The Bakersfield Condors left winger Jimmy Hamblin (11) pushes the San Jose Barracuda’s defenseman Patrick Holway (97) up against the glass at the Mechanics Bank Arena in Bakersfield on Wed Apr 20, 2022 (photo from the San Jose Barracuda)
by Marko Ukalovic
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — The number 13 wasn’t a lucky number for the men in teal.
The Bakersfield Condors scored two goals in the third period en route to a 4-1 victory over the San Jose Barracuda on Wednesday night at Mechanics Bank Arena.
San Jose continued its franchise worse 13-game losing skid with only two games left in the season. They have lost 10 straight on the road to the Condors. Bakersfield has won three out its past four games and clinched fifth place in the Pacific Division with 78 points.
Bakersfield (34-20-5-5) drew first blood almost eight minutes into the first period on the power play. Adam Cracknell finished off a give and go with Seth Griffith when his wrist shot deflected off the skate of Adam Raska for his 19th goal of the season at the 7:50 mark.
The Condors doubled its lead less than five minutes later. Tim Schaller sprung Colton Sceviour on a breakaway with a pass off the boards. Sceviour skated in and lifted a backhander past ‘Cuda goalie Alex Stalock for his fifth goal of the season at the 12:03 mark.
San Jose (20-40-4-2) cut the Condor’s lead in half with a power play goal of their own 45 seconds later. Jake McGrew redirected Artemi Kniazev’s shot from the right point for his 12th goal of the season at the 12:48 mark.
McGrew snapped a 14-game goal less draught.
Bakersfield regained the momentum 64 seconds into the second period with an even strength goal. Dino Kambeitz centered a pass from behind the net and Tyler Benson beat Stalock with a wrist shot to the short side for his third goal of the season.
The Condors put the game away just past the halfway mark of the middle frame. Devin Brosseau finished off a two-on-one odd man rush when he snapped home a wrist shot off of a pass from Griffith for his 11th goal of the season at the 11:36 mark.
San Jose had two power play opportunities in the third period but weren’t able to capitalize on either chance as both teams finished the final frame scoreless.
Daniil Gushchin and Gannon Laroque made their debuts for the ‘Cuda. Gushchin finished tied for the team high with five shots on goal.
Condor’s goalie Stuart Skinner stopped 29 of the 30 shots he faced to earn his 19th victory of the season. Stalock made 22 saves on 26 in suffering his ninth straight loss (0-7-2).
GAME NOTES: San Jose finished 1-for-7 on the power play. Bakersfield was 1-for-2.
San Jose finished 3-6-1 against Bakersfield in the season series.
Skinner is 17-2 against the Barracuda in his career.
The Three Stars of the Game were: 1) Brosseau 2) Benson 3) Sceviour
UP NEXT: San Jose travels to Henderson to close out the regular season with two games against the Silver Knights on Friday 4/22 at 7:00pm at Dollar Loan Center.