By Taylor Lupetti (@tayclupetti ):
The San Jose Barracuda’s (16-15-2) four-game home win streak was broken last night with a 4-2 loss against the Rockford Icehogs (21-15-3).
The matchup was the first of two between the teams this season and third in all time.
The Icehogs were the first on the scoreboard in the first period with a goal by left-wing forward Matheson Iacopelli six minutes in. Unable to even the score, the Cuda remained scoreless at the end of the first period.
San Jose defenseman Julius Bergman tied it up in the second frame, slipping a power play goal past Rockford goalie Collin Delia.
Not letting the Cuda hold the tie game for long, left-wing forward Tyler Sikura fired the puck into the net past SJ goalie Troy Grosenick. Sikura’s goal was accompanied by center Tanner Kero who pushed Rockford to 3-1 by the end of the second period.
Barracuda left-wing forward Rudolfs Balcers scored the second and final goal for the Barracuda with a shot off a Rockford skate into the net in the third.
Sikura sealed the game for the Icehogs with an empty netter to give the final 4-2 score.
Grosenick saved 38 of the 42 shots on goal in the game and Delia 23 of 25.
Despite the loss, it was a big night for San Jose left-wing forward Brandon Mashinter who played his 500th AHL game against his old team. Fellow Cuda teammate and left-wing forward Brandon Bollig also faced his Rockford roots in the game.