Barracuda Dominate Wranglers with Five Unanswered Goals in Statement Win
San Jose, CA - The San Jose Barracuda flipped the switch in a big way Friday night at Tech CU Arena, roaring back from an early deficit to bury the Calgary Wranglers 5-1. After giving up the game’s first goal late in the opening frame, the Barracuda responded with five straight, showcasing depth, special teams efficiency, and a relentless forecheck that overwhelmed Calgary the rest of the way.
It was Calgary who struck first, with Sam Morton netting his seventh of the season at 16:19 of the first period. Despite the scoreboard, the opening 20 minutes were evenly played, with both teams trading chances and finishing tied in shots. But that would be the last time the Wranglers had anything to smile about on the night.
San Jose came out flying in the second, outshooting Calgary 20-7 and tilting the ice in their favor. Donavan Houle got the wheels turning at 7:14, burying his first of the season to level the score.
Just a few minutes later, Filip Bystedt cashed in on the power play at 11:48, giving the Barracuda a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. Bystedt’s goal-his 12th of the year-was a textbook example of San Jose’s puck movement on the man advantage, and it set the tone for what was to come.
The third period? That’s where things really got out of hand.
Anthony Vincent opened the floodgates with a shorthanded beauty at 3:21, converting a breakaway with poise and precision to make it 3-1. It was a momentum-swinging moment that seemed to deflate Calgary and energize the home crowd. Vincent wasn’t done, either-he’d finish the night with a goal and an assist, earning first-star honors.
The Barracuda kept their foot on the gas. Cam Lund joined the party with a power-play snipe from the top of the right circle at 7:12, showcasing his quick release and growing confidence with the puck. Just 15 seconds later, Nolan Allan capped the offensive explosion with his first goal in a Barracuda sweater, putting the game out of reach and sending the building into a frenzy.
Goaltender Laurent Brossoit was sharp when called upon, turning aside 22 of 23 shots. While the scoreline tells the story of San Jose’s offensive dominance, Brossoit’s calm presence in net ensured Calgary never had a chance to claw back in.
San Jose finished the night with a 42-23 edge in shots and went 2-for-5 on the power play. The win not only improved their record to 23-13-1-2, but also moved them to a perfect 4-0-0 against Calgary this season.
The Barracuda are back at it on Saturday night for the second half of the back-to-back against the Wranglers. It’s shaping up to be a big night at Tech CU Arena, with CudaMania II bringing in wrestling legend Rob Van Dam for a meet-and-greet, specialty jerseys on display, and Thundersticks for the first 3,000 fans through the doors.
Puck drops again soon, and if Friday night was any indication, this Barracuda squad is heating up at just the right time.