After a heartbreaking loss in game 1, the San Jose Barracuda stormed back to win game 2 by a score of 6-3.
San Jose left wing and star of Saturday night’s game, Rudolfs Balcers got the scoring going 85 seconds into the game to give the Barracuda the early lead.
A back and forth first period had San Jose find the back of the net three times as they stayed out of the penalty box.
On the opposing side, Tucson center Dylan Strome had a pair of goals making the score 3-2 at the end of the first twenty minutes.
San Jose took the ice for the second looking to build on and maintain it’s one-goal lead.
As expected, the physicality increased and the only goal of the period was scored by Tucson right wing Mario Kempe to tie the game at 3-3. San Jose stayed ahead in the shot total at 23 shots to Tucson 17.
Balcers took a tripping penalty late in the second period and would put the Roadrunners on the powerplay to start the third.
Balcers would score again three minutes into the third period giving the Barracuda a 4-3 lead, which would prove to be the game-winning goal for San Jose to tie the first round series 1-1.
“Every line has been contributing,” says Balcers,”I mean it’s hard to tell who is first and who’s fourth line because everyone is going out there and playing hard.”
Head coach Roy Sommer had high praise of San Jose goalie Antoine Bibeau who had 22 saves in tonight’s game.
“The second period he won us the game,” said Sommer, “he did what he needed to do for us tonight.”
The San Jose Barracuda split the two games at home and will look to get things done on the road in Tucson where they have performed well having an away record of 3-1 in Tucson during the regular season.
Game three will be on Wednesday in Tucson at 7 p.m.