Ondrej Kase scored the tying goal with one minute, one second to play and Stefan Noesen scored the only goal during the shootout as the San Diego Gulls defeated the San Jose Barracuda, 3-2, Friday at Valley View Casino Center.
Gulls goaltender Dustin Tokarski stopped 22 of 24 shots he faced in regulation and overtime and all four shots in the shootout to improve to 4-2-0-0, including 4-0-0-0 at home.
The Gulls (5-5-1-0) never led until the completion of the shootout.
San Jose center Timo Meier opened the scoring 18:11 into the first period, scoring on a faceoff before a crowd announced at 8,077. Gulls tied the score when Stu Bickel intercepted a pass by Joakim Ryan and put a shot past Barracuda goaltender Troy Grosenick 10:05 into the second period for his second goal of the season.
San Jose (5-3-0-2) regained the lead when Ryan Carpenter deflected a wrist shot by Tim Heed past Tokarski with 6:45 left in the third period. Kase scored the tying goal after Gulls coach Dallas Eakins pulled Tokarski in favor of a sixth attacker.
Neither team scored during the five-minute overtime, which is played with three skaters per team. Tokarski made two saves in the overtime and Grosenick four.
Each of the first three shooters for both teams failed to score in the shootout, forcing it into the sudden death phase. Noesen chipped a shot over Grosenick’s glove on the fourth shot by the Gulls, the Anaheim Ducks American Hockey League affiliate.
Tokarski stopped Carpenter’s shot to end the game, giving the Gulls their third consecutive victory following a five-game winless streak. The Gulls killed the only power-play opportunity for the Barracuda, the San Jose Sharks AHL affiliate. The Gulls failed to score on all three of their power-play opportunities. Grosenick (3-3-0-1) made 35 saves.
Gulls right wing Scott Sabourin and San Jose left wing Alex Gallant received five-minute major penalties for their fight 2:25 into the game. The Gulls and Barracuda will play again Saturday at Valley View Casino Center.
— City News Service
