Barracuda Can't Hold On In 2-1 Overtime Loss in Ontario
Dec 13, 2015Ontario, CA –The San Jose Barracuda (9-9-1-3, 22pts) presented by Barracuda Networks dropped a 2-1 overtime decision to the Pacific Division leading Ontario Reign (15-4-2-0, 32pts) in front of 8,882 fans at the Citizens Business Bank Arena on Sunday afternoon. The Barracuda are back in action on Friday, December 18 at 7pm in San Diego, CA vs. the Gulls.
Trevor Parkes scored for the Barracuda while Aaron Dell made 24 saves in net as the Barracuda picked up a point in the loss. Justin Auger (4th) tied the game with 69 seconds left in the third period and Kevin Gravel won it for Ontario 76 seconds into the overtime period as the Reign won their 4th straight game.
Barracuda rookie Alex Gallant (1st FM) and former Sharks prospect Curt Gogol (1st FM) set the tone with a terrific toe-to-toe tilt at 2:07 of the opening frame as both teams came out with an edge in the first period. The only score of the period came with 31 seconds left as Mark Cundari sent a quick snap shot from the left point that was deflected off the stick of Trevor Parkes (4th) in front of the Reign net and past goaltender Peter Budaj. Shots were 11-10 in favor of Ontario as Aaron Dell stood tall in net for San Jose.
The Barracuda outshot the Reign 7-6 in the second period as neither team found the back of the net with each club getting whistled for one minor penalty. San Jose took a 1-0 lead into the second intermission as both teams had 17 shots through two periods of play.
With Peter Budaj on the bench for the extra attacker, the Barracuda were unable to clear the puck out of their own zone and Justin Auger (4th) deflected a Sean Backman shot from the point past Aaron Dell to tie the score 1-1 at 18:51 of the third period. San Jose only mustered three shots on goal in the third period as the game headed to overtime.
In the extra session, defenseman Kevin Gravel (3rd) skated in down the left side and slipped the puck through the pads of Aaron Dell from a tough angle to give Ontario the come from behind 2-1 victory.
Notes: Three Stars: 3rd star: Peter Budaj (19 saves, W) 2nd star: Justin Auger (Goal) 1st star: Kevin Gravel (OTG)….Final shots were 26-20 in favor of Ontario… Peter Budaj (14-3-1) made 19 saves on 20 shots for Ontario….Aaron Dell (4-6-1) made 22 saves on 24 shots for San Jose ….San Jose went 0-for-2 on the power play while Ontario went 0-for-2…. Scott Timmins (inj), Julius Bergman, Frazer McLaren and Greger Hanson did not dress for the Barracuda… forward Ben Smith played his 2nd game on a conditioning assignment from the SJ Sharks…. Alex Gallant returned to the lineup for the first time since Nov 18 at Bakersfield and picked up his first career AHL fighting major penalty…. Ryan Carpenter was loaned back to the Barracuda after his made his NHL debut on Saturday vs. the Wild – Carpenter did not make the trip to Ontario…it was the first loss of the season for the Barracuda in overtime and the first loss when leading after 40 minutes of play… the Barracuda scored just one goal in two games this weekend (0-1-1-0).
Coming up….
On Friday, the Barracuda head to San Diego, CA for a 7:05pm battle vs. the Gulls. Coverage begins at 7pm on AM 1220 KDOW.
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