Blades of Teal
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Barracuda Report: San Jose Splits A Pair

By Patrick Leiva

Sep 21, 2015; Victoria, British Columbia, CAN; San Jose Sharks forward Ben Smith (21) skates with the puck against the Vancouver Canucks during the first period at Q Centre. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 21, 2015; Victoria, British Columbia, CAN; San Jose Sharks forward Ben Smith (21) skates with the puck against the Vancouver Canucks during the first period at Q Centre. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports /
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The San Jose Barracuda wrapped up a three-game home stand last weekend by splitting a pair of games against the San Antonio Rampage and the Bakersfield Condors.

After Roy Sommer set the new AHL wins record by defeating the Ontario Reign, the Barracuda went ahead and shutout the visiting Rampage, top affiliate of the Colorado Avalanche. San Jose received two goals from Ben Smith and one apiece from Patrick McNally, Nikita Jevpalovs and Bryan Lerg as the Barracuda coasted to a 5-0 victory as they recorded their first shutout as a franchise.

Smith would get San Jose on the board in the first period deflecting home his fourth goal of the year as the Barracuda fired 20 shots on goal in the opening frame. The pressure continued in the middle frame as McNally scored his first professional goal, before Jevpalovs deposited a rebound for his third goal of the season as the rout was officially on.

The Barracuda tacked on two more goals in the third for good measure as Smith scored his second of the night on a breakaway before Lerg netted his 12th of the year as the San Jose offense rolled in this one.

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Aaron Dell made 30 saves between the pipes in recording his ninth win of the season as the Barracuda captured the first two games of the home stand.

Unfortunately, San Jose couldn’t make it a clean sweep of the three-game set as the Condors, top affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers, used a three-goal third period to keep the Barracuda at bay as Bakersfield secured a 4-2 victory on Sunday afternoon.

Smith continued his scoring ways for San Jose, netting two goals for the second consecutive game as he extended his goal streak to four games with his sixth and seventh tallies of the season.

Dell was back in net for the Barracuda, stopping 22 of the 25 shots he faced in dropping his 10th contest of the year.

San Jose now finds themselves in fifth place in the Pacific Division with 50 points and a points percentage of .543 after 46 games. The Barracuda will need to pick up their play again if they have hopes of making the Calder Cup playoffs.

Next: Vlasic Continues Strong Play On Sharks Blue Line

San Jose will now head out on the road for four-straight to conclude February beginning with a pair of games against the Stockton Heat, top affiliate of the Calgary Flames, this weekend.

Let’s see if Sommer and the rest of the Barracuda will be able to make a similar push to the one the Sharks are currently on.

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