The Henderson Silver Knights and San Jose Barracuda dropped the puck earlier on Tue Apr 6, 2021 at Solar4America Ice in San Jose for the first of two games (@sjbarracuda photo)
by Marko Ukalovic
SAN JOSE, Calif—The Henderson Silver Knights made the home team pay for a trip to the sinbin late in the third period as they scored the equalizer and ended up winning in the shootout 2-1 over the San Jose Barracuda on Tuesday evening at Solar4America Ice.
Pavel Dorofeyev scored the winning goal in the sixth round of the shootout for Henderson as they have won five of its past six games and sit comfortably in first place in the Pacific Division with 36 points.
San Jose have lost five of its past six games but picked up a point and remain in fourth place in the Pacific Division with 20 points. They are now 0-6 in overtime/shootout games.
The opening 20 minutes was scoreless despite Henderson (18-4-0-0) having two power play opportunities. San Jose’s penalty kill, led by goalie Alexei Melnichuk, kept the Silver Knights off the scoreboard in the first period. Shots were even at nine a piece.
San Jose (7-7-4-2) drew first blood with an even strength goal near the halfway point of the second period. Jake Middleton started a rush up the ice with a pass over to Brandon Coe who centered a pass over to an incoming Jake McGrew. The San Jose Sharks former sixth round draft pick in 2017 made one move to the right before chipping the puck top-shelf past Silver Knights goalie Logan Thompson for his second goal of the season at the 8:58 mark.
McGrew snapped a nine-game goal-less draught. Poe picked up his first AHL point of his career.
San Jose had the ice tilted in its favor as the outshot Henderson 10-5 in the middle frame with three power play opportunities.
Joel Kellman had a short-handed breakaway chance early in the third period to give the ‘Cuda an insurance goal but was stoned away by Thompson.
The Silver Knights scored the equalizer late in the third period as they took advantage of Robbie Russo’s penalty for delay of game. Ryan Murphy sent a bomb from the point that made its way past Melnichuk for his fifth goal of the season and second on the power play at the 17:55 mark.
An all line brawl broke out with 1:06 remaining in regulation that was sparked by a high hit delivered by Jake Leschyshyn on Alexander True earlier that flared tempers for the ‘Cuda.
The Silver Knights carried over a power play into overtime but weren’t able to capitalize on the opportunity. Gage Quinney had the best chance in the extra session to win the game with a breakaway chance only to have Melnichuk make the save of the game, sending the game to the shootout.
Thompson finished with 29 saves on 30 shots in earning the victory. Melnichuk made 25 saves on 26 shots in the losing effort.
GAME NOTES: San Jose went 0-for-4 on the power play. Henderson was 1-for-6.
Reid Duke made his AHL debut for the Silver Knights after finishing his senior season at the University of Minnesota.
The Three Stars of the Game were: 1) Dorofeyev 2) Thompson 3) Melnichuk
UP NEXT: The same two teams are back in action on Wednesday 4/7 at 6:00pm at Solar4America Ice.
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