On the final day of the regular season, the Barracuda were able to clinch a playoff berth in their inaugural campaign.
Just like the San Jose Sharks in the Stanley Cup playoffs, it will be a NorCal-SoCal battle in round one of the Calder Cup playoffs as the San Jose Barracuda and Ontario Reign, top affiliate of the Los Angeles Kings, are set to meet.
The Barracuda clinched their spot in the playoffs on the final day of the regular season as they defeated the Stockton Heat, top affiliate of the Calgary Flames, by a 6-0 margin as Aaron Dell made 41 saves in recording the shutout.
San Jose needed one point in their final two games to clinch a playoff spot, and after faltering by a 5-4 final on Saturday night, the Cuda would need to find a point in their season finale.
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They would do just that as the Barracuda used six different goal scorers to secure the final playoff berth in the Western Conference.
Barclay Goodrow and Jeremy Langlois would stake San Jose to an early 2-0 lead as Goodrow would connect on his 20th of the campaign while Langlois deposited his 12th to give the Barracuda all the markers they would need in this one as Dell was fantastic between the pipes.
San Jose would continue their offensive barrage in the middle frame as Trevor Parkes (18th) and Nikolay Goldobin (21st) would pad the lead for the home team who were well on their way to a Calder Cup playoff berth. For Goldobin, his tally tied him with captain Bryan Lerg for the team lead to conclude the year.
In the final frame, the Barracuda used two more goals, this time from Jeremy Morin and Alex Gallant, and Gallant’s would be a big one as it was his first career AHL goal to help cap off the evening for San Jose.
The Barracuda will now turn their attention to the Reign as things will get started on Friday, April 22nd at SAP Center at 7:30 p.m. PDT as San Jose will host the first two games of this best-of-five playoff series.
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San Jose will have their hands full as Ontario won the Pacific Division this year and won’t be an easy foe for the Barracuda to handle.
However, just getting into the playoffs in their first season as a franchise is a big step for the Barracuda who will now take their chances in round one against their rivals from SoCal.