GAMEDAY: BARRACUDA AT STARS
Mar 9, 2024
SAN JOSE BARRACUDA (18-27-8-2, 44 pts.) vs. TEXAS STARS (26-23-3-2, 57 pts.)
SAT, MAR. 9 | 5:00 P.M. | H-E-B Center | Cedar Park, TX
LISTEN | WATCH | GGAME NOTES | MEDIA KIT
Texas Time: The Barracuda continue their four-game road trip on Saturday in Texas with the second of back-to-back games versus the Stars (Dallas Stars). After Saturday’s 2-1 win, the Barracuda are now 18-10-1-2 all-time versus Texas and 8-6-1-1 in Cedar Park. All-time, against the Central Division, the Barracuda are 14-7-0-0 and 7-3-0-0 on the road.
Last Time Out: Georgi Romanov made 41 stops and the Barracuda got second-period goals from Oskar Lindblom and Jordy Bellerive just 38 seconds apart. The Barracuda managed to go three-for-three on the penalty kill against the league’s top power play and one-for-four on the advantage themselves.
Todd’s Time: Before Friday, forward Nathan Todd had collected points and assists in his last seven games (2+8=10) and points in 11 of 12 (6+9=15). After notching five points (1+4=5) in his first 15 games, he has 39 points (14+25=39) in his last 39 contests. The Kemptville, Ontario, native is first on the team in goals (16), points (45), power-play goals (5), power-play assists (13), and second in shots (138), and assists (29).
Sabs Sizzling: Scott Sabourin buried his 15th goal of the year on Saturday and now has goals in five of seven. The veteran forward is first in the AHL in penalty minutes (150), second in minor penalties (30), and T-third in majors (6). Among Barracuda skaters, he is T-first in power-play goals (5), shorthanded goals (1), and game-winning goals (3).
Stars Bright: Stars rookie Logan Stankoven (57), who’s currently up with the Dallas Stars, and Mavrik Bourque (62) rank first and second in the AHL in scoring, respectively. Bourque is T-first helpers (42) and second in shots (189). Stankoven is T-fourth in goals (24) and has picked up eight points (5+3=8) in his first seven games in the NHL with the Stars, including two goals and two assists versus the Sharks on Tuesday at SAP Center.
Cuda Connection: Former Barracuda and Sharks defenseman Derrick Pouliot, now a member of the Texas Stars, ranks T-eighth among AHL defenders in points (32) and T-fourth in power-play assists (14). A year ago, the former top-pick of the Penguins had 25 points (4+21=25) in 37 games with the Barracuda. Additionally, he skated in eight games with the Sharks, collecting two assists.
Texas Tide: The Stars enter Saturday sitting at the third spot in the Central Division despite dropping its last three games. Texas is 4-6-0-0 over its last 10 and had its four-game home winning streak snapped on Friday. Against the Pacific Division, the Stars are 6-7-0-0, having earned at least one win against every PAC opponent it has played this season, aside from the Barracuda (BAK, CV, COL, SD). Texas boasts the AHL’s second-best power play (22.0%) and second-best home man-advantage (24.7%), but the league’s 30th-ranked penalty kill (79.9%). Texas is sixth in the AHL is offense (3.37) and 26th in defense (3.30%).