Priskie Scores Twice, Sikura Grabs Three Assists In Loss To Barracuda

Apr 5, 2023

By AJ Manderichio/SanDiegoGulls.com

The San Diego Gulls fell to the San Jose Barracuda 6-3 tonight at Pechanga Arena San Diego.

Ozzy Wiesblatt recorded a hat trick and Danil Guschin posted two goals for San Jose, who took three of four regular-season meetings against the Gulls. Shakir Mukhamadullin (0-4=4) and Artemi Kniazev (1-1=2) also chipped in multi-point performances as San Jose moved within three points of the Tucson Roadrunners for the seventh and final playoff position in the Pacific Division.

Dylan Sikura led the San Diego attack, recording a team-high 0-3=3 points. Benoit-Olivier Groulx (1-1=2) and Chase Priskie (2-0=2) also collected multi-point games while Chase De Leo recorded his 300th career American Hockey League point in the loss.

San Diego started strong, with the red-hot Priskie opening the scoring before the game hit the five-minute mark.

The Gulls cycled the puck behind the net, with Groulx finding Sikura. The forward chased the puck along the side boards, sending a short pass to an open Priskie at the point. The defenseman wasted no time, one-timing a shot through a screen and past Aaron Dell for his 10th goal of the season.

Kniazev tied the game at one, beating Alexander with a backhand chance from the slot with just over five minutes left in the period. The tally capped a dominant stretch for the Barracuda, where they outshout the Gulls 8-0.

The Barracuda would close the opening frame up 12-4 in shots, and their offensive pressure continued into the second frame.

Gushchin’s first goal of the period broke a 1-1 tie at 5:31 of the period. The left wing converted on a 2-on-1 rush, whipping the puck through Alexander for the tiebreaking tally.

Weisblatt and Gushchin scored within a minute later in the frame, pushing their lead to three with 6:01 left in the frame.

Groulx ended San Jose’s run and brought San Diego within two, grabbing his 17th goal of the season with just over six minutes left in the period.

Sikura collected a loose puck behind the net, playing the puck across to De Leo. The Gulls captain tried to stuff the puck on net but lost the handle, sending it into the slot. Groulx collected it there, sending a shot into traffic. He collected the puck before Dell could find it, snapping it past the sliding San Jose netminder. It gives Groulx four goals and 4-1=5 points in his last three games.

With an assist on the goal, De Leo collected his 300th American Hockey League point. In 440 career games with San Diego, Manitoba and Utica, the La Mirada, CA native has 120-180=300 points. He’s collected 2-3=5 points in his last five games.

Wiesblatt converted on a penalty shot with 2:19 left in the period, restoring their three-goal advantage.

Priskie brought San Diego back within two early in the third, converting on the power play for his second goal of the game.

The goal gives Priskie 3-2=5 points in his last four games. The blueliner recorded 7-5=12 points in his first 12 games in a Gulls sweater, earning the most goals and points among San Diego skaters since his debut with the team on Mar. 4.

Wiesblatt finished the hat trick minutes later, scoring from in tight to collect his first professional hat trick. The Calgary, AB native entered the night with three goals in 40 games with the Barracuda.

San Diego will continue its homestand on Friday when it hosts the Calgary Wranglers in the first of back-to-back matchups at Pechanga Arena San Diego.