GAMEDAY: BARRACUDA VS. REIGN (4.5.17)

GAMEDAY: BARRACUDA VS. REIGN (4.5.17)

Apr 4, 2017

SAN JOSE BARRACUDA (41-14-2-5) VS. ONTARIO REIGN (33-19-10-0)

Wednesday, April 5, 2017

SAP Center – San Jose, Calif. (7:00 p.m.)

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Tonight’s Matchup: On Wednesday, the Barracuda welcome the Ontario Reign to SAP Center for the season’s final matchup of eight. San Jose is 4-2-1-0 against the Reign this season and are coming off back-to-back wins. Danny O’Regan and Tim Heed lead the Barracuda with nine points over the seven games played. San Jose is 4-3-2 against the Reign at SAP Center over the last two seasons.

Top Of The Class: San Jose holds the best overall winning percentage (41-14-2-5 = .718), the best home winning percentage (22-5-1-2 = .783) and the second-best road winning percentage (19-9-1-3 = .656) in the American Hockey League. The Barracuda rank second in goal differential (+57), only behind Wilkes-Barre Scranton (+73).

Sparkling Special Teams: San Jose ranks first in the league on the power play (1st: 25.5%) and sixth on the penalty kill (6th: 84.0%). The Barracuda are also first in the AHL in shorthanded goals (14) and fifth in power-play goals (62). San Jose’s 217 goals scored this season rank seventh in the league and first among teams that play 68 games. The Barracuda have allowed the second least amount of goals in the AHL this season (160).

The New Guys: Over the last week the Barracuda have added three new players. Both forward Tim Clifton and defenseman Nick DeSimone were signed to two-year entry levels deals following the conclusion of their collegiate careers, and netminder Clarke Saunders was added on 25 game standard player tryout (PTO). Clifton, 24, recently completed his senior season with Quinnipiac (ECAC) where he served as an alternate captain.  He finished as the team’s fourth-leading scorer with 25 points (13 goals, 12 assists) in 39 games. His 13 goals and seven power-play goals tied for first on the team.  Additionally, he won 58.2% of his face-off’s, which placed him 6th in the ECAC and 19th in the NCAA. DeSimone, 22, recently completed his junior season with Union College, helping the Dutchmen reach the first round of the NCAA Hockey Championship tournament. The third-year player recorded career-highs in games played (38), goals (9), points (19) and plus/minus (+13), ranking T-1st amongst Union defenders in goals, and 2nd in points and plus/minus. His nine goals were tied for the second-most amongst ECAC defensemen, while his +13 ranked T-7th. Saunders, 27, is in his third-year as a pro and is fifth in the ECHL in goals-against average (2.60), ninth in save percentage (.913), and is third in wins (28). Saunders is 28-7-1-1 in 38 games played with three shutouts for the Eagles and was named the Warrior Hockey ECHL Goaltender of the Month for the Month of February.

Heed Check: Among AHL defensemen, Tim Heed is fourth in the AHL in points (13+40=53), third in assists, T-sixth goals (13), T-fifth in power-play goals (8), T-fifth in game-winning goals (4) and is T-18th overall in the league in points.

Rockin’ Ryan: Joakim Ryan is seventh among AHL defensemen in points (10+34=44), sixth in assists, and is T-fourth in the AHL in plus/minus (+26).

Dazzling Danny: Among AHL rookies, Danny O’Regan ranks first in points (21+33=54), fifth in goals, second in assists, second in power-play goals (9), and is T-first in game-winning goals (5).  

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