San Jose Barracuda’s Danil Guschin celebrates his first of two goals with his teammates at Tech CU Arena on Wednesday FEB 15, 2022. (San Jose Barracuda)
by Marko Ukalovic
SAN JOSE–Danil Gushchin scored the game winning goal at the 2:52 mark of overtime to give the San Jose Barracuda a 4-3 win over the Ontario Reign on Wednesday evening at Tech CU Arena.
San Jose snapped its five-game losing streak to conclude its five-game homestand. Ontario had its three-game winning streak end with the overtime loss but have picked up points in its last four games.
Third time was the charm for Gushchin in the overtime session as he had his first attempt stoned away by Reign goalie Cal Petersen and his second attempt clang off the post. Guschin was able to get his own rebound before depositing a backhander to the left corner of the net for his second goal of the game and his and 11th of the season at the 2:52 mark.
San Jose (19-25-0-4) drew first blood past the halfway mark of the first period. William Eklund sent a rink wide pass over to Gushchin who shot the puck between his legs to the far left post for a highlight reel goal, his first of the game and 10th of the season at the 12:58 mark.
Gushchin snapped a 11-game goalless draught.
The Barracuda doubled its lead with a power play goal less than two minutes later. A shot from the point by Thomas Bordeleau was redirected by Kyle Criscuolo for his 10th of the season and fifth with the ‘Cuda at the 14:13 mark.
Ontario (26-17-2-1) cut San Jose lead in half early in the second period. Jacob Moverare used Darren Brady as screen to snap home a wrist shot past ‘Cuda goalie Strauss Mann for his third goal of the season at the 7:06 mark.
The Reign scored the equalizer three minutes later in the middle frame. Samuel Helenius fooled Mann with a wrist shot from the left point that beat the rookie goalie through the five-hole for his first goal in 48 games this season at the 10:48 mark.
Ontario gained its first lead of the game with its third unanswered goal early in the third period. Tobias Bjornfot led an odd man rush into the ‘Cuda zone. Bjornfot found Lias Andersson on the left wing and Andersson wired a wrist shot past Mann to the far side for his team leading 21st goal of the season at the 7:31 mark.
San Jose scored the equalizer just under five minutes later. Ozzy Weisblatt centered a pass from behind the net out to C.J. Suess who beat Petersen with a quick one-timer for his fifth goal of the season at the 12:24 mark.
Mann (4-4) finished the night stopping 23 of the 26 shots he faced to earn the victory. Petersen (11-8-2) had a busy night as he made 37 saves on 41 shots in the losing effort and is 0-1-1 against San Jose this season.
GAME NOTES: San Jose finished 1-for-4 on the power play. Ontario was 0-for-3.
San Jose improved to 3-0 on the season in overtime games.
The Three Stars of the Game were: 1) Gushchin 2) Suess 3) Petersen
UP NEXT: San Jose began a four-game road trip against the Abbotsford Canucks on Saturday 2/18 at 7:00pm at Abbotsford Centre.