GAMEDAY: BARRACUDA vs CONDORS (11-25-16)
Nov 24, 2016
Game #13 – San Jose (5-5-0-2) vs Bakersfield (6-7-0-0)
6:00 PM PST, SAP Center, San Jose, Calif.
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Tonight’s Matchup: The San Jose Barracuda and Bakersfield Condors (Edmonton Oilers) wrap up a home, and home on Friday as San Jose returns to SAP Center after a six-game road trip, and Bakersfield plays away from Rabobank Arena for the first time in their last eight games. The Barracuda are in the midst of a three-game losing streak after falling 3-1 on Tuesday in Bakersfield.
The Barracuda are 6-7-0-2 against the Condors all-time, and 3-4-0-1 at SAP Center.
Players To Watch: Daniel O’Regan returned to the Barracuda lineup after making his NHL debut on Monday, November 21, 2016, vs. New Jersey. O’Regan assisted on Adam Helewka’s first pro goal on Tuesday in Bakersfield and now leads the Barracuda in points with 12 (5-7-12).
Veteran forward Taylor Beck scored Tuesday and now has points in seven of his last eight games (6-8-14). Beck’s 17 points (6-11-17) is good for sixth in the AHL.
Josh Currie was the hero for Bakersfield on Tuesday with his third game-winning goal of the season, which ranks second most in the AHL.
Between the pipes: Troy Grosenick suffered a first-period leg injury on Tuesday in Bakersfield, and his return to the Barracuda lineup is unknown. Grosenick is 3-4-0-1 on the season with a 2.69 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage.
Mantas Armalis came into Tuesday’s game in relief for Grosenick and suffered his first regulation defeat of the year after allowing two goals on 20 shots in 48 minutes and 52 seconds of work. Armalis is 2-1-0-1 with a 3.22 goals-against average and a .884 save percentage. Armalis is 0-1-0-1 against the Condors in two games played.
Grosenick’s injury resulted in the recall of Jamie Murray from the Allen Americans on Thursday. Murray was signed as a free agent by San Jose on July 11, 2016, after an illustrious career at Division III Babson College. In 14 pro games, all with the Allen American (ECHL), Murray is 3-6-2 with a 2.61 goals-against average and a .922 save percentage.
Rookie Nick Ellis is 3-2 on the season with a 2.38 goals-against and a .931 save percentage. The former Providence Friar’ is 1-0 against San Jose after making 41 saves against the Barracuda on October 29 at SAP Center, a 4-3 shootout win for Bakersfield. Ellis last appeared in a game for Bakersfield on November 16 where he played 26 minutes and five seconds against Manitoba. Ellis made all eight saves, but the Condors suffered a 4-1 loss.
Laurent Brossoit is 3-5 for the Condors on the year with a 2.54 goal-against and a .924 save percentage. The third-year pro is 1-1 against San Jose this year after a 37-save 3-1 win on Tuesday and 3-1 in his career in five starts against the Barracuda.
Last Time Out: Troy Grosenick suffered a first-period injury on Tuesday night in Bakersfield at Rabobank Arena and Taylor Beck waited just 27 seconds into the second period to give the Bakersfield Condors a 1-0 lead. Adam Helewka netted his first pro goal at 5:13 to even the score in the second, but in the third Josh Currie gave Bakersfield back the lead at 13:22 in what turned out to be Currie’s team-leading third game-winning goal of the year. Ryan Hamilton added an empty-netter at 19:58 despite taking a puck to the face in the first. Laurent Brossoit was the story, making 37 of 38 saves in the win. Mantas Armalis took the loss, allowing two goals on 20 shots. Bakersfield’s 3-1 win on Tuesday snapped a two-game losing streak and extend San Jose’s losing streak to a season-long three games.