GAMEDAY: BARRACUDA AT CONDORS (2-11-17)
Feb 10, 2017
Game #41 – San Jose Barracuda (25-11-1-3) vs. Bakersfield Condors (19-18-4-1)
Saturday, February 11, 2017
6:00 PM PST, Rabobank Arena, Bakersfield, California
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Tonight’s Matchup: The San Jose Barracuda take on the Bakersfield Condors on Saturday night at Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield. The Barracuda are 6-2-0-1 against the Condors this season and 1-2-0 in Bakersfield. The Condors have lost a pair games in a row and sit at sixth in the Pacific Division at 19-18-4-1 (.512%), while San Jose has now won six in a row including five in a row on the road and are in first in the Pacific at 25-11-1-3 (.675). Nikolay Goldobin leads all skaters in points (2+7=9) during the nine-game season series. San Jose and Bakersfield will play one another two more times after Saturday.
Ahead of the Pac: For the first time in team history, the San Jose Barracuda sit atop the Pacific Division. San Jose is riding a franchise-long six-game winning streak and is ranked second in the Western Conference and fourth in the league. The longest winning streak by a Sharks affiliate came in the 2014-15 season when the Worcester Sharks won eight in a row from January 4-21, 2014.
Carpenter Comeback: The San Jose Sharks reassigned forward Ryan Carpenter to the San Jose Barracuda on Friday. Carpenter has been with Sharks since January 16 and has appeared in 11 games for San Jose (NHL), totaling four points (2+2=4), four penalty minutes and a plus-five rating. In 29 games for the San Jose Barracuda, Carpenter has 20 points (8+12=20), eight penalty minutes and a plus-seven rating.
Ryan Returns: After being recalled to the San Jose Sharks on Monday, and not appearing in a game, Barracuda defenseman Joakim Ryan was reassigned to the Barracuda on Friday. In 39 games, Ryan has 25 points (5+20=25), 31 penalty minutes and a plus-17 rating.
Straight To The Banc: The San Jose Sharks recalled Kevin Labanc on Thursday after appearing in just one game during his latest reassignment. The 20-year-old forward has 14 points (7+7=14) in 40 games with the Sharks, 16 penalty minutes and a plus-four rating and in just 10 AHL games this season, the rookie forward has 15 points (5+10=15), 18 penalty minutes, plus-eight rating and before Wednesday had an eight-game point streak.
Heed Check: The San Jose Sharks recalled Tim Heed Friday after appearing in just one game during his latest reassignment. The Swedish blueliner is has appeared in just 34 games in the AHL, but among defenseman ranks third in points (11+26=37), T-first in assists, fourth in goals, T-second in power-play goals (7), T-first in game-winning goals (4) and is on a four-game point streak (2+3=5). Heed has appeared in one game for the Sharks this season.
Shining Star: Danny O’Regan scored three times in last Monday’s AHL All-Star Classic in Lehigh Valley and among rookies, the
former Boston University product is now second in points (14+24=38), T-first in assists, seventh in goals, and T-10th overall in the AHL in points. O’Regan is first on the Barracuda in points, second in goals and second in assists.
All World: Barracuda All-Star netminder Troy Grosenick is riding a season-long six game winning streak and is first in the AHL in shutouts (6), second in goals-against average (2.09) and is first in save percentage (.931).
San Jose’s Last Time Out: In their first game back at home since January 16, the San Jose Barracuda welcomed in the red-hot San Diego Gulls, winners of six straight and points in their last 12. After a slow-moving first period, Adam Helewka (11) intercepted a Gulls cross-ice pass, raced down the left wing and beat Jhonas Enroth short side at 13:58 of the first. Nikita Jevpalovs (7) continue his strong sophomore campaign by swiping a backhand shot past Enroth in the slot at 1:29 of the second. The Gulls put 15 shots on Troy Grosenick in the third and were able to cut San Jose’s lead in half with a shorthanded goal from Chris Wagner (8) at 12:26, but San Jose held on for the 2-1 win. Troy Grosenick made 38 saves to earn his sixth-straight win, while Enroth allowed a pair of goals on 28 shots and suffered his first loss as a Gull’.
Bakersfield’s Last Time Out: The Bakersfield Condors allowed a pair of first-period goals on Wednesday night at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario and couldn’t recover falling to the Reign, 2-1. Mike Amadio (9) and Patrick Bjorkstrand (5) tallied for the Reign in the first before Jesse Puljujarvi (4) cut the lead in half in the third. Jack Campbell shut the door on a Condor’ comeback by making 26 saves while Jonas Gustavsson suffered the loss for Bakersfield after allowing two goals on 33 shots.