BARRACUDA DROP PRESEASON OPENER, 5-1
Jan 19, 2021Irvine, Calif. – The San Jose Barracuda (0-1-0-0) returned to action on Tuesday, taking on the San Diego Gulls (Anaheim Ducks) (1-0-0-0) at FivePoint Arena in Irvine. Tuesday’s game kicked off the Barracuda’s seven-game exhibition schedule and marked the first time the Barracuda were in action since the AHL’s pause on March 10, 2020, 315 days ago.
After falling into an early deficit, the Barracuda managed to tie the game in the first, but would subsequently allow the next four goals, eventually falling 5-1.
In the first, veteran forward Andrew Agozzino (1) opened up the scoring as Ducks’ top prospect Trevor Zegras found him on the backdoor at 5:03. A minute and 37 seconds later, Joachim Blichfeld (1) wired a shot past a screened Lukas Dostal to draw the Barracuda even at 1-1. Newcomer Robbie Russo picked up the primary assist, while 2020 Sharks second rounder Tristen Robins was given the secondary assist. With just a minute and 12 seconds remaining in the first, Benoit-Olivier Groulx (1) would put the Gulls back up by a goal as he deflected a Andrew Poturalski shot past Josef Korenar.
Veteran Sam Carrick (1) would then put the Gulls up by a pair just two minutes and 11 seconds into the second, intercepting a San Jose clearing attempt in the offensive zone and snapping the shot under Korenar. Carrick (2) would cash in again at 11:21 to make it 4-1 Gulls. Less than two minutes later, Jack Kopacka (1) would join the party, pushing the Gulls lead to 5-1.
Neither team would score in the third, as the Barracuda would fall 5-1. Korenar (0-1-0-0) took the loss, allowing five goals on 36 shots. Dostal earned the win, stopping 28 of 29.
Blichfeld and Carrick each put a game-high five shots on net and Hunter Drew and Steenn Pasichnuk dropped the mitts at 10:01 of the second.
The Barracuda and Gulls will run it back on Thursday at 6 p.m.