BARRACUDA CAN'T END REIGN, FALL 3-2
Jan 13, 2017
San Jose, CA - The San Jose Barracuda (17-9-1-3) allowed both a power play and shorthanded goal on Friday to the Ontario Reign (18-7-6) who used 35 saves from Jack Campbell to top the Barracuda, 3-2, at SAP Center.
Campbell (15-4-3) was stingy in the win making 35 saves while Troy Grosenick (9-7-2) made 20 saves and suffered the loss despite making multiple high-end denials.
T.J. Hensick split the San Jose defense and fed a perfect pass to Sam Herr who tapped home his fourth goal of the season at 9:39 to give the Reign an opening-period lead. After San Jose had failed to score on their only power play of the frame, Zach Leslie wrapped the puck off of Grosenick's left pad, and Sean Backman (7) banged home the rebound at 13:09.
In the second, after a bad Ontario change, Rourke Chartier dropped a pass for Nikita Jevpalovs (4) at the top of the right circle, and Jevpalovs went top shelf to get San Jose on the board at 8:54. Justin Auger (8) pushed Ontario's lead back up to two as streaked behind the San Jose defense on the penalty kill and went forehand-to-backhand to make it 3-1 at 12:49. The Reign took a too many men and unsportsmanlike conduct penalty at the same time, and San Jose's Nikolay Goldobin (7) blasted a shot from the high slot past Campbell at 17:21 to cut the lead back down to one.
In the final 20 minutes, San Jose desperately pressed for the equalizer but couldn't find the back of the net, and the Ontario Reign held on for a 3-2 win.
The Barracuda outshot the Reign in loss 37-23, but only generated one goal in six power play tries.
THREE STARS
1. Justin Auger (ONT: 1+0=1)
2. Sean Backman (ONT: 1+1=2)
3. NIkolay Goldobin (SJ: 1+0=1)
BOX SCORE
The Barracuda honor those who have served and continue to serve on Saturday, Jan. 14 as the Stockton Heat pay a visit to SAP Center for Military Appreciation Day. The first 1,500 fans at the door will receive a patriotic tote bag, and the Barracuda will don red, white and blue USA jerseys. Tickets are still available and can be purchased at SJBarracuda.com/tickets or by calling 408.999.5757.