Barracuda fall in a shootout after Gulls late comeback

Nov 18, 2016

San Diego, Calif. - The San Jose Barracuda (5-3-0-2) looked to have their third straight win in the books on Friday night until the San Diego Gulls (5-5-1-0) tied the game with just over a minute left in regulation and eventually won in a shootout, 3-2, at Valley View Casino Center.
 
The game produced early fireworks when Alex Gallant and Scott Sabourin waited just two minutes and 25 seconds to drop the mitts. The two tough guys returned a flurry of right hooks without backing down before they were tied up and separated. After denying both Gulls power-play chances, Danny O'Regan won an offensive zone draw and Timo Meier (3) quickly ripped the puck without a hitch past Dustin Tokarski at 18:11 to give San Jose the only goal of the first.
 
In the second, veteran Stu Bickel (2) intercepted a San Jose clearing attempt and went right through the five-hole of Troy Grosenick to tie the game at 10:05. San Diego outshot San Jose 9-to-4, but the score stayed even after 40 minutes.
 
In the final frame, Ryan Carpenter (2) redirected a point shot from Tim Heed at 13:15 to give San Jose the lead back, in what looked to be the game-winner. But San Diego managed to tie the game with just a minute and one second left, off the stick of Ondrej Kase (3) as he went top shelf from close range.
 
A slow start to the three-on-three overtime led to a flurry of late chances for both teams, but neither club was able to find the winner in extra time.
 
In the Shootout, on San Diego's fourth try, Stefan Noesen juked and then lifted a puck over Grosenick's left shoulder to give the Gulls the lead. Carpenter had one last chance for San Jose, but he was denied by Tokarski's blocker.
 
Troy Grosenick (3-3-0-1) was impressive again, steering away 35 San Diego shots, but was unable to capture his third straight win. Tokarski (4-2-0-0) collected his fourth victory of the year by stopping 22 of 24 shots he faced.
 
The Barracuda continue their six-game road trip with another game against San Diego on Saturday, Nov. 19 at 7 p.m. San Jose returns home on Friday, Nov. 25 for Star Wars Night. San Jose will wear specialty stormtrooper jerseys as they welcome in the Bakersfield Condors for one game. For tickets visit SJBarracuda.com/tickets or call 408.999.5757.