Bergman scores game winner and Goldobin scores twice as Barracuda top Stars 5-4 at home

Coming into Saturday afternoon’s game at the SAP Center against the Texas Stars (AHL affiliate of the Dallas Stars), the San Jose Barracuda had scored only 37 goals through their first 16 games, an average of 2.3 goals per game. Down by two goals twice in the second period, the Barracuda doubled their season average by exploding for four goals in a 10:12 span en route to a 5-4 win over Texas in front of 4,032 fans.

Barracuda defenseman Julius Bergman scored the winning goal, which was also his first professional goal, with just 48-seconds left in the third period and forward Nikolay Goldobin scored two goals 2:19 apart in the second period. In addition, Barracuda goaltender Troy Grosenick made 26 saves for his fourth win of the season while forwards Ryan Carpenter, John McCarthy and Nikita Jevpalovs dished out two assists each.

Though the Barracuda out-shot Texas 10-9 in the first period, it was Texas who took a 1-0 lead into the first intermission as forward Matej Stransky fired the puck past Grosenick from in front of the right circle off an odd man rush (set up by a Barracuda turnover in the Texas zone) for his fifth goal of the season.

Texas forward Devin Shore extended the lead to 2-0 at 4:14 of the second period with a one-timer from deep in the left slot for his 14th goal of the season.

The Barracuda got on the scoreboard at 9:38 when off a broken play, defenseman Joakim Ryan fired a quick snap shot from on top of the right face-off dot past Texas goaltender Maxime Legace for his first professional goal, which was assisted by Carpenter and Barracuda captain Bryan Lerg.

Shore regained Texas’ two goal lead at 12:02 with a power play goal off a great individual effort that saw Shore skate into the Barracuda zone along the left side, deke around a defenseman, cut across the top of the crease and slide a backhanded shot past Grosenick.

Goldobin pulled the Barracuda to within a goal at 14:10 with his third goal of the season off a snap shot from just inside the right face-off circle 19-seconds after Grosenick robbed Texas forward Brendan Ranford on a breakaway attempt. Carpenter and Barracuda defenseman Gus Young had the assists on the goal, which was Goldobin’s second in his last two AHL games. Just 2:19 later, Goldobin tied the game off a wrap around power play goal that was assisted by Jevpalovs and McCarthy.

With 10-seconds left in the period, Barracuda forward Barclay Goodrow fired the puck into an open net from the right side of the crease after linemate Petter Emanuelsson sent a through-the-crease pass from the left side for a 4-3 lead. Barracuda forward Mike Aviani had the secondary assist on the goal, which was Goodrow’s fourth of the season.

With the Barracuda still ahead 4-3 late in the third period, Texas pulled Legace for the extra attacker and tied the game at 18:12 when off a scramble on top of the crease, defenseman Esa Lindell found a loose puck in front of the left face-off circle and fired a quick backhanded shot past Grosenick for his sixth goal of the season.

As it appeared the game was heading to overtime, Bergman stepped into a one-timer slap shot from the right point that beat Legace up high for what held up as the game-winning-goal. McCarthy, who fed Bergman the puck along the right side, and Jevpalovs were credited with the winning assists.

NOTES… Shots on goal were 33-30 in favor of the Barracuda… The Barracuda went 1-for-5 on the power play and 1-for-2 on the penalty kill… Grosenick is now 4-3-2 with a 2.93 goals-against-average and .910 save percentage… Barracuda forward Jeremy Langlois had a game high four shots on goal… Each Barracuda skater registered a shot on goal… Goodrow was an assist shy of the Gordie Howe Hat Trick as he dropped the gloves with Texas defenseman Stephen Johns at 1:24 of the second period… Prior to the game, Barracuda defenseman Dylan DeMelo was recalled to the San Jose Sharks while forward Chris Crane was reassigned to the Allen Americans of the ECHL on Nov. 27… The Barracuda are 2-4-1 on home ice and 7-7-3 with 17 points overall… The Barracuda rematch Texas Sunday afternoon (Nov. 29) at 3pm/pt.

THREE STARS
1. Nikolay Goldobin – Barracuda (2-0-2)
2. Devin Shore – Texas (2-0-2)
3. Julius Bergman – Barracuda (1-0-1, GWG)

LINES
Lerg (C) / Carpenter / Langlois
Goldobin / McCarthy / Jevpalovs
Hanson / Timmins / Parkes
Goodrow / Aviani / Emanuelsson

DEFENSE
Stollery (A) / Bergman
Young / Ryan
McNally / Cundari

GOALIES
Grosenick
Dell

SCRATCHES
Doremus
McLaren
Gallant (inj)