San Jose Barracuda podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Barracuda open three game road trip on Wednesday in Henderson

The San Jose Barracuda had lots to be excited about on Fri Jan 20, 2023 at Tech CU Arena matching a season high six goals against the visiting San Diego Gulls (photo by the San Jose Barracuda)

On the San Jose Barracuda podcast with Marko:

#1 The San Jose Barracuda (17-21-0-1) had a tremendous game last Friday shutting out the San Diego Gulls (11-28-0-0) 6-0 at Tech CU Arena in San Jose. The Barracuda got two goals from Kyle Criscuolo in his first game with San Jose.

#2 The Barracuda also got great goaltending Eetu Makiniemi stopping 20 San Diego shots for San Jose’s fourth shutout this season.

#3 The Barracuda’s six goals matched a season high and it was a performance that Barracuda head coach John McCarthy would hope to be a break out for the offense the rest of this season.

#4 San Diego has been a struggling team with some 17 games below .500 and allowing the six goals. Was this a matter of the Barracuda catching fire and showing that they do have a superior offense or they just met an opponent that’s having trouble with their defense.

#5 The Barracuda return to action Wednesday night to face the Henderson Silver Knights for the first of three road games. The Barracuda host the Abbottsford Canucks when they return to San Jose Feb 3.

Join Marko for the San Jose Barracuda podcasts heard Mondays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Dominant performance by Barracuda propel them over Gulls 6-0

Photo courtesy of San Jose Barracuda. Kyle Criscuolo celebrates a goal with teammate Derrick Pouliot against the Gulls on January 20th.

By Titus Wilkinson (@TitusWisme)

SAN JOSE – On bay country night at Tech CU arena the Barracuda came out and played some great hockey beating the Gulls by a impressive 6-0 score.

It was a battle between two of the weaker teams in the pacific division. With the Barracuda currently sitting at seventh and Gulls sitting last in the division.

These are also two teams that lead the division in penalty minutes something that would come in to play pretty quickly in this game.

The first period got off to an exciting start for San Jose as they controlled most of the play.

Newcomer Kyle Criscuolo decided to endear himself to the Cuda fans by taking the puck right to the net and deking out Lukas Dostal to give San Jose a 1-0 lead.

After the goal San Diego took a penalty for hooking at the 10:48 mark of the first period. However the PK unit for the Gulls killed it off and kept the game close.

Not to long after the penalty things got feisty as Travis Howe and Montana Onyebuchi dropped the gloves.

Less than two minutes later the parade to the penalty box continued as three penalties were all dished out at once. Two going to the Gulls one for unsportsmanlike conduct and cross-checking and one Barracuda player went to the box as well.

Certainly there was no love lost between the two teams as the first period ended 1-0.

The shots at the end of the period finished 13-4 in favor of San Diego.

Not skipping a beat the second period just as well for San Jose as just 1:41 into the period the Andrew Agozzino scored his 11th goal of the season making it 2-0.

The goal mainly happened because of William Eklund who made it a beautiful cut behind the net and fed a pass to Agozzino who easily tapped the pass into the net.

The extra curriculars between the two teams was not over as Will Riedell and Dmitry Osipov also duked it out.

It did take a while for the grey and teal to strike again but 16:46 into the second Darren Brady did just that scoring his second of the season.

This time Max Veronneau made a nice pass across the ice to a streaking Brady who ripped a shot past Dostal to make it 3-0.

The end of the second was an interesting one with four misconducts being handed out, two to each team.

At the end of the second the shots still favored San Jose at 19-11.

The solid starts to periods continued for the Barracuda as a little over five minutes in the newcomer struck again as Criscuolo tallied his seventh goal of the campaign.

His second goal of the game was a little weirder as Veronneau fired a shot wide the puck rebounded off the boards and Criscuolo stuffed it in past Dostal.

The offensive wave of San Jose could not be stopped as just a few minutes later All-Star Thomas Bordeleau tipped home a great feed from Tristen Robins to make it 5-0.

Artemi Kniazev a little later saw fit to add on sniping one from the wing making it 6-0 and tallying his second of the year.

Not long after the goal another three misconducts were given out two to the Gulls and one to San Jose.

That brought the total penalty minutes between the two teams up to 125 penalty minutes on the night.

Kniazev’s goal did end up being the last goal of the game as Eetu Makiniemi held on to finish with a 20 save shutout.

The shots at the end of the game finished in favor of San Jose at 29-20.

The three stars of the game were 1st: Kyle Criscuolo 2nd: C.J. Suess 3rd: Eetu Makiniemi

San Jose’s next game will be on the road against the Silver Knights on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

San Jose Barracuda podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Barracuda split two games with Abbotsford host San Diego Friday

The San Jose Barracuda William Eklund (72) scored two goals against the Abbotsford Canucks on Sun Jan 15, 2023 at CU Arena in San Jose (photo by San Jose Barracuda)

On the Barracuda podcast with Marko:

#1 The San Jose Barracuda after four straight loses picked up a 3-2 victory over the Abbotsford Canucks on Sunday in an afternoon matinee at Tech CU Arena in San Jose splitting the two game series.

#2 The Barracuda got scoring help from the jump in the first period from William Eklund who scored his tenth goal of the season at 6:09 with assists from Tristen Robbins and Thomas Bordeleau.

#3 Eklund picked up his second goal of the game in the second period and his 11th of the season at 1:05 and Phil Di Giuesppe scored for the Canucks at 14:05 as the Cuda lead held up 2-1.

#4 The Barracuda defenceman Derrick Pouilot scored his first goal at 5:20 in the third period which held up for the game winner in a one goal final 3-2.

#5 The Barracuda face off with the San Diego Gulls on Friday night for a 7:00pm start at CU Arena. The last time the two times met the Gulls defeated the Barracuda 5-2 in San Diego back on Wed Jan 11th.

Join Marko for the Barracuda podcast Mondays at http://www.sportsradioservie.com

Third period collapse by Barracuda gives Gulls victory 5-2

Photo courtesy of San Jose Barracuda Twitter. Patrick Sieloff readies himself before a game.

By Titus Wilkinson (@TitusWisme)

On the last game of a four game road stand the Barracuda fell flat in the third period and lost to the San Diego Gulls by a score of 5-2.

The game started off promising enough for San Jose as 4:49 in Jeffrey Viel scored his sixth goal of the season assisted by Adam Raska and Darren Brady. Making it 1-0 Barracuda on top early on in the contest.

After that goal San Jose went on the power play twice but failed to convert on both opportunities.

12:44 into the first William Eklund found himself on a two-on-one and buried a wrist shot home past Lukas Dostal to make it 2-0 San Jose.

That was the last goal of the period as the Barracuda dominated the period leading in shots as well by a wide margin of 14-3.

San Diego in the second came out with a new sense of determination and just 2:15 into the period they made the Barracuda pay.

From an awkward shot off the right wing boards Pavol Regenda sneaked his seventh goal of the season past goalie Eetu Makiniemi.

A little later in the second period a surprising event occurred when Eklund fought Glenn Gawdin resulting in Eklund being ejected from the game for instigation.

On the ensuing power play the Gulls scored as Benoit-Olivier Groulx tipped home a pass from Brayden Tracey tying the game at two.

There were a few more penalties between the two team though no more goal were scored in the period.

The shots at the end of the first favored San Jose 22-16.

In the third period both teams continued to load up on penalty minutes while the power play units continued to go cold.

Later on in the period on a wrap around feed Hunter Drew deposited the puck into an empty cage to give the Gulls a late lead.

San Jose pulled their goalie to try to come back but two empty net goals by Rocco Grimaldi dashed those hopes.

Putting the score at a final of 5-2 in favor of San Diego.

The shots at the end of the game favored San Jose at 31-24.

The three stars of the game 1st: Rocco Grimaldi 2nd: Hunter Drew 3rd: Pavol Regenda

San Jose plays the Canucks on Saturday at home at 6 p.m.

Gulls second period blitz take down Barracuda 5-1

It wasn’t even close as the San Diego Gulls get a four goal game win over the San Jose Barracuda at the SAP Center in San Jose on Wed Feb 16, 2022 (photo from the San Jose Barracuda)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE — Never underestimate the fourth line.

All three forwards on the San Diego Gulls fourth line scored a goal en route to a 5-1 victory over the San Jose Barracuda on Wednesday evening at SAP Center.

San Jose has lost a season worst seven games. San Diego has won three out of its last four games and snapped a four-game losing streak on the road.

San Diego (16-20-2-0) drew first blood early in the first period. Brayden Tracey sent a rink wide pass over to Brent Gates Jr and he blistered a one-timer past ‘Cuda goalie Alexei Melnichuk for his fifth goal of the season at the 3:17 mark.

Gates Jr. has three goals in his past two games versus San Jose.

San Jose (14-26-1-0) answered back on the power play late in the opening 20 minutes. Joachim Blichfeld received the puck just outside the right faceoff circle from Artemi Kniazev. Blichfeld fired a wrist shot past a screened Gulls goalie Lukas Dostal for his 15th goal of the season at the 14:37 mark.

Blichfeld snapped a six-game goal less draught.

San Diego regained the lead in the first five minutes of the second period. A turnover inside the ‘Cuda zone led to Vinni Letteri centered a pass to Lucas Elvenes all alone in front of the crease. Elvenes, who was shaken up earlier on the play, cashed in on his own rebound for his fifth goal of the season, and third in a Gulls uniform, at the 4:43 mark.

The Gulls went up 3-1 at the halfway mark of the middle frame. Hunter Drew gathered the puck from behind the net and his shot attempt went off the skate of ‘Cuda defenseman Cole Moberg into the back of the net for Drew’s eighth goal of the season at the 10:16 mark.

San Diego scored its third unanswered goal in the period moments after their power play opportunity ended. Nikolas Brouillard’s shot from the left point was tipped in by Greg Printz for his sixth goal of the season at the 13:29 mark.

San Jose had a five-on-three power play opportunity late in the period when Brendan Guhle went off for boarding at the 17:45 mark. However, San Diego was able to kill off both penalties and almost scored a short-handed goal if it weren’t for a timely save by Melnichuk on Letteri’s breakaway attempt after just exiting the sinbin.

The Gulls scored early in the third period to ice the game. Elvenes sent a shot from the point that deflected in past Melnichuk for his second goal of the game and sixth of the season at the 3:30 mark.

Dostal finished the game stopping 24 of the 25 shots he faced to earn the victory. Melnichuk made 18 saves on 23 shots in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished 1-for-5 on the power play. San Diego was 0-for-6.

The Three Stars of the Game were: 1) Elvenes 2) Dostal 3) Blichfeld

San Jose finished 1-7 against San Diego in the season series.

San Diego is 7-11-1-0 on the road this season.

‘Cuda forward Evan Weinger had his career best five-game point streak snapped as he was suffered an upper body injury in the third period.

UP NEXT: San Jose travels out to the Lone Star state to begin a two-games series with the Texas Stars on Saturday 2/19 at 5:00pm at H-E-B Center at Cedar Park.

San Jose Barracuda podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Lots of shots at Gulls but Barracuda come up short; Can they capitalize Wed nite at SAP?

Jacob Halbgewachs seen here at one of the San Jose Barracuda morning skates has scored 12 goals and have four goals over his last four games ( file photo from the Athletic)

On the San Jose Sharks podcast with Marko:

#1 Marko, tough game on Friday night, the San Jose Barracuda put 45 shots on net against the San Diego Gulls including 22 shots in the third period but couldn’t come up with the win losing by two goals 4-2 at Pachanga Arena in San Diego.

#2 San Jose’s Jayden Halbgewachs is finding his way around the net he scored his 12th goal of the season on Friday and his fourth in over four games.

#3 The Barracuda’s Evan Weinger scored his eighth goal of the season and has a five game point streak going.

#4 The Gulls Brent Gates Jr scored his third and fourth goals getting his first multi career goal.

#5 The action returns to the SAP Center in San Jose on Wed Feb 16th when the Gulls pay the Barracuda a visit will home ice help the Cuda in this match up?

Join Marko for the Barracuda podcasts each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Barracuda suffer sixth straight defeat in 4-2 loss to Gulls

San Jose Barracuda can’t keep up with the San Diego Gulls on Fri Feb 11, 2022 at Pachanga Arena in San Diego (image by the San Jose Barracuda)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN DIEGO — The San Diego Gulls did just enough to defeat the San Jose Barracuda 4-2 on Friday evening at the Pechanga Arena San Diego.

San Jose has lost a season worst six games in a row. San Diego has won two out of its past three games.

The opening 20 minutes was deadlocked at zero as teams looked like they had a week off as they used the first period to shake off of some of the rust in their first game back since the all-star break.

Both teams found their legs in a wild second period that featured a combined five goals.

San Diego (15-20-2-0) drew first blood early in the middle frame. Hunter Drew scored his seventh goal of the season at the 2:38 mark. Jack Badini and Jacob Larsson help set up the game’s opening goal.

San Jose (14-25-1-0) answered back on the next shift just 21 seconds later. Adam Raska set up Evan Weinger who scored his eighth goal of the season at the 2:59 mark.

The game went back and forth as all five goals were scored before the midway mark of the period.

The Gulls regained the lead when Brent Gates Jr. scored his third goal of the season at the 4:27 mark. Vinni Lettieri and Brendan Guhle were credited with helpers.

The Barracuda responded under four minutes later when Jayden Halbgewachs scored his 12th goal of the season at the 8:02 mark. Jasper Weatherby received the only assist on Halbgewachs’ goal.

Halbgewachs has scored a goal in four straight contests.

San Diego answered back immediately as Gates Jr. scored his second goal of the game just 17 seconds later at the 8:19 mark. Kodie Curran and former ‘Cuda defenseman Trevor Carrick set up Gates Jr. fourth goal of the season.

San Jose tried for the equalizer late in the third period when they pulled goalie Alexei Melnichuk for an extra attacker, but San Diego held down the fort as time expired.

Greg Printz iced the game for San Diego with an empty net goal, his fifth of the season, with 43 seconds remaining in the game.

Gulls’ goalie Lukas Dostal had an impressive evening in between the pipes as he stopped 43 of the 45 shots he faced to earn the victory. Melnichuk made 18 saves on 21 shots in suffering the loss.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished 0-for-4 on the power play. San Diego was 0-for-3.

The Three Stars of the Game were: 1) Gates Jr. 2) Dostal 3) Drew

UP NEXT: San Jose returns home to host San Diego on Wednesday 2/16 at 7:00pm at SAP Center.

San Jose Barracuda podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Barracuda face off against Gulls in San Diego on Friday night at Pechanga

The San Jose Barracuda’s Jacob McGrew skates against the Ontario Reign’s defenceman Markus Phillips (26). McGrew and the Barracuda will match up against the San Diego Gulls on Fri Feb 11, 2022 at Pechanga Arena in San Diego (photo by the San Jose Barracuda)

On the SJ Barracuda podcast with Marko:

#1 San Jose Barracuda (14-24-1-0) in Las Vegas on Thursday night grabbed a 2-0 lead against the Henderson Silver Knights (20-12-2-1) but the Silver Knights would answer right back with six straight goals for a 6-3 win.

#2 The loss on Thursday gives the Barracuda five straight loses a streak they hope to snap.

#3 The Barracuda Jayden Halbgewachs scored in the early part of the game and now has 11 goals for the season and three goals over the last three games.

#4 Marko, the Barracuda’s Adam Raska didn’t waste anytime throwing in his third goal of the season after playing in his second game with the Barracuda after coming from the Sharks.

#5 Barracuda Las Vegas native Gage Quinney picked up his second and third goals of the season and finished with four points.

#6 The Barracuda match up against the San Diego Gulls (14-20-2-0) on Fri Feb 11th a 7:00pm face off at Pechanga Arena in San Diego. The Gulls always gives the Barracuda fits how do you see this match up?

Join Marko for the SJ Barracuda podcasts each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Gulls take down Barracuda 3-2 with late goal in the third period

The San Diego Gulls Alex Limoges (12) scored the game winning goal against the San Jose Barracuda on Tue Jan 18, 2022 at SAP Center in San Jose (file photo by San Diego Gulls)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE — Squandered opportunities will come back to haunt you.

Alex Limoges scored the eventual game winning goal with 3:39 left in regulation to give the San Diego Gulls a 3-2 victory over the San Jose Barracuda on Tuesday evening at SAP Center.

Greg Printz threaded a pass that got behind San Jose’s defense. Limoges waited for ‘Cuda goalie Sam Harvey to bite before sliding the puck around him for his sixth goal of the season at the 16:21 mark of the third period.

Earlier in the final frame, San Jose had its second five-on-three opportunity with 7:15 remaining but they failed to cash in as San Diego was able to kill off both penalties.

“I don’t think we had a lot of good looks on it,” said ‘Cuda head coach Roy Sommer. “I think we were too much around the perimeter trying to set up plays, instead of just bombing the puck (on net).”

San Jose has lost three out its last four games. San Diego have won two games in a row.

Each team were without one of their top forwards. San Jose did not have the services of Sasha Chmelevski (17 points) and Jacob Perreault (18 points) was not in the lineup for San Diego.

San Jose (13-18-1-0) drew first blood near the halfway point of the first period. Evan Weinger centered a pass in front of the crease where an unchecked Jake McGrew one-timed a point-blank shot past Gulls goalie Francis Marotte for his fifth goal of the season at the 9:26 mark.

The Barracuda had the ice tilted in their favor in the opening 20 minutes as they outshot the Gulls 15-8.

San Diego (12-13-2-0) answered back with an even strength goal early in the second period. A turnover inside the ‘Cuda zone led to Benoit-Oliver Groulx sent a cross ice pass out the left point over to Trevor Carrick. The former Barracuda defenseman blasted a slap shot past ‘Cuda goalie Sam Harvey for his third goal of the season at the 5:25 mark.

The Gulls gained its first lead on a delayed penalty call. Lucas Elvenes was being cross-checked down to the ice, the puck reached Bryce Kindopp who used a backhand shot to put the puck past the five-hole of Harvey for his fourth goal of the season at the 13:01 mark.

“(There) just wasn’t enough desperation in our game for 60 minutes. We played 45 minutes of it. But with the team we have right now, that’s not going to win (games),” Sommer said.

The Barracuda took advantage on its first five-on-three power play opportunity when they evened the game with 10 seconds remaining in the middle frame. Joachim Blichfeld’s initial shot was blocked. Jayden Halbgewachs quickly gave it back to Blichfeld and the Danish native rifled a wrist shot top shelf over the shoulder of Marotte for his 12th goal of the season.

Groulx sealed the deal with an empty net goal with three seconds left, his third of the season.

“Some stupid decisions,” said Blichfeld explaining on the team ended with a loss. “And some bad power play at the end. We gotta execute on those (opportunities).”

Marotte (2-1-1), who made just his sixth AHL appearance, finished the evening stopping 38 of the 40 shots he faced to earn the victory. Harvey (2-3-0), who made his third consecutive start, made 19 saves on 22 shots in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished 1-for-6 on the power play. San Diego was 0-for-3.

The Three Stars of the Game were: 1) Limoges 2) Marotte 3) Blichfeld

San Jose is 24-30-6-3 all time versus San Diego and 13-14-3-1 at home.

UP NEXT: San Jose travels to Bakersfield to take on the Condors at 7:00pm at Mechanics Bank Arena.

San Jose Barracuda podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Barracuda face off tonight against Gulls in San Jose

A look at the future home of the San Jose Barracuda at Sharks Ice for the 2022-23 season. The Barracuda face off against the San Diego Gulls Tue Jan 18, 2022 in San Jose (photo from the San Jose Barracuda)

On the Barracuda podcast with Marko Ukalovic:

#1 Marko, tough loss for the San Jose Barracuda (13-16-1-0) who allowed three goals in the first period during Saturday’s game in Bakersfield in a tough 5-1 loss.

#2 The Condors (12-8-3-3) have won five straight games and also have points in their last nine games.

#3 The Condors James Hamblin scored twice against San Jose which was his fourth and fifth goals career against San Jose.

#4 The Barracuda fell to 1-2 for the season against the Condors. The Barracuda face the Condors this Saturday and Sunday just wanted to get your take on the Barracuda’s chances of getting a win against Bakersfield?

#5 The Barracuda battle the San Diego Gulls tonight in San Jose the last time the two teams met was on Sat Dec 18th the Barracuda won the contest 4-1 in San Diego. How do you see tonight’s match.

Join Marko for the San Jose Barracuda podcasts each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com