Game 2 Takeaways: Askarov Leads Cuda to 1st Calder Cup Playoff Series Win Since 2017
Askarov Talks Potential Goalie Partner Next Year, Why Blackwood Meant A Lot to Him (+)
Goodrow Committed to Sharks, Why This Offseason Will Be Good Change for Him (+)
Which Top Centers Are Sharks Asking Bystedt To Learn From? Has His 3C Projection Changed? (+)
Ferraro Wants To Stay With Sharks Long-Term, Talks Just Missing San Jose’s Playoff Years
Game 2 Takeaways: Askarov Leads Cuda to 1st Calder Cup Playoff Series Win Since 2017
Askarov Talks Potential Goalie Partner Next Year, Why Blackwood Meant A Lot to Him (+)
Which Top Centers Are Sharks Asking Bystedt To Learn From? Has His 3C Projection Changed? (+)
Poturalski on Winning AHL MVP, His Brand of Leadership, Origin Story of ‘Be a Pig’ & More (+)
Game 1 Takeaways: “Be a Pig” Is Barracuda Playoff Motto, 2-0 Shutout Over Reign
Scout’s Take on New Barracuda Goalie Matt Davis (+)
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Grier Talks Sharks’ Free Agency Plans, Next Captain, 2025 Draft, Smith Plan & More
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Askarov Talks Potential Goalie Partner Next Year, Why Blackwood Meant A Lot to Him (+)
Goodrow Committed to Sharks, Why This Offseason Will Be Good Change for Him (+)
Which Top Centers Are Sharks Asking Bystedt To Learn From? Has His 3C Projection Changed? (+)
Poturalski on Winning AHL MVP, His Brand of Leadership, Origin Story of ‘Be a Pig’ & More (+)
How Did Chernyshov Look in Barracuda Debut? More Musty Thoughts Too (+)
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LOS ANGELES — The San Jose Barracuda have won their first Calder Cup playoff series since 2017.
Yaroslav Askarov stopped 29-of-30 shots, and a late Collin Graf goal put the San Jose Sharks’ AHL affiliate over the top against the Ontario Reign 2-1.
The Barracuda swept the best-of-three series, next opponent, Pacific Division No. 1 seed Colorado Eagles in the Pacific Division Semi-Finals
This will be a best-of-five series, the first two games at Tech CU Arena, the last three at Blue FCU Arena. The winner will take on either the Abbotsford Canucks or Coachella Valley Firebirds in the Pacific Division Finals.
Game One of Barracuda-Eagles will be the first playoff hockey game in San Jose since 2019.
The Barracuda appeared to be running on fumes midway through the third period, two skaters, winger Donavan Houle and defenseman Luca Cagnoni, in the locker room.
The Reign had just tied the game, a sizzling Martin Chromiak one-timer that eluded Askarov about six minutes into the final frame.
With 6:57 left in the game, Ontario had run up a 9-2 shots edge in the third period, looking poised to stave off elimination.
But then, San Jose went back to the basics, getting the puck in deep and relying, in part, on their size advantage up front to take the momentum back on the forecheck.
Big boys like Scott Sabourin, Lucas Vanroboys, Patrick Giles, Walker Duehr, Pavol Regenda, and Zack Ostapchuk, all 6-foot-2 and bigger, and the smaller but huge-hearted Anthony Vincent went to the ground game, wearing down the Reign.
Highlighted by a no-holds barred shift that ended with Vanroboys and Caleb Jones off for coincidental minors, the Cuda squeezed off three of the next four shots, including the Graf game-winner, off a speedy Ethan Cardwell pass, with 2:18 to go.
Collin Graf scores late in the third and San Jose leads again 👀@sjbarracuda | @SanJoseSharks | @LockedOnSharks #AHL #CalderCup #TealBitesBack #TheFutureIsTeal pic.twitter.com/AkEJ6n9IGX
— FloHockey (@FloHockey) April 27, 2025
“We wanted to do that all game,” head coach John McCarthy said of the simple approach that pushed the pendulum back in San Jose’s favor. “Unfortunately, got away from it for a little bit, not egregiously, but they’re a talented team, and they took advantage of that chance [to tie the game]. Then I thought we’d really doubled down on everything.”
Bottle up this five-minute stretch: This was winning playoff hockey.
Askarov can't wait to see YOU in San Jose.
Next series is 5 games, Cuda will host 1st 2 games at home.
"I can't wait. Can't wait to see the home games…Hopefully, it's gonna be [packed]. Can't wait. The boys are gonna be excited. Hopefully, we're gonna see a super crowd."
— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) April 27, 2025
Askarov was good in his Game 1 shutout, but he was great tonight, stopping Grade-A chance after chance to eliminate the Reign.
McCarthy: “I thought he won the game for us.”
Graf: “If he's going like that, we’ll make a little run here.”
— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) April 27, 2025
The Barracuda choked the life out of the Reign in Game One, holding them to one shot in the third period in a 2-0 shutout.
No such luck in Game Two, as Ontario pelted Askarov with 22 shots in the last two periods of the game. San Jose managed just 12 shots in response.
So it was on top San Jose Sharks prospect Askarov to carry his team, and he did, turning away 21 of those 22 shots, many Grade-A chances.
Collin Graf scores late in the third and San Jose leads again 👀@sjbarracuda | @SanJoseSharks | @LockedOnSharks #AHL #CalderCup #TealBitesBack #TheFutureIsTeal pic.twitter.com/AkEJ6n9IGX
— FloHockey (@FloHockey) April 27, 2025
This was Askarov’s most breathtaking save, but it wasn’t his most important.
Seconds after the eventual Graf game-winner, Jared Wright had a breakaway, which Askarov erased.
“It’s the playoffs, you never know,” Askarov said of the back-and-forth action in that pivotal sequence. “You never know what’s going on next.”
It would prove to be the last gasp for the No. 3 seed.
The relentless Vincent got the Barracuda going with the game-opening strike, off a brilliant Colin White pass.
Vinnie with a ROCKET gets the 'Cuda on the board!🚀 pic.twitter.com/GmJ76EmTAn
— x – SJ Barracuda (@sjbarracuda) April 27, 2025
Both Donavan Houle and Cagnoni left the game with upper-body injuries, but the blueliner returned after missing about 20 minutes of action.
Cagnoni takes a double hit and Doty takes him out. Leads to a scuffle that gives Ontario a power play for some reason. #BarracudaHockey 1, #ReignTrain 0 pic.twitter.com/4NSIAXdJUz
— TEAL TOWN USA – A San Jose Sharks Podcast (@TEALTOWNUSA) April 27, 2025
Houle took a Joey Keane high and managed to get to the hallway under his own power. McCarthy had no update post-game, saying Houle was still being evaluated.
What a meaningful win for the San Jose Sharks organization — they’re about to host the first playoff hockey game in San Jose since 2019 — and for Cuda lifer McCarthy.
John McCarthy was captain of the last Barracuda team to win a Calder Cup playoff series in 2017. Now, how's it feel to win a round as a head coach?
"That's great…Happy for our group. That's a lively locker room in there, they should be proud of themselves."
— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) April 27, 2025
The boys got the dub👌 #BarracudaHockey pic.twitter.com/u5MfEFXngU
— x – SJ Barracuda (@sjbarracuda) April 27, 2025
Barracuda goaltender Yaroslav Askarov addresses the media following tonight's 2-1 win over the Ontario Reign pic.twitter.com/wXEQkb10iE
— x – SJ Barracuda (@sjbarracuda) April 27, 2025
Collin Graf addresses the media following his GWG over the Ontario Reign pic.twitter.com/nTUu3eonIe
— x – SJ Barracuda (@sjbarracuda) April 27, 2025
Askarov Talks Potential Goalie Partner Next Year, Why Blackwood Meant A Lot to Him (+)
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