GAMEDAY: BARRACUDA AT GULLS (5-10-17)
May 10, 2017
San Jose Barracuda (1-1) vs. San Diego Gulls (1-1)
GAME 3 (Best-of-7), Pacific Division Final
Wednesday, May 10, 2017 (7:00 PM) – Valley View Casino Center, San Diego, Calif.
Tonight’s Matchup: On Wednesday, the San Jose Barracuda and San Diego Gulls shift their best-of-7 series to Southern California all knotted at 1-1. During the regular season San Jose went 5-3-1-1 against the Gulls, but 0-3-1-1 in San Diego.
Carpenter Cruising: Barracuda forward Ryan Carpenter continues his red-hot postseason. On Saturday, Carpenter netted his AHL-leading sixth goal. The third-year pro also added an assist and is T-first in points (10), first in plus-minus (+8) and T-first in game-winning goals (2). In 15 career Calder Cup playoff games, Carpenter has 15 points (8+7=15), eight penalty minutes and a plus-13 rating. The former Bowling Green Falcon recorded four points (3+2=4) in seven games against San Diego during the regular season.
Heating Up: After going just 1-for-22 on the power play in their opening series against Stockton, San Jose is 3-for-8 on the man advantage versus San Diego. The Barracuda finished the regular season with the AHL’s second-best power play unit at 23.8%.
Yeah Buddy: Barracuda forward Buddy Robinson has been a force throughout the playoffs totaling six points (4+2=6), four penalty minutes and a plus-three rating. After being acquired in a trade with the Ottawa Senators in January, Robison collected 19 points (10+9=19) in 33 games, 53 penalty minutes and a plus-five rating for the Barracuda. Before his acquisition, Bellmawr, New Jersey native recorded 12 points (7+5=12), 18 penalty minutes and a plus-four rating in 33 games with the Binghamton Senators (AHL). Prior to 2017, Robinson totaled zero points in 6 career Calder Cup playoff games.
DeSimone Dazzling: After signing a two-year entry-level deal with the San Jose Sharks in late March, Nick DeSimone has impressed from the get-go. The rookie blueliner netted his first pro goal for the Barracuda in his fourth game and has five points (1+4=5) in seven playoff games which ties for the team lead among defensemen during the postseason. The former Union College product opened up the scoring for San Jose in their 5-1 win over the Gulls on Saturday night.
Winner Winner: San Jose’s Zack Stortini is by far the team’s most experienced postseason player having skated in 61 Calder Cup playoff games over his 12-year career, and the veteran forward won a Calder Cup with the Hamilton Bulldogs in 2007.
Last Time Out: The San Jose Barracuda potted five goals and rolled to a 5-1 win over the San Diego Gulls at SAP Center on Saturday night, tying the second round series at 1-1. Nick DeSimone (1) and Ryan Carpenter (6) each scored for San Jose in the first and Buddy Robinson (4) made it 3-0 Barracuda early in the second. After Sam Carrick (2) got the Gulls on the board Adam Helewka (1) cashed in on the power play to make it 4-1 in the second and Barclay Goodrow (2) sealed the victory just 40 seconds into the third. Enroth allowed five goals on 35 shots and lasted 46:46. Grosenick picked up the victory making 31 saves on 32 shots.