Poor Start Dooms Barracuda In Bakersfield
Mar 12, 2016Bakersfield, CA - The San Jose Barracuda (26-20-6-3, 61pts) presented by Barracuda Networks fell to the Bakersfield Condors (25-22-5-2, 59pts) by a score of 3-2 in front of 6,272 fans at Rabobank Arena on Saturday night.
Bryan Lerg (2-0=2) scored both goals while Aaron Dell made 25 of 28 saves. Trevor Parkes (0-2=2), John McCarthy (0-1=1) and Jeremy Langlois (0-1=1) all picked up assists in the loss. The Barracuda continue to hold the final playoff spot in the Pacific Division, ahead of the Charlotte Checkers and Condors.
Two Bakersfield goals in the 1st period put the Barracuda behind at first intermission. Alex Gallant, in his first game back since returning from injury, dropped the gloves with Mitch Moroz. Still, the slow start put the Condors in control of the game.
The Condors then scored five minutes into the 2nd period as Tyler Pitlick picked up his seventh goal of the season. After Mirco Mueller was assessed a five-minute major and game misconduct, the Cuda were forced to kill a lengthy penalty and be down to five men. To make matters worse, Julius Bergman was called for holding a minute and a half later and the Condors were awarded a full, two-minute 5-on-3 power play. The Barracuda would kill off both penalties and gain some momentum heading into the second half of the game.
Bryan Lerg scored off of a Trevor Parkes feed from the corner to just outside the slot. The goal was Lerg’s 15th of the season. From there the Barracuda threw attack after attack at the Condors, but were unable to get anything past Bakersfield net minder Niklas Lundstrom. Lerg would add another marker a little over 12 minutes into the period, giving the Barracuda hope to pull off the dramatic comeback. A few chances arose, but the Cuda were unable to capitalize losing 3-2.
Notes: Three Stars: 3rd star Niklas Lundstrom (31 saves, W) 2nd star: Ryan Hamilton (1-0=1) 1st star: Tyler Pitlick (1-1=2)…Final shots were 33-28 in favor of San Jose... Nicklas Lundstrom made 31 saves in the win for the Condors…Aaron Dell made 25 saves for the Barracuda…San Jose went 0-for-6 on the power play and 3-for-4 on the penalty kill.... Frazer McLaren, Scott Timmins, Joel Rumpel, and Rick Pinkston did not dress for the Barracuda... Nikolay Goldobin has eight points (5-3=8) in his last six games…Jeremy Langlois (0-1=1) picked up a point and has points in four of his last five games…John McCarthy’s assist in the third period gave him points (8-7=15) in ten of his last 12 games… 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….
On Sunday, the Barracuda take on the Ontario Reign at 5pm. Coverage begins at 4:50pm with Jason Lockhart and David Maley on the call live on AM 1220 KDOW.
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