Tag: San Jose Barracuda

San Jose Barracuda forward Nathan Burke gets inside position inside the Texas Stars during the ‘Cuda 2-1 overtime victory at H-E-B Center at Cedar Park (photo by the San Jose Barracuda)

By Marko Ukalovic

The San Jose Barracuda are doing everything possible to keep their slim playoff hopes live.

Derrick Pouliot scored the game winner 48 seconds into overtime to give the ‘Cuda a 2-1 victory over the Texas Stars on Friday evening at H-E-B Center at Cedar Park.

Daniel Guschin led a three-on-two rush up the ice with Andrew Agozzino. The ‘Cuda captain centered a pass to a trailing Pouliot who skated in and wired a wrist shot past Stars goalie Scott Wedgewood for his third goal of the season.

San Jose now trails the Tucson Roadrunners by six points for the seventh place and the final playoff spot in the Pacific Division with seven game remaining. Texas, with the loss, fell out of first place in the Central Division as the trail the Milwaukee Admirals by one point with 82 points.

A scary moment happened at the 2:41 mark of the first period when Matej Blumel was checked into the boards by Ozzy Wiesblatt that resulted in Blumel being seriously injured and carried off on a stretcher. He did not return to the game.

San Jose (28-32-1-4-61 points) dominated the shot clock in the opening 20 minutes as the outshot Texas 10-4. However, they were not able to get a puck past Wedgewood.

Texas (35-18-9-3-82 points) escaped the period without giving up a goal despite taking two penalties late in the period.

The Barracuda drew first blood late in the second period with a short-handed goal. Kyle Criscuoolo sent a pass up the ice to Tristen Robins who got between two defenders inside the Stars zone before firing a wrist shot past Wedgewood for his 16th goal of the season at the 15:17 mark.

The Stars scored the equalizer just past the halfway mark of the third period. Former Barracuda forward Scott Reedy won a battle for the puck along the board and centered out front where Ryan Shea beat ‘Cuda goalie Aaron Dell with a wrist shot through traffic for his sixth goal of the season at the 10:33 mark.

Dell finished the night stopping 22 of the 23 shots he faced to earn the victory. Wedgewood made 24 saves on 26 shots in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: Both teams finished 0-for-3 on the power play.

The Three Stars of the Game were: 1) Pouliot 2) Shea 3) Wedgewood

UP NEXT: San Jose and Texas conclude their two-games series on Saturday 4/1 at 5:00pm at H-E-B Center at Cedar Park.

Colorado Eagles forward Ryan Wagner (#13) fights for room between the San Jose Barracuda’s Artemi Kniazev (#25) and Darren Brady (#92) during the Eagles 3-2 win at the Budweiser Events Center on Wednesday MAR 22, 2023. (Colorado Eagles)

by Marko Ukalovic

Charles Hudon’s second goal of the game proved to be the game winner as the Colorado Eagles edged the San Jose Barracuda in 3-2 victory on Wednesday evening at Budweiser Events Center.

San Jose has lost two games in a row and sit three points out of the seventh place and the final spot in the Pacific Division, currently held by the Tucscon Roadrunners. Colorado swept the two-game series as it sits comfortably in fourth place.

San Jose (26-31-1-4-57 points) drew first blood near the halfway mark of the opening frame with a power play goal. Tristen Robbins scored his first goal of the game and 13th goal of the season at the 8:26 mark. Artemi Kniazev and Brandon Coe recorded the helpers.

Colordo (34-20-5-3-76 points) evened it up early in the second period a power play goal from Hudon. Hudon’s first goal of the game and 23rd of the season at the 2:16 mark were assisted by Ben Meyers and David Farrance.

Robbins regained the lead for the ‘Cuda just over two minutes later with his second power play goal of the contest. His 14th of the season came at the 4:45 mark of the middle frame as Cow and Shakir Mukhamadullin assisted on the goal.

It was Mukhamadullin’s first point in a Barracuda uniform in just his second game with the team.

The Eagles scored the equalizer early in the third period with an even strength goal. Cedric Pare scored his ninth goal of the season at the 5:58 mark from Nate Clurman and Meyers who picked up his second helper of the game.

Hudon’s and the Eagles second power play goal just past the halfway mark of the final frame proved to be the game winner as Hudon scored his team leading 24th goal at the 11:19 mark. Mikhail Meltsev and Farrance were credited with assists on the play.

Eagles goalie Justus Annunen stopped 32 of the 34 shots to earn the victory. Aaron Dell, who made his second straight start, made 29 saves on 32 shots in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: Bothe teams finished 2-for-6 on the power play.

The Three Stars of the Game were: 1) Hudon 2) Robins 3) Pare.

UP NEXT: San Jose returns home to host a two-game weekend series with the Bakersfield Condors on Saturday 3/25 at 6:00pm at Tech CU Arena.

The Colorado Eagles celebrate their 8-0 victory over the San Jose Barracuda at the Budweiser Events Center on Tuesday MAR 21, 2023. (Colorado Eagles)

by Marko Ukalovic

The Colorado Eagles used seven different goal scorers, including two from Mikhail Maltsev, as they routed the San Jose Barracuda in a 8-0 shutout victory on Tuedsay evening at the Budweiser Events Center.

San Jose has lost two out of its last three games as it fights for the seventh and final playoff spot in the Pacific Division, currently held by the Tucson Roadrunners. Colorado has won three out of its last four games and is on four-game point streak as they hold on to fourth place in the division.

Colorado (33-20-5-3-74 points) scored early and often in the opening frame as they tallied for four games in the period. Ryan Wagner got the party started at the 6:35 mark when he scored his fifth goal of the season. Callahan Burke picked up the only assist on the goal.

Just over two minutes later Riley McCourt scored his first goal of the season at the 8:39 mark. Alex Beaucage and Ben Meyers has the helpers on McCourt’s goal.

The Eagles finished off the first period with two late goals. Maltsev scored his first of the night, his sixth of the season, at the 15:26 mark. Charles Hudson and Cedric Pare were credited with the assists.

David Farrance scored his third goal of the season with 31 seconds remaining in the opening frame as Meltsev and Burke set up Farrance who beat ‘Cuda starting goalie Aaron Dell with a wrist shot. Dell gave up four goals on 14 shots.

San Jose (26-30-1-4-57 points) was badly dominated by Colorado in the opening 20 minutes, despite having two power play opportunities, as they were out shot 14-5.

‘Cuda head coach John McCarthy spelled Dell for the rest of the game as he sent out Strauss Mann to start out the second period. Mann didn’t fare any better as he also gave up four goals to the Eagles.

Hudson scored his team leading 22nd goal of the season on the power play to give Colorado a 5-0 lead early in the second period. Farrance and Meyers receieved assists on Hudson’s goal that came at the 4:48 mark.

Maltsev scored his second goal, also Colorado’s second goal with the man advantage, at the 14:48 mark.

The fireworks continued for the Eagles Sampo Ranta scored his ninth goal of the season at the 16:26 mark.

Beaucage completed the scoring with his eighth goal of the season with 55 seconds left in the middle frame.

Colorado took their foot off the gas pedal in the final frame as they cruised the final 20 minutes as both teams combined for just 13 shots.

Eagles goalie Keith Kinkaid stopped all 21 shots he faced to pickup the shutout victory. Mann made 17 saves on 21 shots in mop up duty.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished 0-for-4 on the power play. Colorado was 2-for-5.

The Three Stars of the Game were: 1) Kinkaid 2) Maltsev 3) Farrance

UP NEXT: San Jose and Colorado complete their two-game series on Wednesday 3/22 at 6:05pm at the Budweiser Events Center.

Danil Gushchin (#75) celebrates his goal with his San Jose Barracuda teammates against the Henderson Silver Knights at Tech CU Arena on Wednesday MAR 15, 2023. (San Jose Barracuda)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE — The San Jose Barracuda scored the final four goals of the game as they cruised to a 6-2 victory over the Henderson Silver Knights on Wednesday morning at Tech CU Arena.

San Jose has won three out of its past four games and sit one point behind the Tucson Roadrunners (56 points) for 7th place and the final playoff spot in the Pacific Division. Henderson have lost four games in a row and currently sit in the 9th place in the Pacific Division.

San Jose (25-28-1-4-55 points) had the drew first blood 27 seconds into the game with an even strength goal. Artemi Kniazev centered a pass in front of the crease to Ozzie Wiesblatt who tucked home the puck from point blank range past Silver Knight’s goalie Ishiah Saville for his third goal of the season.

Henderson (22-32-0-5-49 points) evened the score seconds after their power play expired. Brandon Bisson cleaned up his own rebound from the left slot as he beat ‘Cuda goalie Aaron Dell with a wrist shot top shelf for his 11th goal of the season at the 4:32 mark.

The Silver Knights gained its first lead of the game thanks to a giveaway by the ‘Cuda behind their own net. Sakari Manninen centered the puck from behind the net to Brayden Pachal who blasted a one-timer past Dell for his third goal of the season at the 13:48 mark.

San Jose evened the score late in the opening frame with the man advantage. Martin Kaut began what was a tic-tac-toe type of goal when he sent the puck down low to Kyle Criscuolo, who then fed a pass through the crease over to Andrew Agozzino and the ‘Cuda captain finished off the play as he buried the puck into an open net for his team leading 23rd goal of the season at the 19:29 mark.

The Barracuda regained the lead late in the middle frame. Kniazev intercepted a clearing attempt by Henderson, then spotted Martin Kaut opened on the right wing and Kaut drilled a wrist shot past Saville for his eighth goal of the season at the 18:01 mark.

San Jose scored an insurance goal with its second power play tally of the game. Danil Gushchin picked up a loose puck near the blueline from a scrum along the boards. Gushchin skated in and beat Saville through the five-hole with a wrist shot for his 14th goal of the season just 51 seconds into the third period.

Kniazev picked up his third point of the game with the secondary assist on Gushchin’s goal.

The ‘Cuda put the game away with its third unanswered goal 74 seconds later. A Kaut breakaway attempt was cleaned up by Criscuolo as he trailed the play for his 15th goal of the season.

Agozzino finished off the scoring with his second goal of the game, a short-handed empty netter with 3:59 remaining in the final stanza when Henderson pulled Saville for an extra attacker with the mad advantage.

Dell finished the afternoon stopping 21 of the 23 shots he faced to earn the victory. Saville made 28 saves on 33 shots in the losing effort.

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

The Barracuda hosted its annual ‘Cuda Classroom Day where kids from the local elementary schools were in attendance.

The Three Stars of the Game were: 1) Kaut 2) Kniazev 3) Agozzino

San Jose finished 5-1-0-1 against Henderson in the season series. They finished 1-7-0-0 last season against the Silver Knights.

UP NEXT: San Jose hosts the Texas Stars for a two-game weekend series starting on Friday 3/17 at 7:00pm at Tech CU Arena.

Seth Griffith and Raphael Lavoie celebrate Griffith’s goal against the San Jose Barracuda on Friday MAR 11, 2023. (Bakersfield Condors)

by Marko Ukalovic

The Bakersfield Condors blitzed the San Jose Barracuda with five unanswered goals including a hat trick from Seth Griffith in a 6-2 crushing victory on Saturday evening at Mechanics Bank Arena.

San Jose had its two-game winning streak snapped. Bakersfield went back up five points on San Jose for seventh place and the final playoff spot in the Pacific Division.

It was a reversal of fortune for the home team as they turned the tables to split the two-game series. The night before they were dominated by San Jose in almost the same fashion.

Bakersfield (27-26-2-2-58 points) drew first blood halfway through the first period. Greg McKegg stole the puck behind the San Jose net and centered a pass to an open Seth Griffith and the veteran forward buried a one-timer past ‘Cuda goalie Aarond Dell for his 14th goal of the season at the 9:45 mark.

San Jose (24-28-1-4-53 points) evened the score just under four minutes later. Thomas Bordeleau made a power move around a Condors defender. Bordelaeu’s shot was blocked but ‘Cuda captain Andrew Agozzino cleaned up the rebound sliding the puck past Condor’s goalie Calvin Pickard for his team leading 22nd goal of the season at the 13:24 mark.

The Condors regained the lead late in the opening 20 minutes on the man advantage. After Cam Dineen kept the puck inside the ‘Cuda zone, James Hamblin sent a cross ice pass over to Raphael Lavoie who snapped home a wrist shot past Dell for his 21st goal of the season at the 18:52 mark.

Bakersfield dominated the first period as the outshot San Jose 22-4.

Lavoie scored his second goal of the game with an even strength goal early in the second period. Lavoie had a give and go with Griffith, and he used a ‘Cuda defender as a screen to roof a wrist shot past Dell for his team leading 22nd goal at the 6:40 mark.

A controversial play led to Bakersfield third unanswered goal of the middle frame. Nick Cicek was apparently tripped up at his own blue line by Griffth. The officials let the play continue with no penalty on the play and Griffith skated in on a breakaway and beat Dell with a backhander for his second goal of the game and 15th of the season at the 14:40 mark.

Noah Philp gave Bakersfield a 5-1 lead just under three minutes later when he scored his 14th goal of the season with a shot top shelf to the short side at the 17:34 mark.

‘Cuda head coach replaced Dell in the net with backup goalie Strauss Mann to start the third period in attempt to shake things up as his team floundered during the first 40 minutes of the game. Dell (10-12-1) allowed five goals on 33 shots.

Griffith completed his hat trick with a 5-on-3 power play goal at the 11:01 mark of the final frame.

Darren Brady picked up his third goal of the season at the 14:03 mark when he finished off a pass from Brandon Coe with a wrist shot that beat Pickard.

Pickard (17-9-2) stopped 27 of the 29 shots he faced to earn the victory. Mann made seven saves on eight shots in mop up duty for the ‘Cuda.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished 0-for-6 on the power play. Bakersfield went 2-for-6.

The Three Stars of the Game were: 1) Griffith 2) Lavoie 3) Jason Demers

UP NEXT: San Jose returns home to host the Henderson Silver Knights on Wednesday at 10:30am at Tech CU Arena.