Dell steals point for Barracuda with 45-save effort in overtime loss to Iowa

Despite falling in overtime by a 2-1 score to the Iowa Wild (AHL affiliate of the Minnesota Wild) at the Wells Fargo Arena Saturday night, the San Jose Barracuda extended their point streak to eight games (14 points out of a possible 16 in that span) thanks to the spectacular play in net of goaltender Aaron Dell, who finished with 45-saves on a night where the Barracuda were out-shot 47-26.

Dell, who has received one goal or less of offensive support from the Barracuda offense in seven of his last 10 complete starts, was named the game’s number three star as he made double digit save totals of 17, 14 and 14 through the regulation periods.

Barracuda forward Trevor Parkes scored the teams lone goal at 2:46 of the second period with a rebound strike off a quick shot from in front of the right face-off circle. Barracuda defenseman Gus Young, who fired the initial shot on goal from the left point, and captain Bryan Lerg had the assists on the goal, which was Parkes’ seventh of the season.

Iowa pulled even at 4:23 of the third period when off a Barracuda own zone turnover, forward Jordan Schroeder fired the puck past Dell form a parallel angle along the left side for his ninth goal of the season after Dell had stopped Schroeder’s first two shots but the Barracuda skaters couldn’t corral the rebounds.

In overtime, Iowa controlled the puck inside the Barracuda zone for nearly 30-seconds, and won the game with a set play that saw defenseman Gustav Olofsson cut to the center slot and redirect a right point slap pass from forward Zack Mitchell for the game-winning-goal, his first goal of the season, at 1:14.

NOTES… The Barracuda went 0-for-1 on the power play and 2-for-2 on the penalty kill… Dell is now 6-6-4 with a 2.55 goals-against-average and .916 save percentage… Barracuda forward Barclay Goodrow had a team high five shots on goal… Parkes has a two game point streak (2-2-4)… Barracuda head coach Roy Sommer remains one win away from tying Fred “Bun” Cook for the most wins in AHL History (636)… Barracuda defenseman Patrick McNally picked up his first professional fighting major in a scrap with Iowa forward Brett Bulmer at 10:17 of the second period… The Barracuda played in their AHL leading 13th overtime of the season… The Barracuda are 8-3-3 on the road and 18-10-7 with 43 points overall… The Barracuda are back in action Monday afternoon (Jan. 18) when they host the Bakersfield Condors with puck drop scheduled for 1:15 p.m/pt.

THREE STARS
1. Leland Irving – Iowa (25-saves, Win)
2. Gustav Olofsson – Iowa (1-0-1, OT GWG)
3. Aaron Dell – Barracuda (45-saves)

LINES
Goodrow / Carpenter / Emanuelsson
Lerg (C) / Langlois / Parkes
Torres / McCarthy (A) / Haley (A)
Goldobin / Timmins / Jevpalovs

DEFENSE
Young / Ryan
Stollery / Bergman
Mueller / McNally

GOALIES
Dell
Grosenick

SCRATCHES
Cundari
Doremus
Gallant
Hanson
McLaren (inj)