GAMEDAY: BARRACUDA AT EAGLES
Mar 22, 2023
SAN JOSE BARRACUDA (26-30-1-4) vs. COLORADO EAGLES (33-20-5-3)
WED, MAR. 22 | 6:05 P.M. | Budweiser Events Center | Loveland, CO
LISTEN | WATCH | GAME NOTES | MEDIA KIT
Marching Along: After getting shutout 8-0 on Tuesday, the Barracuda wrap up its back-to-back in Colorado against the Eagles on Wednesday. San Jose is 14-15-1-3 this season following a loss, and 2-2-0-1 after a shutout loss. In the second game of a back-to-back, the Cuda are 8-8-0-3 and 4-6-0-2 when losing the first matchup of two. Since beating the Eagles 2-1 in OT on Nov. 12, the Barracuda have dropped four in a row against Colorado and are 0-3 at the Budweiser Events Center. All-time, the Cuda are 12-12-3-1 versus the Eagles and 6-7-1-0 in Loveland. Wednesday is the final game of four at the BEC and the second and four games versus the Avs affiliate over the next 10 to close out the eight-game season series.
Tuesday Blues: On Tuesday, the Barracuda gave up a shorthanded goal at 6:35 of the first to Ryan Wagner and could never recover. Riley McCourt, Mikhail Maltzev, and David Farrance would also score in the opening 20 minutes, ending Aaron Dell’s night after a period. In the second, Strauss Mann would come into the game and give up four more goals in the middle frame as Charles Hudon, Maltzev, Sampo Ranta, and Alex Beaucage all tallied. The Eagles would finish the contest going two-for-five on the power play and four-for-four on the kill, claiming its first blanksheet of the season. Veteran netminder Keith Kinkaid made 20 saves to earn his 13th career shutout.
Cuda Chronicles: After Tucson’s 4-1 win over Ontario at home on Tuesday, The Barracuda enter Wednesday three points behind the Roadrunners for the final playoff spot in the Pacific Division. SJ has seven more road games left on its schedule and 11 total. Despite Tuesday’s shutout, the Barracuda have averaged 4.00 (56 GF) goals-for-per-game over its last 14 and have notched 4+ goals in 10 of those contests. The Cuda are 28th in the AHL in goals-for (2.84) and 27th in goals-against (3.49).
Eagles Scout: After Tuesday’s win, the Eagles are now 3-0-1-0 over its last four games after dropping four in a row (0-3-0-1). The Eagles began a four-game homestand on Tuesday and have 11 games left in the regular season, with five of those coming at the Budweiser Events Center. Colorado currently sits at the fourth spot in the Pacific Division, nine points ahead of Ontario, and two points behind Abbotsford. Colorado ranks 25th in the AHL in goals-for (2.98) and fourth in the league in goals-against (2.66). The Avs top affiliate is riding a six-game point streak at home (4-0-0-2) and are 5-2-0-3 in its last 10.
Player to Watch: Eagles forward Charles Hudon is T-first in the AHL in power-play goals (14). Additionally, he is pacing the Eagles in goals (22), points (44), power-play points (23), and shots (163) and is second in assists (22). Hudon has skated in 51 games with the Eagles this season and nine games with the Avalanche. In three games against the Cuda, he has a goal in each and four total points (3+1=4).