GAMEDAY: BARRACUDA AT HEAT
Dec 1, 2018
San Jose Barracuda (11-3-1-2 .719) at Stockton Heat (11-10-1-0 .523)
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1 | 6:00 A.M.
Stockton Arena | Stockton, Calif.
LISTEN | WATCH | GAME NOTES
Morning Matchup: The San Jose Barracuda and Stockton Heat connect for the sixth time this season on Saturday and the third meeting at Stockton Arena. The Barracuda are 4-1 against the Flames affiliate this season and are coming off back-to-back wins.
Dynamic Duo: Barracuda netminders Antoine Bibeau and Josef Korenar have combined for the AHL’s best goals-against average (2.02) and best save percentage (.930) thus far this season. Bibeau, the CCM/AHL Goaltender of the Month in October, ranks second in the AHL in goals-against (1.96) average and fourth in save percentage (.933). Korenar, who is coming off a 30 save win on Tuesday against the Heat, is third in the AHL in goals-against average (2.09), fourth in save percentage (.927) and T-6th in wins (7). As a team, the Stockton Heat are 30th in the AHL GAA (4.11) and 31st in SV% (.863).
Francis on Fire: Acquired from the Ottawa Senators in the Erik Karlsson trade, Francis Perron is first on the Barracuda in points (17), goals (9), power-play goals (5) and shooting percentage (34.6%). Perron is just one goal shy of matching his career total of 10 set over his first 112 games in the AHL within the Sens organization.
Real Deal Viel: Rookie forward Jeffery Viel netted a goal on Saturday and now ranks third among Barracuda rookies in goals (3) and first in penalty minutes. Viel dropped the mitts on Saturday for his fourth fighting major of the season which places him T-third in the AHL in that category and first among freshman. Viel’s 42 penalty minutes is the most in the league among first-year players. As the captain of Acadie-Bathurst Titan in the QMJHL in 2017-18, Viel guided the Titan to a Memorial Cup Championship and finished second in playoff scoring (23), second in goals (14), and first in penalty minutes (32), earning playoff MVP honors. The Barracuda signed the Rimouski, Quebec, native to an AHL deal July 10, 2018.
Head of the Class: The San Jose Barracuda have allowed a league-low 37 goals this season and are second in the AHL in goal differential (+21).
Youth Movement: The San Jose Barracuda enter Tuesday’s game against Stockton as the AHL’s youngest team at 22.3 years old. San Jose’s current roster is comprised for 11 rookies and five second-year players.