GAMEDAY: BARRACUDA VS REIGN (12-18-16)
Dec 18, 2016
Game #20 – San Jose (11-6-0-3) vs. Ontario (12-6-5-0)
Sunday, December 18, 2016
3:00 PM PST, SAP Center, San Jose, Calif.
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Tonight’s Matchup: The San Jose Barracuda are riding a season-high three game winning streak as they welcome the Ontario Reign to SAP Center for the first time this season. San Jose has points in seven of their last eight games, and their last four straight wins have come via the shutout.
San Jose is 2-0 against the Reign in two previous matchups both at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario. The Barracuda are 5-6-3 all-time versus the Reign and 3-2-1 at home. Ontario bounced San Jose from the postseason last year, three games to one, in the opening round series. Both clubs are 6-3-1 in their last ten games played.
Let’s Go Streaking: Troy Grosenick’s shutout streak extended to 241 minutes and 36 seconds of action with his third-straight shutout on Saturday. Grosenick leads the league in shutouts this season (5) and is coming off CCM/AHL Player of the week honors after blanking the Gulls on Saturday and Sunday. Grosenick is now 6-4-1 on the year, with five of his six wins coming via the shutout. The Union College product’s .935 save percentage ranks third in the AHL, and his 1.80 goals-against average is fifth best in the league. Grosenick is just 63 minutes away from Penguins goaltender Matt Murray’s AHL record 304 minutes and 11 seconds of shutout play set during the 2014-15 campaign.
PK Perfect: The San Jose Barracuda have not allowed a power-play goal in their last 26 straight attempts after going four-for-four on Saturday and now rank second in the league on the penalty kill (87.9%). The Barracuda also boast a top-10 power play (7th, 22.7%).
Terrier On A Tear: Since former Boston Terrier Danny O’Regan made his NHL debut on Nov. 21 versus New Jersey, he has found the score sheet in eight of his last nine games and continues to pace the Barracuda in points (7+15=22). O’Regan ranks second in the AHL in points among rookies, second on the Barracuda in goals, first in assists and first in plus/minus (+9). O’Regan had a five-game point streak from Nov. 22 to Dec. 4, and in two games against the Reign, O'Regan has five points (2+3=5) including an overtime game winner on October 22.
Feed Heed: Swedish blueliner Tim Heed added another assist on Saturday and is now 9th (6+11=17) in the AHL in points among blueliners despite playing in just 20 games. Heed is first on the team in power-play goals (3) and leads all Barracuda defenders in goals, assists and plus/minus (+8).
Slump Buster: Twelve different ‘Cuda skaters found the score sheet on Saturday, and five different players scored. Marcus Sorensen tallied for the first time in 10 games, Adam Helewka scored for the first time in five games, Nikolay Goldobin and Nikita Jevpalovs potted their first in their last 14 games, and Jon Martin scored his first pro goal in his 18th pro game.
San Jose’s Last Time Out: Troy Grosenick earned his third consecutive shutout with 32 saves on Sunday at SAP Center, and the San Jose Barracuda rolled to their most dominant win of the season, 5-0. Marcus Sorensen (5), Adam Helewka (4), Nikolay Goldobin (3), Nikita Jevpalovs (2) and Jon Martin (1) all scored, as San Jose went four-for-four on the PK and one-for-one on the man advantage.
Ontario’s Last Time Out: The Ontario Reign fended off a valiant Bakersfield Condors comeback on Friday night to earn a 3-2 win at home. Michael Mersch (8), T.J. Hensick (8) and Jonny Brodzinski (8) each scored for Ontario and Jack Campbell made 29 saves to collect his ninth win.