Bullfrogs Lose Late but Retain First Place : Roller hockey: San Diego scores with 10 seconds left to win third in a row. Anaheim will play Blades in first round of playoffs.

This was supposed to be a game when the Bullfrogs and San Diego Barracudas had other things on their minds, such as finishing the regular season.

The teams already had locked up playoff berths and each was nursing a variety of injuries that could affect their chances in the playoffs, which begin Sunday.

Instead, in a wild and testy finish to a rather predictable Roller Hockey International season, the Barracudas outlasted the Pacific Division-champion Bullfrogs, 10-9, Friday night at the San Diego Sports Arena.

Mike Duffy’s shot beat Bullfrogs goaltender Rob Laurie with 10 seconds remaining and lifted the Barracudas to victory. It was the second consecutive loss for the Bullfrogs, who retain the top seed in the playoffs. San Diego has won three in a row.

The 4,864 on hand for fan appreciation night saw three players--two Barracudas--ejected, two because of major penalties that resulted in penalty shots.

San Diego scored a franchise-record six goals in the first period and also scored a team-high six power-play goals.

“There were too many power plays. It was like fast-break basketball,” San Diego Coach Steve Martinson said. “But you have to like it to beat a team that has as much talent as Anaheim does.”

It was San Diego’s first victory over the Bullfrogs this season and only their second over their rival in three RHI seasons.

The Bullfrogs outshot the Barracudas, 48-34, and out-hustled them for most of the final three quarters on a roll-on surface, which they had difficulties skating on their first time here June 29 in a 9-8 victory.

“This was the most frustrating hockey game I have ever coached,” Bullfrogs Coach Grant Sonier said. “It meant zero to us and a lot to them and we have a lot of injuries. I wanted to play just five guys tonight, but for the good of the league, I didn’t.”

Sonier dressed 10 skaters. He said because the game was broadcast on a national cable television network, he ended up playing those he knew weren’t 100% healthy.

“I felt some pressure because of TV and now I have to see at what expense I made that decision,” he said.

Todd Gillingham had eight points, including three goals, for San Diego (12-11-1) and Daniel Shank had four goals and an assist for the Bullfrogs (19-4-1).

San Diego opens the playoffs Tuesday at home against Sacramento. The Bullfrogs play the Blades at 6 p.m. Sunday. at the Forum.

Both teams might have lost top players for their opening-round playoff games, the result of game misconduct penalties. San Diego’s high-scoring forward Artur Kupaks and Bullfrog defenseman Darren Perkins are supposed to sit out the playoff openers after being ejected after separate incidents. Sonier said he would appeal the slashing call that came against Perkins with 7:25 left in the first quarter.