark.

Merkley has scored in back-to-back games for the ‘Cuda.

Skinner, the ‘Cuda killer, finished the game stopping 21 of the 24 shots he faced to earn the victory. Emond made was perfect in mop up duty stopping all seven shots he faced.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished 2-for-5 on the power play. Bakersfield was 2-for-4.

The Three Stars of the Game were: 1) Griffith 2) Halbgewachs 3) Schaller

Center Lane Pederson recorded two assists in his first game with San Jose since being placed on waivers by the San Jose Sharks and being assigned to the Barracuda on Tuesday as the Sharks recalled Jasper Weatherby.

UP NEXT: San Jose and Bakersfield battle it out again next Wednesday 3/2 at 7:00pm at Solar4America Ice.

Joachim Blichfield who scored a big goal for the San Jose Barracuda helped in the three goal win over the Bakersfield Condors on Sun Jan 23, 2022 at SAP Center in San Jose (file photo from nhl.com)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE — SAP Center let the dogs in. The San Jose Barracuda showed their bite was as big as its bark.

The ‘Cuda rebounded from a tough loss one night earlier and played a full 60-minute game in a 5-2 victory over the Bakersfield Condors on Sunday evening at The Shark Tank.

The Barracuda had a combined promotion night with Hockey Fights Cancer and its Paws & Pucks celebration where fans were able to bring their best friends into the arena.

Both human and canine saw San Jose snap its three-game losing streak. In the process Bakersfield had its six-game winning streak end.

It was a complete 180 from last night’s game where the Barracuda squandered a two-goal lead and lost the game in the third period. Tonight, San Jose scored two goals in the final frame to ensure they would not have a fourth loss in a row.

“Don’t sit back and get after it,” said ‘Cuda head coach Roy Sommer on his message to his team during the second intermission. “Blichy’s (Blichfeld) goal was big, and Johnny (Leonard) scores off the PP (power play) that kind of cements it for us.”

San Jose (14-19-1-0) drew first blood early in the first period. Jake McGrew had a give and go with Zach Gallant inside the Condors zone. Gallant’s shot on net was initially saved by Condor’s goalie, and former San Jose Shark, Alex Stalock. McGrew picked up the rebound and beat Stalock with a wrist shot for his sixth goal of the season at the 5:39 mark.

Kyle Topping was issued a five-minute major and a game misconduct for elbowing Philip Broberg at center ice with 6:49 remaining in the opening frame. Broberg left the ice on his own power and returned to the game.

However, penalties by Devin Brosseau and Luke Esposito trimmed Bakersfield power play opportunity to just 54 seconds which San Jose was able to kill off.

San Jose extended its lead with two goals scored in a 15 second span early in the second period. The ‘Cuda doubled its lead on the power play when Artemi Kniazev fired a shot on net stopped by Stalock. Scotty Reedy crashed the crease and cleaned up the rebound for his team leading 17th goal of the season at the 1:21 mark.

Reedy leads the AHL in power play goals with 10.

On the ensuing shift ‘Cuda defenseman Mark Alt sent in a shot-pass from the right point and Timur Ibragimov tipped the puck past Stalock for his first career AHL goal at the 1:36 mark.

“Timur (Ibragimov) was in a good spot and I just tried to get a nice hard pass to him so he could deflect it wherever he wanted,” Alt said.

Bakersfield (14-8-3-3) answered back with an even strength goal near the halfway mark of the middle frame. A turnover by the ‘Cuda inside their own zone led to Dylan Holloway centering a pass to Tim Schaller who beat Barracuda goalie Zachary Sawchenko with a one-timer for his sixth goal of the season at the 7:42 mark.

The Condors cut their deficit to one late in the middle frame. Esposito won a faceoff back to Raphael Lavoie in the right slot and he blasted a one-timer past Sawchenko for his seventh goal of the season at the 18:53 mark.

San Jose scored an insurance goal early in the third period. Jayden Halbgewachs intercepted a pass in the neutral zone and led a two-on-one odd man rush with Joachim Blichfeld. Halbgewachs sent a rink wide pass to Blichfeld who snapped home a one-timer past Stalock for his 14th goal of the season at the 4:04 mark.

Blichfeld has scored in three consecutive games, his longest of the season.

The Barracuda padded its lead just under two minutes later with its second power play goal. John Leonard went coast-to-coast from his own zone up the middle into the Condors zone. After the puck was poke checked away from him, Leonard quickly regained possession and fired a wrist shot to the far side past a surprised Stalock for his eighth goal of the season at the 6:31 mark. Cole Moberg picked up his second helper of the game with the only assist on Leonard’s goal.

Leonard has three goals in his past two games.

Sawchenko, who made his first start since December 17, 2021, finished the game stopping 35 of the 37 shots he faced to pick up the victory. Stalock made 25 saves on 30 shots in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished 2-for-4 on the power play. Bakersfield was 0-for-4.

The Three Stars of the Game were: 1) Kniazev 2) Sawchenko 3) Moberg

UP NEXT: San Jose continues its homestand when they host the Ontario Reign on Wednesday at 10:00am at SAP Center.

The Bakersfield Condors in a comeback game avoided defeat winning their sixth straight game at Mechanics Bank in Bakersfield edging the San Jose Barracuda 4-3 (photo from Bakersfield Condors)

by Marko Ukalovic

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — Bakersfield has become a house of horrors for the San Jose Barracuda.

The Condors scored four unanswered goals to overcome a two-goal deficit in a 4-3 victory over their Pacific Division rival on Saturday evening at Mechanics Bank Arena.

San Jose has three games in a row and have lost their last eight games in Bakersfield. The third place Condors have won six games in a row and have points in 11 straight games.

Neither was able to find the back of the net in the first period. Each team had a power play opportunity, but neither capitalized on their chance.

Bakersfield out shot San Jose 14-11 in the opening 20 minutes.

The Barracuda (13-19-1-0) broke the seal early in the second period. Nick Merkley found a trailing John Leonard open in the slot. Leonard one-timed a wrist shot top shelf just underneath the cross bar for his sixth goal of the season at the 2:02 mark.

San Jose doubled its lead just over four minutes later. Patrick Holway skated in from the left wing and sent a shot on net that was initially saved by Condors goalie Olivier Rodrigue. Joachim Blichfeld cleaned up the rebound for his 13th goal of the season at the 6:32 mark.

Bakersfield (14-8-3-3) cut the Barracuda lead in half just passed the halfway mark of the middle frame. Dylan Holloway threaded the needle with a pass between two San Jose defenders that sprung James Hamblin on a breakaway. Hamblin’s backhander beat ‘Cuda goalie Alexei Melnichuk for his ninth goal of the season at the 11:41 mark.

Hamblin has been on fire of late with his fourth goal in three games for Bakersfield.

The Condors evened the score early in the third period thanks to two lucky bounces. Devin Brousseau collected the puck after bounced over the stick of Holway. Brousseau’s centering pass caromed off the leg of Merkley past Melnichuk for his fourth goal of the season at the 5:30 mark.

Bakersfield gained its first lead just over a minute later. Brousseau centered a pass from behind the net out to Vincent Desharnais who one-timed a wrist shot past Melnichuk for his fourth goal of the season at the 6:35 mark.

Desharnais has five points during his four-game point steak.

The Condors scored an insurance goal on the power play near the halfway mark of the final frame. Philip Broberg fed a pass over to Adam Cranknell and the veteran Condor rifled a slap shot past Melnichuk to the short side for his ninth goal of the season at the 9:03 mark.

San Jose scored a power play goal with 1:45 remaining in the final frame when Leonard scored his second goal of the game. Artemi Kniazev found Leonard open in the right faceoff circle and he buried a wrist shot for his seventh goal of the season.

It was Leonard’s first multi-goal game of his AHL career.

Rodrigue finished the game stopping 31 of the 34 shots he faced in earning the victory. Melnichuk made 42 saves on 46 shots in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished 1-for-4 on the power play. Bakersfield was 1-for-3.

Krystof Hrabik was suspended 30 games by the AHL for making a racial gesture towards Tucson Roadrunners forward Boko Imama during the teams’ January 12th game in San Jose. Hrabik was immediately removed from all team activities.

UP NEXT: San Jose and Bakersfield battle it out on Sunday 1/23 at 5:00pm at SAP Center.

Image on the cover by the San Jose Barracuda media relations

by Marko Ukalovic

The AHL announced today that due to league COVID-19 protocols affecting the Barracuda, the San Jose Barracuda’s game against the Bakersfield Condors game for Monday December 27th has been postponed.

The following six San Jose Barracuda players and one coach are in the AHL’s COVID-19 protocol: 

D Nick Cicek

F Dillion Hamaliuk (effective Dec. 23) 

F Evander Kane

G Alexei Melnichuk 

D Ryan Merkley  

F Jasper Weatherby

Assistant Coach Michael Chiasson

Additionally, one Barracuda staff member has also been placed in the AHL’s COVID-19 protocol. 

A make-up date has not been determined. 

As of now, Wednesday’s game between the Barracuda and Stockton Heat is still scheduled as planned at SAP Center at San Jose at 5:00pm. 

All San Jose Sharks and San Jose Barracuda players and staff are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and compliant with the NHL and AHL’s COVID-19 testing and guidance protocols. 

San Jose Barracuda and Bakersfield Condors faced off at SAP Center in San Jose on Wed Nov 17, 2021 (photo by San Jose Barracuda)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE—Scott Reedy picked a great time to have his first career multi-goal game.

Reedy scored the game’s final two goals as the San Jose Barracuda rallied for three unanswered goals in a 4-3 comeback victory over the Bakersfield Condors on Wednesday evening at SAP Center.

San Jose has won two games in a row. Bakersfield had its two game winning streak snapped.

Reedy scored the game winning goal with 9:51 remaining in the third period. Moments before Reedy’s heroics, Bakersfield failed to capitalize on an two-on-one odd man rush.

San Jose produced a counter attack where Mark Alt found Jayden Halbgewachs at the red line. Halbgewachs threw a pass over to Reedy, who just jumped onto the ice during a line change, at the Condors blueline. Reedy skated in from the left wing and wired a wrist shot top shelf into the far corner for his team leading sixth goal of the season.

San Jose (5-4-1-0) drew first blood early in the first period on the power play. Noah Gregor fed a pass from the point down to Reedy, who quickly found Joachim Blichfeld just to the right of the crease where he tapped home the puck into an open net for a tic-tac-toe goal, his second of the season at the 3:13 mark.

Gregor went over the double digit mark in points (11) with the secondary assist.

Bakersfield (6-5-1-1) responded with two even strength goals 22 seconds apart just over two minutes later.

Vincent Desharnais sent in a shot that bounced off the pads of ‘Cuda goalie Zachary Sawchenko over to Brad Malone, who cleaned up the rebound for his team leading sixth goal of the season at the 5:17 mark.

Then Graham McPhee was camped out in front of the crease when he redirected a shot from the point by Philip Broberg past Sawchenko for his second goal of the season at the 5:39 mark.

Bakersfield scored its third unanswered goal thanks to a Barracuda turnover. Artemi Kniazev ran inadvertently into his own defenseman Nicolas Meloche and was tripped up as he was trying to skate out of his own zone. Cooper Marody collected the puck, his initial chance was stopped by Sawchenko. Marody jammed home his own rebound for his sixth goal of the season at the 13:58 mark.

San Jose cut the lead to a one goal deficit with its second power play goal late in the second period. Ryan Merkley found Blichfeld open in the right slot and the Danish forward rifled home a wrist shot past Condors goalie Ilya Konovalov for his second goal of the contest and third goal of the season at the 14:14 mark.

Blichfeld has scored all three of his goals on the man advantage this season.

Reedy scored the equalizer just over two minutes later. Gregor entered the Condors zone down the left side. He sent a pass over to Reedy in the left slot, who sent a backhand shot over the glove of Konovalov and off the far post into the back of the net for his first goal of his two goal evening at the 16:24 mark.

Gregor, who got the secondary assist on Reedy’s first goal, had his first three assist game of his career and second three-point game of the season.

Sawchenko finished the night stopping 29 of the 32 shots he faced to earn his second win of the season. Konovalov made 19 saves on 23 shots in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished 2-for-4 on the power play. Bakersfield was 0-for-3.

Gregor extended his points streak to seven games.

Alt picked up his first point (the secondary assist on the Reedy’s game winning goal) in a Barracuda uniform.

The Three Stars of the Game were: 1) Reedy 2) Gregor 3) Blichfeld

UP NEXT: San Jose hosts the San Diego Gulls on Friday 11/19 at 7:00pm at SAP Center.