ROMANOV MAKES 31 SAVES IN 2-1 WIN OVER CANUCKS
Feb 2, 2024Abbotsford, BC – The San Jose Barracuda (14-21-7-0, 35 pts.) got 31 saves from Georgi Romanov and were able to hold off the Abbotsford Canucks (22-14-3-2, 49 pts.), 2-1, on Friday night at the Abbotsford Centre.
In the first, minutes after Romanov made a point-blank save on former Barracuda defenseman Nick Cicek, Cole Cassels found Nathan Todd (10) driving the net and Todd directed in a backhander for his 100th AHL point to give San Jose a 1-0 lead at 10:13. Minutes later, at 13:39, former Abby Canucks forward Kyle Rau (3) made it 2-0 Barracuda as he tipped in a Nikolai Knyshov shot from the right half-wall. Romanov finished the frame with 11 stops and the Barracuda carried a 2-0 lead into the intermission.
In the second, the Barracuda were outshot 11-6 and each team had a power-play chance, but the goaltenders stood tall and the game remained 2-0 after 40 minutes.
In the third, neither team had many chances, but things got interesting when Tanner Kaspick was called for a four-minute high-sticking penalty off a faceoff draw. The Barracuda PK held the Canucks to just one shot and held their 2-0 lead until Marc Gatcomb (5) beat Romonov on a fluky-fluttering shot while on a two-on-one at the 16-minute mark. The Canucks would pull their goaltender Arturs Silovs at 16:56 but the Barracuda would hold off the Canucks for the 2-1 win.
The Barracuda close out their two-game set with the Canucks on Saturday at the Abbotsford Centre before hitting the All-Star break. The Barracuda are set to return to Tech CU Arena on Sat., Feb. 10 for Cuda Country Night presented by Bay Country featuring live performances from Chayce Beckham and HunterGirl. For tickets and more info, go to sjbarracuda.com.
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