BLUELINE LEADS BARRACUDA TO 6-4 WIN OVER GULLS
Mar 20, 2024San Jose, CA – The San Jose Barracuda (19-29-9-2) defense corps combined for eight points on Wednesday afternoon and helped lead the Cuda past the San Diego Gulls (22-27-8-0), 6-4. In the win, defensemen Nikolai Knyzhov (1+1+2), Shakir Mukhamadullin and Valteri Pulli (0+2=2) all finished with multiple points and Jack Thomson and Ethan Frisch also collected assists.
Eetu Makiniemi made a career-high 22 saves in the third period and 30 in the game after replacing Georgi Romanov who allowed four goals on 11 shots in 29 minutes and 39 seconds of action.
Despite multiple offensive chances in the first, the Barracuda would fall behind when Brayden Tracy chased down the puck deep in San Jose’ ice and found Josh Lopina (12) in front, and the Gulls forward was able to chop in the pass to open the scoring at 12:29. The Barracuda would finally be rewarded for their play when Knyshov (3) ripped a point shot over the glove of Calle Clang to level the score at 18:07. Just 39 seconds later, the Barracuda would take their first lead as Tristen Robins fed Brandon Coe (9) busting in on net at 18:46.
In the second, the Gulls tied the score when former Barracuda defenseman Trevor Carrick (7) funneled a shot through a screened Georgi Romanov at 6:34. Then, Nikita Nesterenko (15) would give San Diego its lead back as he lifted in his own rebound at 7:53. Down by a goal, Joe Carroll (12) tied the score in just his second game with the Barracuda as he slung in a shot from atop the left circle at 18:54.
In the third, the Barracuda were outshot 22-10, but managed to score the only two goals. First, Mukhamadullin carried the puck down the left wing and centered a pass to Ethan Cardwell (18) who directed in the feed for his third goal in as many games and team-leading 18th. Mukhamadullin (7) then tipped in a Thompson shot from the point at 13:19 to give the Barracuda a 6-4 lead.
The win snapped the Barracuda’s three game skid and improved the club to 3-0 against the Gulls.