Let’s be real, this one stung.
The San Jose Barracuda looked sharp, confident and honestly pretty dominant at times last night in Colorado, but the scoreboard didn’t love ‘em back. Despite a standout performance from Igor Chernyshov, the ‘Cuda dropped a tight one to the Colorado Eagles, 3–1.
The ‘Cuda came out buzzing. Anthony Vincent, Collin Graf and Pavol Regenda all tested Trent Miner in the first four minutes.
But while the Barracuda pushed, Colorado didn’t sit back. Matthew Phillips was everywhere, ripping two solid shots in the span of 30 seconds
Both teams picked up penalties (Lucas Vanroboys for tripping, Calle Rosén for a high-stick), but neither could score. San Jose actually outshot Colorado 18–14 in the first period. The only thing missing? Goals.
The second started off a bit heated.
Both Vanroboys and Colorado’s Mark Senden got into it just 21 seconds in, earning matching minors after some helmet-removal shenannigans. Still no scoring, though.
Then Colorado’s Jacob MacDonald got dinged for a double minor high-stick at 3:18, and the ‘Cuda had a huge chance on a four-minute power play.
The players pushed. Ethan Cardwell, Jimmy Schuldt, and Graf all got looks, but Miner kept standing tall. On the flip side, Yaroslav Askarov was a wall for San Jose, turning away some rockets.
By the end of the second, the ‘Cuda had outshot Colorado 30 to 22, but still couldn’t score.
The third period finally brought the action we were waiting for.
After an early penalty on Chase Bradley (hooking), the ‘Cuda got the power play, and this time, the team cashed in. Rookie Chernyshov sniped home his first AHL goal off a clean pass from Lucas Carlsson and Ethan Cardwell at 4:09.
But just when the vibes were up, Colorado clapped right back. Bradley made up for his penalty by scoring one himself less than a minute later. Tie game.
Things only got worse from there. After a Patrick Giles interference call, the Eagles’ Tye Felhaber ripped one past Askarov on the power play at 13:32.
San Jose’s penalty kill had been solid most of the night, but one crack was all it took.
With time running out, the ‘Cuda pulled Askarov, but it backfired. Colorado’s Jason Polin sealed it with an empty-netter at 19:04. And just like that, it was curtains.
The Barracuda outshot the Eagles 45–37 and really controlled a lot of the pace. Chernyshov looked great, and Cardwell was one of the best players on the ice all night.
But hockey’s cruel sometimes.
Season Wrap-Up: What could be next?
The 2024–25 season marked a significant turnaround for the San Jose Barracuda, finishing with a 36–26–5–4 record, securing 81 points and a playoff run. This improvement from the previous season’s 62-point finish highlights the team’s growth and potential. With standout performances from players like Andrew Poturalski, who led the league with 73 points, and goaltender Askarov, the future looks promising. As the Barracuda continue to develop the team’s young talent, the question remains: will this momentum translate into success in the upcoming seasons? Only time will tell, but the foundation is certainly being laid for a competitive future.
