sjbarracuda.com photo: The Grand Rapids Griffins center Kyle Criscuolo (51) and San Jose Barracuda goaltender Troy Grosenick (1) anticipate a shot on Friday night in Grand Rapids
By: Eric He
The San Jose Barracuda allowed four goals in the second period and fell 6-2 to Grand Rapids on Friday in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals. The Barracuda now trail 3-1 in the best-of-seven series, and must win on Saturday in Game 5 to keep their season alive.
The Barracuda were doomed by a four-goal second period. They led 1-0 after the first period, but were dominated in the second. Tyler Bertuzzi evened the score four minutes in, putting home a rebound. Five minutes later, Eric Tangradi gave the Griffins the lead, powering his way to the net from beyond the goal line.
The Griffins found paydirt twice more in the period. Tomas Nosek scored a power play goal, and then Martin Frk netted home a breakaway score to give Grand Rapids a 4-1 advantage.
San Jose cut the lead in half just briefly in the third period when Adam Helewka scored on the power play, ripping a host in off the left post. But Ben Street upped the advantage back to three goals at 5-2 just 50 seconds later on a breakaway. Evgeni Svechnikov gave the Griffins another insurance goal late in the third to put the game out of reach.
Troy Grosenick stopped 30 of 36 shots in the loss. The Barracuda were just 1-for-6 on the power play, while the Griffins scored twice in eight opportunities on the man advantage.
Game 5 is Saturday night in Grand Rapids, where the Barracuda must win to stay alive.
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