Barracuda Rely On Stingy Defense, Goaltending in 4-1 Road Win
Mar 9, 2016
Stockton, CA - The San Jose Barracuda (26-19-6-3, 61pts) presented by Barracuda Networks topped the Stockton Heat (24-24-1-2, 51pts) by a score of 4-1 in front of 2,645 fans at Stockton Arena on Wednesday night.
Nikolay Goldobin (1-1=2), Jeremy Morin (1-1=2) and Bryan Lerg (0-2=2) each recorded two points while Aaron Dell made 30 saves as San Jose took the first contest of a quick two-game road trip. The Barracuda moved within a single point of the San Diego Gulls for 3rd place in the Pacific Division and have won five of their last seven games.
A scoreless first period provided many chances for both squads. Aaron Dell kept San Jose in the game making 16 saves in the opening period; a few of them coming point blank during a Stockton power-play. Petter Emanuelsson had the best chance for the Barracuda, but saw his wraparound attempt denied by Kevin Poulin at the other end.
The Barracuda drew a couple penalties early in the second period and cashed in on a Nikolay Goldobin (16th) goal from the slot at 7:49. San Jose would then add to their lead a little later as Jeremy Morin (13th) beat Poulin far side off a feed from Goldobin at 14:43. The Barracuda clamped down defensively allowing only four shots on goal in the middle frame. San Jose would go into the second intermission with a 2-0 advantage.
The Barracuda began the third period with more of the same as John McCarthy (13th) buried a snapshot over Poulin’s shoulder off a breakaway feed from Bryan Lerg at 3:32. Stockton would not go away quietly as they made one last push in the third. The Heat would gain some momentum on a late tally by Mitchell Heard (1st). But Aaron Dell stood tall the rest of the night and Barclay Goodrow banked in his team-leading 17th goal of the season off a Stockton defenseman to seal the victory.
Notes: Three Stars: 3rd star Mitchell Heard (1-0=1) 2nd star: Nikolay Goldobin (1-1=2) 1st star: Aaron Dell (30 saves, 1 GA)…Final shots were 31-23 in favor of Stockton... Kevin Poulin made 19 saves in the loss for the Heat…Aaron Dell made 30 saves for the Barracuda…San Jose went 1-for-4 on the power play and 2-for-2 on the penalty kill.... Frazer McLaren, Alex Gallant (inj), Scott Timmins, and Rick Pinkston did not dress for the Barracuda... Nikolay Goldobin has eight points (5-3=8) in his last five games…Jeremy Langlois (0-1=1) added a helper and has points in three of his last four games…John McCarthy’s goal in the third period gave him points (8-6=14) in ten of his last 11 games…San Jose has outscored Stockton 46-25 in the ten meetings between the two teams this season…Jeremy Morin (2-3-5) has a point in all four games he has played for the Barracuda….The Barracuda sit in 4th place in the Pacific Division and are in the thick of the playoff race in the Western Conference.
Coming up….
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