Tag: Bakersfield Condors

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.

The Bakersfield Condors Seth Griffith scored the game’s only goal in the second period on Sun Oct 17, 2021 at Mechanics Bank Arena in Bakersfield against the visiting San Jose Barracuda. Here is Griffith in a file photo taking a shot against the San Diego Gulls from a previous game (Bakersfield.com file photo)

On the Barracuda podcast with Marko:

#1 Season opener was rough for the SJ Barracuda who went all out but just couldn’t get any offense going and the Bakersfield Condors goalie Stuart Skinner was in front of the net and stopped all of the Barracuda’s 34 shots on net for naught in a 1-0 loss.

#2 Not the way the Barracuda wanted to open the season but Barracuda goaltender Alexi Melnichuk stopped 14 of 15 shots but unfortunately that one goal allowed accounted towards Melnichuk’s first loss of the season.

#3 For Melinchuk it was the third time in his career that he allowed only one goal and looked good on defense Sunday despite the loss.

#4 The Condors Seth Griffith scored the game’s only goal it was on a second period power play for Griffith he now has four points in two games for this season and is working quickly on offense.

#5 The Barracuda will face off against the Colorado Eagles next Fri Oct 22 at Loveland it will be the Barracuda’s second of three consecutive road games.

Join Marko for the SJ Barracuda podcasts each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

The San Jose Barracuda cut it close at Mechanics Bank Arena the home of the Bakersfield Condors on Sun 10-17-21 in Bakersfield with a 1-0 win. (sjbarracuda.com photo)

by Marko Ukalovic

BAKERSFIELD, Calif.—Ownage is ownage for Stuart Skinner.

The Bakersfield Condors goalie continued his dominance over the San Jose Barracuda with 34 saves in a 1-0 shutout victory in the ‘Cuda’s season opener of the 2021-22 season on Sunday evening at the Mechanics Bank Arena.

Skinner was the difference as the ‘Cuda peppered him with shots throughout the entire game yet they left the building they haven’t been able to win at for two plus season.

The opening 20 minutes was scoreless as San Jose outshot Bakersfield 12-9 as they dictated the pace of play for the majority of the period..

The first period was highlighted by the fisticuffs of Zachary Gallant and Dino Kambeitz as both had a spirited fight at the 12:33 mark.

The second period featured the Barracuda dominating the first 12 minutes. They outshot the Condors 8-1 at one point but could not get a puck past Condors goalie Stuart Skinner, who kept his team in the game by stopping all 11 shots he faced in the period.

San Jose (0-1) went into the sinbin one too many times in the middle frame. They had three minor penalties in the period.

Third time was a charm for Bakersfield (2-0) on the power play as they broke the ice late in the period. Adam Cracknell sent a cross ice pass over to Seth Griffith in the right slot. Griffith fired a wrist shot through a screened ‘Cuda goalie Alexei Melnichuk for his first shot of the season at the 17:21 mark.

It was only the second shot in the period for the Condors but they made it count when they needed it to.

San Jose opened the third period on the power play but it only lasted 19 seconds when Sasha Chmelevski was called for tripping resulting in four-on-four play.

The power play was the ‘Cuda’s own worst enemy. They weren’t able to capitalize on the five chances they had in the game. It looks like it’s going to be a work in progress to in the early going as the players get familiar with each other.

Skinner deserves the credit as he was the Condors best penalty killer on the night. He completed the shutout despite San Jose having an extra attacker for the final 1:17 when they pulled Melnichuk in attempt to try to score the equalizer.

Melnichuk had a light night in terms of shots. He stopped 14 of the 15 shots he faced in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose was 0-for-5 on the power play. Bakersfield was 1-for-5.

San Jose was without last season’s leading goal scorer Joachim Blichfeld as he was out with a lower body injury.

UP NEXT: The Barracuda continue its three-game road trip as the take on the Colorado Eagles on Friday 10/22 at the 6:05pm at the Budweiser Events Center.

The Bakersfield Condors defeated the San Jose Barracuda on Mon May 3, 2021 at Solar4America Ice in San Jose (@sjbarracuda image)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE, Calif-The Bakersfield Condors scored three goals in the third period en route to a 5-3 victory over the San Jose Barracuda on Monday evening at Solar4America Ice.

San Jose have lost two games in a row and finished 3-4-2-1 in the ten-game series against their Pacific Division rival. Bakersfield has won two games in a row and currently sit in second place with 43 points. The went 7-3 against the Barracuda.

San Jose (15-13-4-2) drew first blood on the power play early in the first period. Jayden Halbgewachs won a battle behind the goal line. He sent the puck back up to the right point over to Sasha Chmelevski. The Long Beach native faked a wide rink pass and skated down the wing as he fired a wrist shot to the short side past Condors goalie Stuart Skinner for his ninth goal of the season at the 4:50 mark. Joel Kellman received the secondary assist.

The ‘Cuda came into the game with the best power play in the AHL on home ice with a clip of 26.9%.

Bakersfield (21-12-0-1) evened the score with a power play goal of their own. Adam Cracknell set up Seth Griffith on the right slot. Griffith fired a wrist shot top-shelf past ‘Cuda goalie Alexei Melnichuk for his ninth goal of the season at the 13:10 mark of the first period.

Griffith has a three-goal scoring streak and has points in five of his last six games. He has feasted against the Barracuda this season with nine points (5G 4A).

The Condors gained the lead late in the first period with its second power play goal. A shot from the point by Max Gildon caromed off the boards onto the stick of Brad Malone and the Condors captain banked the puck off of Melnichuk into the back of the net for his eighth goal of the season at the 17:47 mark.

Bakersfield scored on 66% of its three shots in the opening 20 minutes as they were out shot 17-3 by San Jose.

San Jose scored the equalizer with its second power play goal of the game late in the second period. Joel Kellman started the rush inside the Condors zone. Chmelevski sent a rink wide pass over to Maxim Letunov at the right slot and Letunov blasted a one-timer past Skinner for his 11th goal of the season at the 17:32 mark.

Letunov tied Chmelevski for the team lead with four power play goals.

Evan Weinger had a spirited fight with Luke Esposito late in the middle frame as they two danced the tango at the 15:09 mark.

Bakersfield regained its third lead of the game early in the third period. A shot from the Gildon from the left point sprung off the backboards right on to the stick of Devin Brosseau and he tapped the puck into an empty net for his third goal of the season at the 2:00 mark.

The Barracuda tied the game for the second time in the game on a short-handed goal. Joel Kellman intercepted a pass from Griffith, raced down the left side and from a tough angle beat Skinner with a wrist shot for his eighth goal (his first short-handed) of the season at the 5:12 mark.

Kellman has been hot for the ‘Cuda with another multi-point game (G, 2A). He has eight points in his past three games.

The Condors scored the game winning goal when Tyler Benson led a counter attack up the ice. He fed a back pass up to Cooper Marody who skated in and beat Melnichuk with a wrist shot for his team leading 20th goal of the season at the 12:43 mark.

Bakersfield received some insurance when Malone scored a short-handed goal, his second of the game, when he skated down the left wing after a pass from Vincent Desharnais and he beat Melnichuk to the short side with a wrist shot a the 14:33 mark.

Malone has five goals over his last two games.

Skinner finished the game stopping 35 of the 38 shots he faced to earn his league leading 18th victory of the season. Melnichuk made 14 saves on 19 shots in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose went 2-for-8 on the power play. Bakersfield was 2-for-5.

Ozzie Wiesblatt was back in the lineup for San Jose in his fourth AHL game. Wiesblatt had just completed a short season in the WHL where he played in 23 games and had 28 points.

Cracknell finished the season series with 12 points against San Jose (4G, 8A).

San Jose has scored four short-handed goals this season.

The Three Stars of the Game were: 1) Malone 2) Kellman 3) Skinner

UP NEXT: San Jose finishes the regular season on the road as the visit the Henderson Silver Knights on Saturday 5/8 at 1:00pm at T-Mobile Arena.