Barracuda pulls even with Griffs after quick start

The San Jose Barracuda flipped the script on the visiting Grand Rapids Griffins at the SAP Center at San Jose Sunday (May 21, 2017) to even its Best of Seven American Hockey League Western Conference final with a 4-2 win.

The previous evening it was the Griffs drawing first blood in the series by scoring the game’s first two goals. This time around it was Julius Bergman with his first of the post season 3:35 in and Ryan Carpenter with his eighth about seven minutes later to get the Cuda up 2-0.

Tomas Nosek pulled one back for the Griffs with 2:50 to go in the opening segment and Matthew Ford pulled the visitors even with 5:22 to go in the second.

Barracuda moved in front again just 50 seconds later as Joakim Ryan sank his fourth of the playoffs and the game winner of this contest.

Barclay Goodrow fired the final goal into an empty net with 66 seconds to play, evening the series at 1-1.

Troy Grosenick turned in a 33-save effort to pick up the win in goal for San Jose while Jared Coreau stopped 36 in goal for the Griffins.

The series will shift to Michigan for the middle three games of the series beginning on Wednesday (May 24) at the Van Andel Arena.