Road Trip Comes to End in 4-3 Loss to Barracuda
Jan 5, 2025
SAN JOSE, CA. – Colorado netted three goals in the second period, but it would not be enough, as the San Jose Barracuda held on to defeat the Eagles 4-3 on Sunday. Eagles defensemen Jacob MacDonald and Jack Ahcan each finished with a goal and an assist in the losing effort. Goaltender Kevin Mandolese suffered the loss in net, allowing four goals on 35 shots. The contest also closed out a five-game road trip which saw Colorado collect six of a possible ten points in the standings.
The Barracuda would open the scoring 8:30 into the contest when forward Justin Bailey sliced through the low slot and deflected a cross-slot pass into the back of the net, putting San Jose on top, 1-0.
The lead would grow to 2-0 when forward Lucas Vanroboys tucked home a rebound at the top of the crease at the 11:37 mark of the first period.
The Barracuda would strike again just 1:10 later when an Eagles turnover at the blue line allowed forward Thomas Bordeleau to light the lamp with a shot from the left-wing circle, giving San Jose a 3-0 advantage.
Colorado would flip the momentum when forward Maros Jedlicka buried a backhander from the low slot, slicing the deficit to 3-1 just 3:15 into the second period.
The Eagles would find the scoreboard yet again when Ahcan drove to the top of the crease before stuffing a centering pass into the back of the net. The goal was Ahcan’s third of the season and trimmed the Barracuda’s lead to 3-2 at the 7:26 mark of the middle frame.
San Jose would capitalize on a favorable bounce when a pass between the circles deflected off the skates of a Colorado defender and past Mandolese. The goal would be credited to forward Donavan Houle and the Barracuda would go up 4-2 with 6:29 remaining in the second stanza.
As time wound down in the period, Eagles defenseman Jacob MacDonald would hammer home a one-timer from the top of the right-wing circle, cutting San Jose’s lead to 4-3 at the 19:38 mark.
Still trailing 4-3 as the third period began, Colorado would heap another 13 shots on net in the final frame, but would come no closer, falling by a final score of 4-3.
Barracuda goaltender Georgi Romanov collected the win in net, making 33 saves on 36 shots. The Eagles finished the night 0-for-1 on the power play and 4-for-4 on the penalty kill.
The Eagles will be back in action when they return home to take on the Calgary Wranglers on Friday, January 10th at 7:05pm MT at Blue Arena. Single game tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at ColoradoEagles.com or by calling or texting the Eagles ticket office at (970) 686-SHOT.