The San Jose Barracuda played game one of round two of the team’s playoff series against the Colorado Eagles, but it wasn’t the start they had hoped for. Despite a late push in the third period, a relentless Colorado power play and two empty-net goals sealed the deal for the visitors as the Eagles skated away with a 6–3 win at Tech CU Arena.
First Period
San Jose came out hot, outshooting Colorado 12–6 in the first period and generating consistent pressure in the offensive zone. Unfortunately, nothing found the back of the net.
The Eagles eventually capitalized when Calle Rosén opened the scoring at 16:16 on a setup from Jayson Megna and Matthew Phillips. It was a soft goal on a night when those were costly.
Despite getting two power plays, the Barracuda couldn’t cash in
This is where things got away from San Jose.
Second period
Just one minute into a Colorado power play, Chris Wagner doubled the Eagles’ lead at 3:02 with a blast from the slot.
Less than five minutes later, another power-play goal. This time, Megna made it 3–0.
The ‘Cuda finally got on the board with a shorthanded effort by Filip Bystedt, with a wrister off a turnover at 8:25, injecting some life into the building.
But the excitement was short-lived. With just over two minutes left in the frame, John Ludvig walked into space and beat Yaroslav Askarov.
The second ended 4–1, with Colorado converting on their power play chances.
Third Period
San Jose showed some fight down the stretch.
Collin Graf scored his second of the playoffs midway through the third to make it 4–2, and with the net empty, Colin White buried a rebound at 17:4.
But it wasn’t enough. Megna and Tye Felhaber iced it with a pair of empty-netters in the final 90 seconds.
Filip Bystedt
The late push was promising, but the damage was done.
Bystedt was one of the bright spots for the Barracuda in this game, scoring a slick shorthanded goal that gave the team life in the second period. After the game, he talked about the team’s approach and the energy on the ice.
“We’re trying to score more goals than any other team,” Bystedt said.
While the Barracuda struggled to convert early opportunities, the game plan remains focused on aggressive puck movement and creating chances in tight.
“It’s hard for any team to defend that. So if we try to do that more, we’re gonna get more chances too,” he added.
Bystedt’s goal came during a critical penalty kill, where he jumped on a loose puck along the boards and beat the goaltender.
“They just put it down a little bit soft on the wall. So I thought I could go for it,” he said, describing the read and finish.
Playing in front of a packed house at Tech CU Arena, Bystedt acknowledged how special the playoff stage felt.
“That’s the moment you want to be out there for and get the crowd going cheering and score goals. It’s pretty fun,” he said.
On the penalty kill, he emphasized the importance of team defense.
“Trying to block shots. Obviously, if we block them before the goal, the goalie can get it,” he noted, pointing to the details that can make or break tight playoff games.
Bystedt’s confidence and poise were evident both on the ice and in his postgame reflections, and he’ll be a key player to watch as the Barracuda look to bounce back in game two.
John McCarthy
Barracuda Head Coach John McCarthy didn’t sugarcoat his thoughts after Friday’s 6–3 game one loss to the Eagles. Speaking postgame, McCarthy emphasized urgency, discipline, and belief in his group.
“It’s May, it’s playoffs. We can’t be having these breakdowns now,” McCarthy said.
Despite a strong start in terms of puck possession, the Barracuda struggled with execution and gave the Eagles too many high-quality chances.
McCarthy made it clear that the team didn’t come into the game just hoping to compete, it expected to win.
“We’re coming here expecting to win the game. We know what we can do in that locker room, and we gotta come out and show it on Sunday,” he stated.
A recurring theme in McCarthy’s message was the importance of building momentum one shift at a time, especially when trailing.
“When we go down four-one, you’re not going to score three goals in one shift,” he explained. “It’s got to be more. You go out, you win your shift. Next line over the wall, they win their shift. And you build momentum that way.”
Discipline, or the lack thereof, was another area of focus. With the team taking untimely penalties and giving up two power-play goals, McCarthy didn’t hesitate.
“Stay out of the penalty box. Take better care of the puck, line changes,” he said, underlining the small details that can swing tight games.
McCarthy’s tone reflected the stakes of playoff hockey.
