HENDERSON, Nev. \u2014 The San Jose Barracuda could have stolen Game One. But now, they\u2019re on the brink of elimination.<\/p>\n
The Barracuda lost the series opener on Wednesday, 5-4 in OT to the Henderson Silver Knights at Lee\u2019s Family Forum. They failed to hold a 3-1 second period lead, off Kasper Halttunen, Jimmy Huntington, and Colin White goals, and couldn\u2019t ride a late game-tying Igor Chernyshov power play strike to victory.<\/p>\n
Frankly, the Silver Knights outplayed the Barracuda most of the night, outshooting them 39-22, so fair\u2019s fair.<\/p>\n
Laurent Brossoit kept the Cuda above water for most of the contest, stopping 34-of-39 shots, many high-quality scoring chances.<\/p>\n
San Jose must win Game Two on Friday to force a decisive Game Three on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Turning Point<\/p>\n
Hockey clich\u00e9, a two-goal lead is the most dangerous lead in the sport.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s sounds counterintuitive, but that\u2019s exactly what the Barracuda\u2019s two-goal lead felt like.<\/p>\n
12:50 into the middle frame, the Barracuda were up 3-1. They had scored on two of their first four shots in the period, a fortunate bounce for Huntington and a power play deflection for White.<\/p>\n
But looking deeper, the Cuda were in the midst of a stretch where they being badly outplayed. Over the last 10 minutes, despite the two goals, they had been outshot 16-5.<\/p>\n
White\u2019s goal would\u2019ve been a good time to shut it down, but San Jose couldn\u2019t, allowing a Raphael Lavoie goal a minute later. Lavoie outmuscled Luca Cagnoni to the paint.<\/p>\n
LAVOIE GETS HIS FIRST OF THE PLAYOFFS!!!\u2763\ufe0f pic.twitter.com\/afp6lAiH7R<\/a><\/p>\n