A night after going 0-for-5 on the power play in a 2-1 loss to the San Antonio Rampage (AHL affiliate of the Colorado Avalanche) on Friday night, the San Jose Barracuda rebounded with three power play goals in a 4-3 come from behind victory over the Rampage in the rematch Saturday night at the AT&T Center to end their season (and franchise) high six game losing streak.
Barracuda forwards Ryan Carpenter, John McCarthy and Ben Smith each had a power play goal and an assist while forward Petter Emanuelsson scored what held up as the game-winning-goal at 13:59 of the third period. Between the pipes, Barracuda goaltender Aaron Dell made 23-saves for his seventh win of the season.
Picking up where they left off Friday night, the Rampage scored the game’s first goal Saturday night in just 21-seconds when defenseman Brandon Gormley beat Dell with a shot from the left point that went in off the post for his first goal of the season.
The Rampage extended their to 2-0 at 6:52 with a rebound score by forward Marc-Andre Cliche, who beat a lunging Dell with a shot from the left slot inside the left circle after the Barracuda skaters failed to corral the rebound of Dell’s save on Rampage defenseman Duncan Siemens’ wrist shot from on top of the right circle.
Carpenter cut the Rampage lead in half at 13:50 with a power play goal, his ninth goal of the season, off a wrist shot from on top of the left circle that beat Rampage goaltender Roman Will, who was screened in front by Carpenter’s power play linemate John McCarthy. Barracuda defenseman Mirco Mueller and McCarthy had the assists on the goal, which was Carpenter’s second in as many games.
With carry over power play time to start the second period, McCarthy tied the game just 34-seconds into the middle frame with his fifth goal of the season off a backhanded shot from on top of the crease after Will had stopped Mueller’s shot from on top of the slot and the initial rebound shot by Carpenter.
Just 91-seconds into the third period, Rampage defenseman Nick Drazenovic was assessed a hooking penalty, and Smith scored the go-ahead-goal for the Barracuda at 3:10 off a one-timer from in the right slot that beat Will, who was screened in front by Barracuda forward Barclay Goodrow. Barracuda forwards Nikolay Goldobin and Goodrow had the assists on the goal, which was Smith’s first goal of the season.
Off a face-off win in the Rampage zone by Barracuda forward Daniel Doremus, Emanuelsson lifted a backhanded shot past Will at 13:59 for his sixth goal of the season, which was a huge insurance goal for the Barracuda as the Rampage answered back at 16:14 when Drazenovic’s beat Dell with a snap shot from inside the right circle to cap off an odd man rush for his first goal of the season.
Though the Rampage pulled Will for the extra attacker with two minutes left in the game, the Rampage couldn’t get the tying goal past Dell, who along with the Barracuda defense stood tall down the stretch to end the losing streak.
NOTES… Shots on goal were 35-26 in favor of the Barracuda… The Barracuda went 3-for-4 on the power play and 3-for-3 on the penalty kill… Dell improved to 7-8-5 with a 2.62 goals-against-average and .914 save percentage… Smith and Doremus were credited with the assists on Emanuelsson’s goal… McCarthy, Smith, Carpenter, Goodrow and Scott Timmins all finished tied with a game high four shots on goal… Mueller had two assists… With the win, Barracuda head coach Roy Sommer tied Fred “Bun” Cook for the most wins in AHL history with 636… The Barracuda skate into the AHL All-Star Break in third place of the Pacific Division at 19-14-8 with 46 points overall and in playoff positioning.
THREE STARS
1. Ben Smith – Barracuda (1-1-2)
2. Ryan Carpenter – Barracuda (1-1-2)
3. Marc-Andre Cliche – Rampage (1-0-1)
LINES
Goodrow / Carpenter (A) / Smith
Lerg (C) / Langlois / Parkes
Goldobin / Timmins / McCarthy (A)
Gallant / Doremus / Emanuelsson
DEFENSE
Young / Ryan
Stollery / Bergman
Cundari / Mueller
GOALIES
Dell
Grosenick
SCRATCHES
McNally
Torres (trv)
Haley (per)
McLaren (inj)
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