San Diego, CA – The San Jose Barracuda (38-21-3-4) wrapped up its 10-game season series with the San Diego Gulls (35-24-4-3) (Anaheim Ducks) on Wednesday night at the Pechanga Arena and picked up their third-straight win by a final count of 4-3.
With the victory, the Barracuda guaranteed themselves home-ice for the first round of the Calder Cup playoffs.
In the first, Jack Kopacka threaded a pass to Justin Kloos (18) and as Kloos moved in alone on Josef Korenar he chipped a shot under the bar at 9:46 to open up the scoring. The Barracuda would go on three power-plays after SD’s goal, including twice having a five-on-three advantage, but failed to even the score as the Gulls took their 1-0 lead into the first intermission.
In the second, the Maxim Letunov won a draw to Thomas Gregoire and Francis Perron (18) was able to tip a point shot through Kevin Boyle’s five-hole to tie the game at 1-1 at 11:33. Then, Jon Martin (11) would give San Jose its first lead as Letunov centered a below the goal-line pass to Martin in the low-slot, off the draw, and Martin slid a shot under Boyle at 14:27. With just 10 seconds left in the second, Evan Weinger (10) swiped in a low shot through traffic and past Boyle right off a John McCarthy face-off win.
In the third, Letunov (12) collected his third point of the night and gave the Barracuda a 4-1 lead at 9:58 as Martin poked a Perron pass up ice to give Letunov a breakaway and the rookie forward would beat Boyle with a backhand-to-forehand move. The Gulls would make it interesting with a Ben Street (7) power-play goal at 13:45 and a Corey Tropp (20) goal at 19:53, but the Barracuda would hold on for the 4-3 win.
Korenar (23-8-2) made 29 saves on 32 San Diego shots to earn his third consecutive win, while Boyle (24-13-1) suffered the loss after giving four goals on 33 shots.
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