BIG THIRD LIFTS SAN JOSE OVER IOWA, 5-3
Feb 26, 2019
San Jose, CA - The San Jose Barracuda (30-14-2-4) closed out their four-game season series with the Iowa Wild (28-17-6-5) (Minnesota Wild) on Tuesday night, earning a 5-3 win at the SAP Center.
In the victory, rookie forward Dylan Gambrell scored and added a pair of helpers for his third three-point night of the season. Gambrell has 12 points over his last seven games with the Barracuda.
After San Jose failed to score on a two-on-one, the Wild rushed back the other way and Mitch McLain (8) was able to open up the scoring as he shoveled in a rebound off Josef Korenar's right pad from the low slow at 16:08 of the first.
In the second, the Barracuda would even the score on their second shorthanded goal in as many games and fourth on the season. Gambrell won an offensive-zone draw back to Nick DeSimone (10) and the sophomore d-man ripped the equalizer past a screened Kaapo Kahkonen at 3:02. The Wild regained their lead at 5:32 after Kyle Wood's stick broke on a slap-shot attempt and Cal O'Reilly (10) would punch in the go-ahead goal on an odd-man rush back the other way.
Down by a goal heading into the final 20 minutes, the Barracuda exploded for four in the final frame. Prior to Tuesday, San Jose was just 2-8-2-0 when entering the third period down by at least one goal. Cavan Fitzgerald (4) began the comeback as Francis Perron found him uncovered, moving in from the left point, and Fitzgerald snapped a shot off the post and in at 1:27. Gambrell (15) then punched in a pass from T.J. Hensick from atop the crease at 3:37 to give San Jose its first lead. At 6:11, Jeremy Roy (5) extended the Barracuda's advantage to 4-2 with a right-point shot that redirected off a Wild player in front and past Kahkonen and then Jon Martin (10) completed the four-goal period with a right-point wrister that also deflected off an Iowa defender at 11:17. Gerald Mayhew (19) would add one late, but the damage was already done as the Barracuda held on for the 5-3 win.
Korenar (19-5-1) earned the victory by making 30 saves on 33 shots while Kahkonen suffered the loss after giving up five goals on 32 shots.
San Jose hits the road on Friday in Ontario and then Bakersfield on Saturday. The Barracuda return back to SAP Center on Tuesday, March 6 as Team Teal kicks off a five-game home stand. Listen to all the broadcast action on the Sharks + SAP Center App, sjbarracuda.com/listen and watch at watchtheahl.com.
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