The Colorado Eagles made a second period comeback on the San Jose Barracuda at SAP Center in San Jose on Sat Mar 26, 2022 (photo from the San Jose Barracuda)
by Marko Ukalovic
SAN JOSE — It was a good old Wild Wild West shootout at the Shark Tank.
The Colorado Eagles overcame a three goal deficit with a five goal second period for a 7-5 comeback victory over the San Jose Barracuda on Saturday afternoon at SAP Center.
San Jose have lost three games in a row. Colorado snapped its two-game losing streak.
San Jose (20-32-2-2) drew first blood early in the first period. Jayden Halbgewachs set up Joachim Blichfeld on a two-on-zero odd man rush. Blichfeld beat Eagles goalie Justus Annunen with a wrist shot for his team leading 21st goal of the season at the 4:29 mark.
It was Blichfeld’s 50th career AHL goal.
The Barracuda doubled its lead just over two minutes later. Jasper Weatherby sprung Evan Weinger on a breakaway in the neutral zone. Weinger skated around one defender before depositing the puck between the five-hole of Annunen for his 11th goal of the season at the 6:54 mark.
San Jose scored its third unanswered of the period a faceoff win in the Eagles zone. A shot from the point pinballed in front of the crease that leaked behind Annunen. Adam Raska cleaned up the rebound for his fourth goal of the season at the 14:06 mark.
Colorado (31-19-4-3) answered back when Jayson Megna was left all alone in the crease to tap home a centering pass from Kifer Sheerwood for his eighth goal of the season at the17:40 mark.
Newly acquired Antoine Morand made it 4-1 when he scored his first goal in a Barracuda uniform. Off of a turnover, Raska found Morand between the faceoff circles and he wired a wrist shot off the post and into the back of the net for his fifth goal of the season at the 18:37 mark.
Morand was one of the players the San Jose Sharks traded for at the NHL trade deadline back on Monday. He came via the Tampa Bay Lightning for goalie Alexei Melnichuk.
Annunen was replaced by Hunter Miska to start the second period as he made six saves on just 10 ten shots.
Colorado cut the lead in half 36 seconds into the second period. Callahan Burke got ‘Cuda goalie Alex Stalock to go down before sliding the puck past him for a short-handed goal, his 11th of the season.
The Eagles special teams made it a one-goal game over two minute later on the power play. Jordan Gross’ shot from the point was redirected by Mikhail Malstev for his 14th goal of the season at the 2:51 mark.
Colorado scored the equalizer with its second short-handed goal in less than five minutes. Martin Kaut scored on a breakaway for an unassisted goal, his 13th of the season at the 4:15 mark.
San Jose responded on the same power play when Nick Cicek rifled home a wrist shot to the far corner top shelf 29 seconds later for his fifth goal of the season at the 4:54 mark.
The Eagles made it an even 5-5 when Malstev sent a shot off of Stalock that bounced up in the air and was accidentally knocked in by Kyle Topping who was attempting to clear the puck. It was Malstev’s second goal of the game and 15th of the season.
Colorado gained its first lead with their second power play goal of the period. Jacob MacDonald blasted a slap shot from the right faceoff circle that beat Stalock to the short side for his fourth goal of the season with 10 seconds left in a wilder middle frame.
The Eagles sealed the deal with 1:33 remaining in the third period when Sheerwood scored an empty net goal, his 28th on the season.
Miska stopped 14 of the 15 shots he faced in 40 minutes to earn the victory. Stalock made 25 saves on 31 shots in the losing effort.
GAME NOTES: San Jose finished 1-for-5 on the power play. Colorado was 2-for-4.
The Three Stars of the Game were: 1) Weatherby 2) Mastev 3) Raska
UP NEXT: San Jose continues its five-game homestand versus the Colorado Eagles on Monday 3/28 at 7:00pm at SAP Center.