GAMEDAY: BARRACUDA AT CANUCKS
Dec 19, 2022
SAN JOSE BARRACUDA (13-13-0-1) at ABBOTSFORD CANUCKS (14-9-1-1)
TUES, DEC. 19 | 7:00 P.M. | Abbotsford Centre | Abbotsford, BC
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Back in BC: After a 5-2 loss to the Colorado Eagles on Saturday, the team’s third consecutive defeat, the Barracuda continue its five-game road trip on Tuesday in Abbotsford to take on the Canucks (Vancouver Canucks). Tuesday is the first of back-to-back games at the Abbotsford Centre before the holiday break. A year ago, the Barracuda went 3-4-1-0 against the Canucks and 2-2 at the Abbotsford Centre. The Canucks are the only team in the Pacific Division the Barracuda have yet to play this year.
About Abbotsford: The Canucks lost two of its top three scorers from a year ago via free agency as Sheldon Rempal (Vegas Golden Knights) and Nick Petan (Minnesota Wild) both signed elsewhere. Additionally, Sheldon Dries who led the team with 35 goals in 2021-22, has spent the majority of the season in Vancouver. Abbotsford finished fifth in the Pacific Division a year ago with a 39-23-5-1 record and were swept in the first round of the Calder Cup playoffs by Bakersfield, 2-0. The Canucks enter Tuesday having gone 7-3 over its last 10 games at home and boast the AHL’s fourth-best home winning percentage (8-3-0-1=.708%). Abbotsford just finished up a three-game road trip, notching a 2-1 mark, and is 7-2-0-1 over its last 10. Canucks defenseman Christian Wolanin is pacing Abbotsford in scoring and is second among AHL defenders in points (29), T-first in power-play assists (13), and power-play points (14).
Familiar Faces: Former Sharks and Barracuda forward Lane Pederson, who was recalled to the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday, is currently pacing Abbotsford in goals (17) and ranks second in points (24). Pederson, who was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes in the Brent Burns deal that included Eetu Makiniemi coming to San Jose, was dealt to the Canucks along with defenseman Ethan Bear on Dec. 28 for a 2023 fifth-rounder. Pederson is second in the AHL in goals after notching eight over his last five games before the recall. Also, former Sharks draft pick Linus Karlsson is third on the Abbotsford Canucks in points (17) and assists (12). Karlsson, who was the SHL’s Rookie of the Year in 2021-22, was traded to Vancouver for forward Jonathon Dahlen on Feb. 25, 2019. Last, Sharks 2015 fifth-round pick Jake Kupsky is currently playing for Abbotsford on a PTO from the Idaho Steelheads of the ECHL. Kupsky had gone 6-1-0 with Idaho, with a 1.15 goals-against, and a .955 save percentage before joining the Canucks.
By the Numbers: The Canucks rank ninth in the AHL on the power play (21.4%) and 27th on the penalty kill (74.2%). The Barracuda are 16th on the power play (19.6%) and eighth on the penalty kill (83.7%). The Canucks are a +105 in shots for and are 13th in the league in total shot per game (31.40) and second in shots against per game (27.24). The Canucks are 11th in goals for (3.44) and 21st in goals against (3.28). The Barracuda are 27th in goals for (2.70) and 17th in goals against (3.22).
Sluggish Starts: The Barracuda have given up the first goal in each of its last 12 games, going 5-7 during the stretch. The Cuda have allowed the first goal in 18 of its 27 contests this year and are 8-9-0-1 when doing so. San Jose is a -20 in the first period, only San Diego (-23) and Belleville (-25) are worse in the opening 20.
Spiky Fish: The Barracuda rank second in the AHL in penalty minutes per game (19.78) and majors (20) and are first in minor penalties (162). Jeff Viel is second in the AHL in minors (18), third in penalty minutes (76), and T-fourth in majors (4).
Rookie Arrivals: Rookies Thomas Bordeleau (12), Tristen Robins (9), William Eklund (8), Danil Gushchin (7), Brandon Coe (3), and Ozzy Wiesblatt (1) have accounted for 38 of the Barracuda’s 73 goals scored (52%). The most among any rookie class this season. Wiesblatt (Rd 1, 31st overall), Bordeleau (Rd 2, 38th Overall), Robins (Rd 2, 56th Overall), Gushchin (Rd 3, 76th Overall), and Coe (Rd 4, 98th Overall) were all part of the Sharks' historic nine-forward draft class in 2020. Bordeleau is first among rookies in goals, T-third in points (19), T-second in power-play points (10), and T-third, along with Robins and Eklund, in power-play goals (4).