GAMEDAY: BARRACUDA AT REIGN
Jan 5, 2024
SAN JOSE BARRACUDA (11-14-4-0, 26 pts.) vs. ONTARIO REIGN (16-10-3-1, 36 pts.)
FRI, JAN. 5 | 7:00 P.M. | Toyota Arena | Ontario, CA
LISTEN | WATCH | GAME NOTES | MEDIA KIT
Reign or Shine: On Friday, the Barracuda hit the road and begin a three-game set with the Ontario Reign (LA Kings). In the first two meetings of the season at Tech CU Arena, SJ was dealt a pair of losses by Ontario on Nov. 24 (0-3 L) and Nov. 25 (2-4 L). A season ago, at the Toyota Arena, the Cuda went 2-2 and are 12-15-3-1 all-time on the road against the Reign.
Wednesday’s Win: The Barracuda opened 2024 with a 6-4 win over the Tucson Roadrunners on Wednesday night at Tech CU Arena, the team’s first in four attempts against the Coyotes top affiliate. In the victory Danil Gushchin, who led the team with eight shots, opened the scoring in the first before potting the game-winner in the third on the power play. Nathan Todd also finished with a game-high three points (1+2=3), and Cole Cassels (1+1=2), Scott Sabourin (1+1=2), Shakir Mukhamadullin (0+2=2), Kyle Rau (0+2=2), and Leon Gawanke (0+2=2) registered multiple points.
Reign Report: Ontario enters Friday coming off a 3-0 loss on New Year’s Eve against the Henderson Silver Knights and have now dropped four of its last five (1-3-1-0). The Reign rank fifth in the AHL in goals-against average (2.80) and seventh on the penalty kill (84.6).
Heat Check: After scoring six times on Wednesday, the Barracuda now have 13 goals in its last three games and rank sixth in the league in goals-for (3.34).
Clarke Called Up: Highly-touted rookie defenseman Brandt Clarke was recalled to the Kings on Wednesday. Clarke is T-second in the AHL in points (32) and assists (25). Among rookies, he is first in assists, second in power-play assists (10), T-second in shots (95), and fourth in power-play points (12).
Gush’ Goin: Barracuda forward Danil Gushchin potted a pair of goals on Wednesday, his fifth-career two-goal effort. The sophomore forward now ranks T-fifth in the AHL in scoring (28) and T-seventh in goals (11). On the Cuda, he is first in points, goals, and shots, T-first in power-play goals (3), and second in assists. Over his last 10 games he has 13 points (5+8=13).
King Leon: Barracuda blueliner Leon Gawanke collected a pair of assist in the team’s win on Wednesday and now ranks third in the AHL in defensive scoring (23), T-fourth in goals (7) and fifth in shots (81). The German-born defenseman has 18 points (5+13=18) over his last 17 games. A season ago, as a member of the Manitoba Moose, he led all league defenders in power-play goals (7) and was T-first in total goals (20).
Love Shak: Barracuda defenseman Shakir Mukhamadullin collected two assists on Wednesday and now has 15 points (3+12=15) over his last 12 outings. The former Devils first-rounder is T-sixth among league blueliners in points (22).