BARRACUDA EDGED IN OT IN GAME THREE
May 6, 2025Loveland, CO – The San Jose Barracuda were defeated by the Colorado Eagles 3-2, in overtime, in game three of the second round of the Calder Cup Playoffs in the American Hockey League Division Semifinals.
The Barracuda must win game four tomorrow (Wednesday) at Blue Arena in Colorado, at 6:05 PM MDT/7:05 PM PT to remain alive in the playoffs in a best-of-five series.
"I thought Asky was phenomenal, I thought we stuck it, I thought we stuck with the gameplan, got one in the six-on-five,” said San Jose Head Coach John McCarthy.
For highlights of Game 3, B-roll footage, and other related Barracuda video footage, interviews, and recordings, please click here.
Colorado opened the scoring with an early goal in the contest with a strike from Tye Felhaber at 1:59, his second in the series, beating Yaroslav Askarov, who made his fifth consecutive start in the Calder Cup Playoffs. Colin White exited the contest after a collision with a teammate on the ice in the first period and did not return. Colorado added to their lead after a shot on goal by John Ludvig dribbled past Askarov with Jayson Megna putting it in the back of the net, his third of the series, at 17:02. The Barracuda logged six shots on goal on Colorado’s netminder Trent Miner with the ‘Cuda’s Donavan Houle leading the charge in shots on goal with two. Houle drew back into the lineup since Friday’s (May 2) contest at Tech CU Arena in San Jose.
In the second period, the ‘Cuda went three-for-three in the penalty kill, including Askarov making a right-pad save that kept the game a two-goal deficit. Anthony Vincent drew a penalty as the Eagles' Calle Rosén was called for cross-checking at 11:44 in the second period. The Barracuda broke the ice on their second power-play advantage of the contest after Filip Bystedt recorded his third goal of the playoffs at 13:05, a shot from the left side beating Minor to cut the deficit in half (2-1). Collin Graf was credited with the primary assist and Luca Cagnoni collected his team-leading third assist of the playoffs among ‘Cuda blueliners.
The Barracuda looked to carry their offensive push and pressure from the second period into the third, created by Bystedt’s strike in the second. Colorado showed urgency at the start of the third period, but Askarov continued to deny the home team, keeping it a one-goal game. Askarov aggressively came out of the crease to make a stop on Matthew Phillips key shot on goal opportunity. The Barracuda continued to get pucks on net. At 2:28 remaining in the third, the ‘Cuda pulled their netminder to go on the man advantage. With the man advantage, the Barracuda tied the game 2-2 with a goal from Pavol Regenda, his third of the playoffs, with 1:35 remaining in the third period after the team crashed the net and continued to get shots on net. Patrick Giles recorded his second assist of the playoffs on Regenda's strike and Graf his third, his second in the contest.
“We just knew we had to push back, you know, we work hard,” said Regenda. "Just tried to get it to net and it worked out."
For the second consecutive game, the contest went into overtime. At 2:08 in overtime, Gabriel Carriere made his AHL debut, replacing Askarov. Carriere appeared in 25 games for the Barracuda during the regular season, posting a 14-9-2 record with a 2.60 GAA and .922 SV%. At 5:02 in overtime, Phillips scored the dagger, giving Colorado the overtime victory.
"I just tried to go in there, be ready, and give the team a chance to win," said Carriere
Netminder Yaroslav Askarov stopped 25 pucks on 27 shots faced tonight. He did not return in the contest.