Gulls Claw Back, Sink Barracuda in Overtime

With the victory, San Diego moves into sole possession of the fourth - and final - playoff spot in the Pacific Division

Mar 7, 2020

Isac Lundestrom scored with 3.4 seconds remaining in overtime to give the Gulls a 3-2 comeback win over the San Jose Barracuda at SAP Center. San Diego scored three unanswered goals to pick up points in four straight games (3-0-1-0) and improve to 9-2-3-0 the last 14 road games.

 

Sam Carrick scored his fourth shorthanded goal of the season to set the Gulls single-season record and Chris Mueller scored to mark four straight games with a point (2-3=5), his longest point streak since joining the Gulls. With two primary assists, Mahura has 1-6=7 points his last six games, including three multi-assist efforts.

 

The win gives San Diego points in nine of their last 10 games (7-1-2-0) and 21 of the last 24 overall (17-3-4-0), solidifying the fourth spot in the Pacific Division with a two-point cushion over Ontario with two games in hand. The Gulls now sit two points behind Stockton in third and four points shy of Colorado in second place.

 

The Barracuda took an early lead as Evan Weinger scored shorthanded just 1:50 into the contest. San Diego was given a chance on the power play after drawing a cross-checking minor, but a mishandled puck at the blue line gave San Jose a breakaway chance that led to the opening score.

 

San Jose doubled its lead with 3:13 remaining in the opening period on a power-play goal by Jonny Brodzinski. The Barracuda held the puck in the Gulls zone and threw a pass that deflected out to the slot. Brodzinski fired a one-timer that hit the back of the net as Jeff Viel picked up his second primary assist of the period.

 

As the opening period concluded, the Gulls and Barracuda exchanged in some extracurricular activities that saw each team take penalties. Shots were even at 11-11, but San Jose held a 2-0 lead going into the middle frame.

 

San Jose’s Manuel Wiederer was given a roughing minor and the Gulls power play was given a chance to cut into the Barracuda lead. It took just 10 seconds into the power play for San Diego to net its first goal of the night. Josh Mahura stepped into a slap shot from the blue line and Mueller got his stick on the puck to redirect it past San Jose goaltender Josef Korenar at the 5:59 mark of the period.

 

Brendan Guhle, who was reassigned to San Diego prior to the game, also recorded an assist on the play to extend his point streak to three games (1-2=3). The Gulls held the Barracuda off the scoreboard in the second period to enter second intermission down one goal. San Jose edged San Diego in shots 9-8 in the middle frame.

 

Scott Moldenhauer took a boarding minor in the third period, sending San Jose on the power play, but San Diego capitalized with a shorthanded goal of their own. Simon Benoit found a streaking Carrick, giving the Gulls a two-on-one rush and the veteran center deked to put the puck in the back of the net at the 5:48 mark of the period to tie the game.

 

Each team pushed for the winning goal late but after 60 minutes, the two clubs would head to overtime for a third straight meeting the last eight days. In each of the three contests, a two-goal deficit was erased to force the extra period.

 

The extra session opened with both teams splitting lengthy shifts of possession, but Carrick nearly scored on a breakaway chance as Korenar stopped the puck and slid into the net with the puck under his pad. The referees reviewed the play but ultimately deemed the puck did not cross the goal line.

 

As time was expiring in overtime seemed destined for a shootout, Lundestrom had other plans. After almost scoring on a play from a rush that started behind his own net, the young Swedea took the rebound and passed the puck to Brendan Guhle who controlled it and passed it back. Lundestrom ended the game on a one-timer with four seconds remaining in overtime with a cross-ice pass from Justin Kloos setting up the back-door finish for the winning goal.

 

San Diego has now won five of the last six games and earned points in six straight contests against the Barracuda (5-0-1-0). With the win, the Gulls also improved to 7-2-2-0 vs. the Barracuda this season.

 

The Gulls will conclude their club-record seven-game road trip with a back-to-back matchup against the Tucson Roadrunners on Tuesday, Mar. 10 and Wednesday, Mar. 11 (both 7:05 p.m. PT).