Armalis makes 25 saves as Barracuda beat Rampage 3-1

Wrapping up their two game weekend set against the San Antonio Rampage (AHL affiliate of the Colorado Avalanche), the San Jose Barracuda skated away with two points on Sunday evening thanks to the performance of goaltender Mantas Armalis, who made 25-saves (13 of which came in the third period) in the Barracuda’s 3-1 win.

The Barracuda line of Nikolay Goldobin, Rourke Chartier and Kevin Labanc continued their hot streak as the trio combined for four points with Labanc and Chartier each scoring a goal while Goldobin dished out two assists.

Labanc put the Barracuda ahead 1-0 at 9:00 of the first period with a power play goal, his fourth goal of the season, off a snap shot from near the left circle faceoff dot that beat Rampage goaltender Nathan Lieuwen through the wickets after Labanc corralled a cross zone pass from Goldobin. Barracuda defenseman Tim Heed on the secondary assist on the goal, which extended Labanc’s point streak to five games.

Chartier extended the lead to 2-0 at 11:56 of the second period with his third goal of the season when off a turnover by the Rampage deep in their own zone, Chartier corralled a near left corner pass from Goldobin and fired a quick snap shot from just above the left hash-mark in the slot that beat Lieuwen.

The Rampage turned up the intensity in the third period by out-shooting the Barracuda 14-4 after the two teams each had 12 shots on goal through 40-minutes, and pulled to within a goal at 12:58 when forward Mike Sislo scored a 5-on-3 power play goal, his third goal of the season, off a one-timer from on top of the right circle that ended Armalis’ shutout bid.

With Lieuwen pulled the for the extra attacker inside the final two minutes of the period, Barracuda forward Daniel O’Regan sealed a Barracuda victory with an empty net goal, his fourth goal of the season, at 18:30.

NOTES… Shots on goal were 26-16 in favor of the Rampage… The Barracuda went 1-for-6 on the power play and 5-for-6 on the penalty kill… Armalis improved to 2-0-1-0 overall with a 2.52 goals-against-average and .904 save percentage… Barracuda defenseman Joakim Ryan had a game high four shots on goal… The Barracuda improved to 1-1-0-0 against the Rampage this season, 2-1-0-1 at SAP Center and 3-2-0-1 with seven points overall… The Barracuda are back in action Nov. 11 when they travel to play the Texas Stars with puck drop scheduled for 5:30pm/pt.

THREE STARS
1. Mantas Armalis – Barracuda (25 saves, Win)
2. Nikolay Goldobin – Barracuda (0-2-2)
3. Rourke Chartier – Barracuda (1-0-1, GWG)

LINES
Goodrow (A) / Carpenter (A) / Meier
Goldobin / Chartier / Labanc
Sorensen / O’Regan / Jevpalovs
McCarthy (C) / Blackwell / Martin
DEFENSE
Mueller / Bergman
Ryan / Heed
McNally/ Ruopp

GOALIES
Armalis
Grosenick

SCRATCHES
Fram
Middleton
Schoenborn
Gallant (inj)
Kelley (susp)