Tag: San Diego Gulls

A look at the future home of the San Jose Barracuda at Sharks Ice for the 2022-23 season. The Barracuda face off against the San Diego Gulls Tue Jan 18, 2022 in San Jose (photo from the San Jose Barracuda)

On the Barracuda podcast with Marko Ukalovic:

#1 Marko, tough loss for the San Jose Barracuda (13-16-1-0) who allowed three goals in the first period during Saturday’s game in Bakersfield in a tough 5-1 loss.

#2 The Condors (12-8-3-3) have won five straight games and also have points in their last nine games.

#3 The Condors James Hamblin scored twice against San Jose which was his fourth and fifth goals career against San Jose.

#4 The Barracuda fell to 1-2 for the season against the Condors. The Barracuda face the Condors this Saturday and Sunday just wanted to get your take on the Barracuda’s chances of getting a win against Bakersfield?

#5 The Barracuda battle the San Diego Gulls tonight in San Jose the last time the two teams met was on Sat Dec 18th the Barracuda won the contest 4-1 in San Diego. How do you see tonight’s match.

Join Marko for the San Jose Barracuda podcasts each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

The San Jose Barracuda bounced back from their last game loss to the Ontario Reign Fri Dec 17 and defeated the San Diego Gulls at Pachenga Sports Arena in San Diego on Sat Dec 18, 2021 (image by the San Jose Barracuda)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN DIEGO — Fifth time is a charm.

The San Jose Barracuda scored four unanswered goals in the third period as they defeated the San Diego Gulls 4-1 on Saturday night at Pachenga Sports Arena. It was the first victory for San Jose against San Diego this season after losing the first four games of the season series.

San Jose have won three out of its past four games. San Diego have lost three games in a row.

San Diego (9-12-1-0) had a chance to break the seal at the 11:19 mark of the first period when they were awarded a penalty shot when Buddy Robinson was hooked by Artemi Kniazev on a breakaway opportunity. However, ‘Cuda goalie Alexei Melnichuk stood his ground and made a left blocker save on Robinson’s attempt.

San Jose’s (9-12-1-0) best chance to score in the opening frame was a short-handed chance from Evander Kane with under five minutes remaining. His shot was stopped by Gulls goalie Ollie Eriksson-Ek and cleared away from the crease by Vinni Lettieri.

San Diego drew first blood on the power play late in the second period. Lettieri found Benoit-Oliver Groulx open along the left wing. Groulx snapped home a wrist shot past Melnichuk for his first goal of the season with 2:13 remaining.

The goal triggered hundreds of stuffed animals thrown on to the ice as it was the Gulls annual Teddy Bear Toss night and the officials sent both teams to the locker room as the final 2:13 of the second period played the second intermission.

San Jose evened the score early in the third period on an even strength goal. Patrick Holway found himself at the right place at the right time. A shot from the point by Nick Cicek pinballed off a scrum in front of the net out just beyond the faceoff circles. Holway collected the puck and fired a wrist shot to the short side past Eriksson-Ek for his career AHL goal at the 4:08 mark.

Holway is on a professional try out contract with the ‘Cuda from the South Carolina Stingrays of the ECHL.

Kane gave the ‘Cuda their first lead of the game halfway through the period. He intercepted a centering pass inside the Gulls zone by Groulx and snapped home a shot through the five-hole of Eriksson-Ek for his second goal as a member of the Barracuda at the 9:39 mark.

San Jose scored its third unanswered goal of the game on the penalty kill. Artemi Kniazev set up Kane, who sent a shot on net that Eriksson-Ek wasn’t able to control the rebound. Scott Reedy, who was parked out in front of the crease, buried the rebound for his team leading 13th goal of the season at the 12:34 mark.

It was the first point of Kniazev’s AHL career. Kane now has eight points in six games.

The Barracuda scored its fourth short-handed of the season and have all four in their past four games.

San Diego head coach Joel Bouchard decided to take a long shot gamble as he pulled Eriksoon-Ek with 5:40 left in the third period. It backfired as Jacob Megna scored an empty netter from his own zone with 46 second left to seal the deal.

Megna’s second goal of the season happened while San Jose was down six-on-four as they were killing off a hooking penalty taken by Krystof Hrabik.

Melnichuk, who was pulled after the first period last night against Ontario, rebounded with his best performance of the season. He finished stopping 26 of the 27 shots in earning his fifth victory of the season.

Eriksson-Ek made 28 saves on 31 shots in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished 0-for-5 on the power play. San Diego was 1-for-6. The ‘Cuda have given up a power play goal in their 10th straight game.

The Three Stars of the Game were: 1) Kane 2) Reedy 3) Groulx.

San Jose is now 5-12 after trailing after two periods. They have snapped a three-game losing streak on the road.

Eriksson-Ek suffered his first loss against San Jose in his career. He is now 5-1 against them.

UP NEXT: San Jose continues their road trip with a two-game series with the Colorado Eagles on Tuesday 12/21 at 6:05pm at Budweiser Events Center.

The San Jose Barracuda get swept in their home at home series with the San Diego Gulls this time concluding a two game series at the Pechanga Arena in San Diego on Fri Nov 26, 2021 (photo by San Jose Barracuda)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN DIEGO—The San Diego Gulls really enjoyed their time against the San Jose Barracuda.

The Gulls used a balanced attack to defeat the ‘Cuda 4-2 on Friday evening at Pechanga Arena.

San Jose have lost four games in a row to its SoCal rival and anchor the bottom of the Pacific Division. San Diego have won games four in a row against its rival from the north.

San Diego (7-6-1-0) drew first blood late in the first period on the power play. Former ‘Cuda killer Danny O’Regan won a faceoff and sent it back to the point where Nicolas Brouillard fired a shot that Brogan Rafferty redirected past ‘Cuda goalie Alexei Melnichuk for his third goal of the season at the 16:55 mark.

O’Regan snapped a five-game goal less draught.

San Jose (5-8-1-0) out shot San Diego 8-6 in the opening 20 minutes.

The Barracuda answered back with a power play goal of their own early in the second period. The Merkley duo of Ryan and Nick helped set up Joachim Blichfeld all alone in the left slot. Ryan sent a pass over to Nick and he found Blichfeld who blasted a one-timer past Gulls goalie Olle Eriksson-Ek for his fourth goal of the season at the 4:05 mark.

Blichfeld has scored all four goals this season on the man advantage. He also registered his first point on the road with the power play goal.

San Diego regained the lead a little more than halfway through the period. Vincent Marleau sent the puck behind the net where Brayden Tracey collected the puck. Tracey skated out to the faceoff circle, turned and fired a shot that beat Melnichuk to the short side for his fifth goal of the season at the 12:02 mark.

The Gulls received an insurance goal in the second half of the third period on the power play. Alex Limoges skated in from the left wing and centered a pass over to Bryce Kindopp who tapped home the perfect pass to the tape into an open net for his second goal of the season at the 13:29 mark.

San Jose cut the lead to a one-goal game with 33 second left. With Melnichuk pulled for an extra attacker, Ryan Merkley fed a pass over to Blichfeld at the left slot. Blichfeld blasted a shot past Ericksson-Ek for his second goal of the night and fifth of the season.

Buddy Robinson closed out the scoring with an empty net goal with one second remaining.

Things were chippy for the majority of the third period as skirmishes ensured after the whistle was blown stopping play. There was no love lost between the two teams after playing four straight games.

Eriksson-Ek finished the night with 26 saves on 28 shots to earn the victory. He is now 5-0 in his career versus San Jose. Melnichuk 22 saves on 25 shots, including to two breakaway attempts, in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished 1-for-5 on the power play. San Diego was 2-for-4.

The Three Stars of the Game were: 1) Rafferty 2) Tracey 3) Brouillard

UP NEXT: San Jose and Ontario was postponed for tomorrow evening at the Toyota Arena.

The San Jose Barracuda gets upended to begin the second half of the home at home series this time in San Diego at the Valley View Casino Center on Wed Nov 24, 2021 (photo by the San Diego Gulls)

by Marko Ukalovic

Bryce Tracey likes playing against the San Jose Barracuda.

Tracey had a three-point night as he led the San Diego Gulls to a 5-1 victory on Thanksgiving Eve at Valley View Casino Center.

San Jose have lost three games in a row to their SoCal rival while San Diego have won three games in a row against its NorCal rival.

San Diego and San Jose each had a goal waived off in the first period for a high touch. Nikolas Brouillard’s attempt in the first minute was deemed illegal and Jayden Halbgewachs chance near the halfway mark was also considered too high to count.

San Diego (6-6-1-0) drew first blood early in the first period. Brouillard redirected a shot from Jacob Larsson past ‘Cuda goalie Zachary Sawchenko for his third goal of the season at the 5:42 mark.

San Jose (5-7-1-0) answered back late in the opening frame. Nicholas Meloche sent a home run pass out of his own zone up the ice. The puck landed on the stick of Halbgewachs who got behind the Gulls defense and lifted a backhander top-shelf past Gulls goalie Lukas Dostal for his fifth goal of the season at the 14:47 mark.

Each team put eight shots on goal in the opening 20 minutes.

Nick Merkley was stoned away by Dostal on a breakaway chance just under five minutes into the second period.

San Diego regained the lead on the power play thanks to a turnover by San Jose. A failed clearing attempt by the ‘Cuda was gloved down by Greg Pateryn. The former Barracuda defenseman blasted a slap shot through a sea of traffic in front of Sawchenko for his first goal in a Gulls uniform at the 12:13 mark.

The Gulls went up for by two goals just over three minutes later on a three-on-one odd man rush. Morgan Adams-Moisan found Brayden Tracey whose shot was initially stopped as Sawchenko’s stick went flying out of his hand. Vincent Marleau cleaned up the rebound for his first career AHL goal at the 15:37 mark.

San Diego scored its third unanswered goal thanks to a fortuitous bounce early in the third period. Hunter Drew flipped a shot that caromed off the boards out in front. Larsson whiffed on his chance but Tracey came in a wired a backhander past Sawchenko for his third goal of the season at the 1:53 mark.

Tracey scored his second goal of the contest to give the Gulls a 5-1 lead on the power play. Bryce Kindopp sent in a shot from the right point and an open Tracey redirected it past Sawchenko for his fourth goal of the season at the 7:02 mark.

Dostal finished the game stopping 23 out of the 24 shots to earn the victory. Sawchenko (2-2) suffered his worst loss of the season giving up five goals on 24 shots in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished 0-for-6 on the power play. San Diego was 2-for-3.

The Three Stars of the Game were: 1) Tracey 2) Pateryn 3) Marleau

UP NEXT: San Jose and San Diego conclude their home and home series on Friday at 6:00pm at Valley View Casino Center.

The San Jose Barracuda center Sasha Chmelevski (55) chases down the puck as the San Diego Gulls right winger Bryce Kindopp defends on Sat Nov 20, 2021 at SAP Center in San Jose. Both teams meet again Wed Nov 24, 2021 in San Diego for the first of two game series (photo by the San Jose Barracuda)

On the SJ Barracuda podcast with Marko:

#1 The San Jose Barracuda (5-6-1-0) Scott Reedy has scored in the his last three games, picked up a power play last Saturday against the San Diego Gulls (5-6-1-0) in that 2-1 loss which counted for the Cuda’s only goal.

#2 Reedy certainly a key element to the Barracuda offense leading the team with goals with eight, four power play goals, and is tied for points with two.

#3 Jayden Halbgewachs who had a power play assist on Saturday lead the Barracuda with six assists another key to helping San Jose finding the backend of the net.

#4 Barracuda goaltender Alexi Melnichuk (2-4-1) allowed two goals it was a close game in net and to lose by a goal had to be tougher for Melnichuk.

#5 It’s off to San Diego to face the Gulls once more for a two game set which starts Wed Nov at 7:00pm and again on Friday night at 5:00pm. The Barracuda are coming off two one goal loses to the Gulls they need to turn it around in San Diego for the first of a four game road trip.

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

The San Jose Barracuda can’t get too much offense going as they lose by a goal to the visiting San Diego Gulls 2-1 at SAP Center in San Jose on Sat Nov 20, 2021 (photo by the San Jose Barracuda)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE—The San Diego Gulls scored two goals in the first period and made them hold up in a 2-1 victory over the San Jose Barracuda on Saturday afternoon at SAP Center.

San Diego swept the two games series and have won two games in a row. San Jose has lost three out of its past four games.

The Gulls drew first blood halfway through the first period. Jacob Larsson’s blocked shot deflected over to the right point where Nikolas Brouillard fired a slapshot from atop of the left circle through a screen past ‘Cuda goalie Alexei Melnichuk for his second goal of the season at the 9:19 mark.

San Diego (5-6-1-0) doubled its lead late in the opening frame. This time Brouillard returned the favor as he skated in from the right wing and threaded a backhanded pass through the crease where Greg Printz buried a one-timer past Melnichuk for his first goal of the season at the 12:14 mark.

The Gulls dominated the play in the first period as the out shot San Jose 11-6.

San Jose (5-6-1-0) cut the lead in half on the power play early in the second period. Ryan Merkley made a nice move around the defense inside the Gulls zone. Merkley found a streaking Scott Reedy whose wrist shot banked off both goal posts before landing in the back of net past Gulls goalie Olle Ericksson Ek for his team leading eighth goal of the season at the 2:52 mark.

Reedy has a three-game goal scoring streak and has scored four goals in his past three games.

San Jose controlled the play for the majority of the second frame as they out shot San Diego in 11-6.

The ‘Cuda pulled Melnichuk for an extra attacker with under two minutes left in an attempt to score the equalizer. However, like the day before, San Diego’s defense stood its ground and held on for the win.

Eriksson Ek finished the afternoon stopping 22 of the 23 shots he faced to earn the victory. He is 4-0 in his career against the ‘Cuda. Melnichuk made 22 saves on 24 shots in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished 1-for-3 on the power play. San Diego was 0-for-1.

The Three Stars of the Game were: 1) Brouillard 2) Reedy 3) Printz

UP NEXT: San Jose travels to San Diego to take on the Gulls on Wednesday 11/24 at 7:00pm at the Valley View Casino Center.

The San Diego Gulls celebrated their win over the San Jose Barracuda at SAP Center Fri Nov 19, 2021 (photo by San Jose Barracuda)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE—The San Diego Gulls jumped out to an early lead and then held on at the end in defeating the San Jose Barracuda 4-3 on Friday evening at SAP Center.

San Jose had its two game winning streak snapped and are 1-1 on their three game homestand. San Diego snapped its two game losing streak.

San Diego (4-6-1) drew first blood midway through the first period. Jacob Perreault came in on a breakaway but his shot between his legs was initially stopped by ‘Cuda goalie Zachary Sawchenko. The rebound hit off Zachary Gallant and Brogan Rafferty poked in the puck with his stick for his second goal of the season at the 9:41 mark.

The Gulls doubled its lead late in the opening frame. Buddy Robinson found Vinni Lettieri on the left wing. Lettieri skated in a snapped a wrist shot past the five hole of Sawchenko for his fifth goal of the season at the 17:10 mark.

San Diego scored its third unanswered goal in the early in the second period. Perrault came out the winner in a scrum inside the crease. His backhander slid underneath Sawchenko for his seventh goal of the season at the 5:43 mark.

San Jose (5-5-1-0) responded halfway through the middle frame. Nick Cicek fired a shot from the right point that Gulls goalie Lukas Dostal. Nick Merkley crashed the net and beat Dostal with a backhander top-shelf falling down for his third goal of the season at the 11:13 mark.

The Barracuda cut the lead down to a one-goal game just under five minutes later on the power play. Nick Merkley sent a one-timer on Dostal who made the save as well as on Jayden Halbgewachs’ rebound attempt. Third time was a charm for Scott Reedy who cashed in on his rebound opportunity for his team leading seventh goal of the season at the 16:12 mark.

San Diego went back up by two goals thanks to a turnover by San Jose inside their own zone. Jacob Larson sent in a shot from the point initially stopped by Sawchenko. Bryce Kindopp cleaned up the rebound for his first goal of the season at the 17:29 mark.

San Jose once again made it a one-goal game with 33 seconds left in the middle frame. Halbgewachs led a rush into the Gulls zone. The puck went off his skate on to the stick of Sasha Chmelevski. The Long Beach native skated in from the right slot and centered a pass back to Halbgewachs who one-time a point blank shot past Dostal for his fourth goal of the season.

The Barracuda weren’t able to carry the momentum of the Halbgewachs’ goal into the third period. They only generated four shots on goal as the Gulls defense tightened up on the ‘Cuda.

Halbgewachs finished with a three-point night (1G, 2A) as he was involve in all three Barracuda goals.

San Jose killed any chance of a late comeback taking two penalties in the final three minutes of the game as San Diego played keep away while on the power play.

Dostal finished with 29 saves on 32 shots to earn the victory. Sawchenko made 26 saves on 30 shots in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished 1-for-3 on the power play. San Diego was 0-for-3.

The Three Stars of the Game were: 1) N Merkley 2) Halbgewachs 3) Perreault

UP NEXT: San Jose and San Diego conclude their two-game series on Saturday 11/21 at 1:15pm at SAP Center.

image from @ sjbarracuda

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE, Calif-The San Diego Gulls received balances scoring with six different goal scorers in a 6-2 victory over the San Jose Barracuda on Wednesday evening at SAP Center.

San Diego have won two games in a row and swept the two-game series. The Barracuda remain in fifth place in the Pacific Division with its second straight loss.

The Gulls (21-13-0-0) drew first blood early in the first period. A two-on-one odd man rush led to a nice and give and go play between Hunter Drew and Axle Andersson. The Gulls defenseman finished off the play with a wrist shot past ‘Cuda goalie Sam Harvey for his second goal in as many nights at the 3:34 mark.

San Jose (12-11-4-2) answered back late in the opening 20 minutes. Sustained pressure inside the Gulls zone led to Zachary Gallant feeding Joachim Blichfeld in the right slot and Blichfeld fired home a wrist shot top-shelf past Gulls goalie Olle Eriksson Ek for his team leading 12th goal of the season at the 17:59 mark.

San Diego gained control of the game with two minutes in a 1:26 span early in the second period.

Tevor Zegras started a tic-tac-toe of a play when he skated into the Cuda zone. He fed a pass over to the right to Chase De Leo and he centered a pass to Vinni Lettieri who tipped home the puck past Harvey for his 10th goal of the season at the 5:14 mark.

San Diego increased its lead to 3-1 after a faceoff win inside the ‘Cuda zone led to a Simon Benoit blasting a slap shot from the point past Harvey for his first goal of the season at the 6:40 mark.

San Jose cut the lead to one goal when Jayden Halbgewachs led a two-on-one rush with Alex True. Halbgewachs threaded a pass to True who buried a one-timer past Eriksson Ek for his ninth goal of the season at the 13:09 mark.

The Gulls regained its two-goal lead with two seconds left in the middle frame. Two failed clearing attempts by the Barracuda kept the puck inside its own zone. Andrew Agozzino centered a pass to the crease where it knuckleballed off Harvey into the back of the net for his 10th goal of the season.

San Diego iced the game with two late goals in the third period to turn a close game into a blowout. Sam Carrick scored an empty net goal when the ‘Cuda pulled Harvey for an extra attacker at the 17:23 mark. It was Carrick’s 14th goal of the season.

Zegras finished off the scoring with his ninth goal of the season when he snapped home a wrist shot past Harvey top-shelf at the 18:39 mark.

Eriksson Ek (7-4) made 35 saves on 37 shots to earn the victory. Eriksson Ek snapped a three-game losing streak and is now 3-0 versus San Jose. Harvey (2-3-0) stopped 31 saves on 36 shots in the losing cause.

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

San Jose went 2-3-1 against San Diego in the season series.

San Jose has two consecutive losses at home for the first time this season.

San Diego is 12-3 in its past 15 games.

The Three Stars of the Game were: 1) Benoit 2) Eriksson Ek 3) Andrew Poturalski

UP NEXT: The Barracuda travel to El Segundo to take on the Ontario Reign on Sunday 4/25 at 3:00pm at the Toyota Performance Center.