GAMEDAY: BARRACUDA VS. RAMPAGE
Oct 14, 2017
LISTEN | WATCH | GAME NOTES
Tonight’s Matchup: On Saturday, less than 24 hours after losing to the Grand Rapids Griffins, the Barracuda await another opponent, this time the San Antonio Rampage. Over the first two years in the Pacific Division, San Jose is 7-2-2-1 against San Antonio and 4-1-1-0 at home.
In 2016-17, Timo Meier and Danny O’Regan each collected a team-high eight-points during the six-game season series and San Jose went 4-1-0-1. Troy Grosenick appeared in three games, notching a 2-1-0 record with a 2.69 goals-against average and .918 save percentage.
Mixed Bag: The 2017-18 San Antonio Rampage roster is littered with both Colorado Avalanche and St. Louis Blues prospects. This season the Blues are splitting their AHL affiliation with both the Chicago Wolves and San Antonio Rampage. Next year, the Vegas Golden Knights will completely take over Chicago, and St. Louis will move entirely to San Antonio. Meanwhile, the Avalanche will be moving their AHL club to Loveland, Colorado.
Youth Movement: 10 rookies scatter the Barracuda roster in 2017 with an average age of 23.26-years-old, which ranks as the fourth youngest in the AHL. 12 players who appeared in at least one game for San Jose last season have returned this year. San Antonio holds the sixth most youthful roster in the AHL with an average age of 23.35-years-old.
Big Impact: Six players from the Barracuda’s 2017 playoff run are currently with the San Jose Sharks (Joakim Ryan, Tim Heed, Barclay Goodrow, Ryan Carpenter, Kevin Labanc, and Timo Meier). Ryan Carpenter, Joakim Ryan, and Tim Heed led San Jose in points (4) during the five-game series against Grand Rapids.
Ryan Rising: Joakim Ryan made his NHL debut for the San Jose Sharks on Thursday after veteran blueliner Paul Martin suffered an injury in practice earlier in the week. Ryan logged 21 minutes and 24 seconds of ice-time and registered one shot as he was paired up with Norris Trophy winner Brent Burns.
Homer: Last season, the Barracuda held the league's best home-ice advantage, going 34-24-6-2 (.765) in the Tank, and 4-3 (.571) during the postseason.
Terrific Troy: Back for another season, Troy Grosenick returns to the Barracuda after the best season of his career and one of the best in AHL history. Grosenick who earned the Baz Bastien Memorial Award as the AHL’s best goaltender went 30-10-5-2, with a 2.04 goals-against and a .926 save percentage, along with a league-high ten shutouts.
Iron Man: Returning for an AHL-record 20th season behind the bench for the San Jose Sharks top affiliate, Roy Sommer continues his historic career. In 2015-16, Sommer surpassed Fred ‘Bun’ Cook on the top the AHL’s all-time winning list and collected his first A.R. Pieri Memorial Award as AHL Coach of the Year in 2016-17. Sommer is 692-606-48-72-65 (W-L-T-OTL-SOL) in his career.