William Eklund and Thomas Bordeleau celebrate Eklund’s goal against the Canucks at Tech CU Arena on Sunday JAN 15, 2022. (San Jose Barracuda)
by Marko Ukalovic
SAN JOSE — Derrick Pouliot picked a great time to score his first goal of the season.
Pouliot’s goal early in the third period gave the San Jose Barracuda an insurance goal as they held on to beat the Abbotsford Canucks 3-2 on Sunday evening at Tech CU Arena.
San Jose split the two games series with Abbotsford and snapped its three-game losing streak. Abbotsford had its three-game winning streak end.
Pouliot knocked down a pass from Tristan Robins and skated down the left wing before he deposited a wrist shot top shelf to the short side past Canucks goalie Jake Kupsky at the 5:20 mark. Pouliot’s first goal of the season was also the Barracuda’s third power play goal of the game.
San Jose (16-21-0-2-34 points) drew first blood on the power play early in the opening frame. Robins set up William Eklund in the right slot and Eklund blasted a one-timer past Kusky for his 11th goal of the season at the 6:09 mark.
The Barracuda doubled its lead 65 seconds into the second period with its second power play goal. This time it was Thomas Bordeleau setting up Eklund’s second goal on the man advantage. Eklund once again was at the right place at the right time and beat Kupsky with another one-timer from the right slot for his 12th goal of the season.
Abbotsford (22-11-1-1-46 points) cut the ‘Cuda lead in half with a power play goal late in the middle frame. Phil Di Guiseppe beat ‘Cuda goalie Eetu Makiniemi with a one-time from the right slot for his ninth goal of the season at the 14:05 mark.
Vasily Podkolzin gathered in a loose puck and snapped home a wrist shot past Makiniemi for his fourth goal of the season two minutes after Pouliot’s goal.
Makiniemi finished the game stopping 32 of the 34 shots to earn the victory and snapped a six-game losing skid. Kupsky made 20 saves on 23 shots in the losing effort.
GAME NOTES: San Jose finished 3-for-6 on the power play. Abbotsford was 1-for-5.
Robins finished with two assists.
The Three Stars of the Game were: 1) Eklund 2) Bordeleau 3) Pouliot.
UP NEXT: San Jose hosts the San Diego Gull on Friday 1/20 at 7:00pm at Tech CU Arena.
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