BARRACUDA HANG ON TO EARN FRANCHISE BEST 5th STRAIGHT WIN



Winnipeg, MB - The San Jose Barracuda (24-11-1-3) extended their winning streak to a franchise-high five games by beating the Manitoba Moose (18-22-3-2), 5-4, on Saturday night at MTS Centre.



Manitoba went on the power play just two minutes and six seconds into the first period, and Peter Stoykewych (4) ripped a slap shot off the post and into the back of the net at 3:24 to give the Moose their first lead of the weekend. San Jose countered one minute and 41 seconds later when Adam Helewka (10) banked a centering feed from below the goal line off of Moose defender Brian Straight an in. The Barracuda took their first lead as Barclay Goodrow fired a shot from the left point and John McCarthy (10) redirected the shot past Jamie Phillips at 17:37.



In the second, San Jose extended its advantage on the power play with a tic-tac-toe between Nikolay Goldobin, Marcus Sorensen and finished off by Danny O'Regan (14) in the high slot at 4:18. Buddy Robinson (8) added more insurance as he cleaned up a loose puck in the crease for his first goal as a Barracuda at 7:17.



Manitoba rookie forward Kyle Connor (7, 8) made things interesting with a pair goals in the third at 10:43 and 15:10 to make it 4-3. Sorensen (13) pushed San Jose's lead back to a pair with an empty netter at 18:04, before Quinton Howden (12) trickled a shot past Troy Grosenick's left pad 11 seconds later to make it 5-4. The Barracuda sweated out the final minute and held on for the weekend sweep.



Grosenick (14-8-2) made 36 saves on 40 shots to earn his fifth-straight win while Phillips (0-1-0) suffered the loss in his AHL debut after allowing four goals on 38 shots.



THREE STARS

1. Troy Grosenick (SJ: 36 saves)

2. Kyle Connor (MB: 2+0=2)

3. A. Helewka (SJ: 1+1=2)



BOX SCORE



After a season-long seven game road trip, the Barracuda take their five game winning streak back home for a pivotal Pacific Division matchup against the San Diego Gulls at SAP Center Wednesday, Feb. 8. On Sunday, Feb. 12, the Barracuda will wear specialty California Republic Jerseys when they take on the Tucson Roadrunners. Tickets for both games are still available and can be purchased at SJBarracuda.com/tickets or by calling 408.999.5757.