GAMEDAY: BARRACUDA AT STARS
Mar 7, 2024
SAN JOSE BARRACUDA (17-27-8-2, 44 pts.) vs. TEXAS STARS (26-22-3-2, 57 pts.)
FRI, MAR. 8 | 5:00 P.M. | H-E-B Center | Cedar Park, TX
LISTEN | WATCH | GAME NOTES | MEDIA KIT
Texas Time: The Barracuda kick off a four-game road trip on Friday with the first of back-to-back games in Texas against the Stars (Dallas Stars). Friday is the first game on the four-game season series. A year ago, the Barracuda went 2-2 against the Stars and 1-1 at the H-E-B Center. Lifetime, the Cuda are 17-10-1-2 versus Texas and 7-6-1-1 in Cedar Park. All time, against the Central Division, the Barracuda are 13-7-0-0 and 6-3-0-0 on the road.
Last Time Out: Georgi Romanov made a career-high 47 stops on Saturday night at Tech CU Arena, but the Barracuda would fall 3-2 in a shootout to the Coachella Valley Firebirds. In the loss, Nathan Todd picked up an assist to extend his point (2+8=10) and assist streak to seven consecutive games. Scott Sabourin notched his fifth goal in his last six games, and Brandon Coe scored his first goal in his last 20 games.
Cuda Check: The Barracuda enter Friday eight points out of a playoff spot with 18 games left. SJ has dropped six in a row (0-4-0-2) after Saturday’s shootout loss against CV and are 3-5-0-2 in their last 10. The Barracuda rank 12th in the league in goals for (3.11), despite being held to two goals in each of their last four outings, and are 32nd in goals against (3.72) and 31st on the penalty kill (74.9%).
Todd’s Time: Forward Nathan Todd collected an assist on Saturday and now has points and assists in his last six games (2+8=10) and points in 10 of 11 (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 38 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 (135), and assists (29).
Sabs Sizzling: Scott Sabourin buried his 15th goal of the year on Saturday and now has goals in five of six. 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 (61) rank first and second in the AHL in scoring, respectively. Bourque is T-first helpers (42) and second in shots (185). While, Stankoven is T-fourth in goals (24) and has picked up eight points (5+3=8) in his first six 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), T-third 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 Friday sitting at the third spot in the Central Division despite dropping its last two games. Texas is 4-5-1-0 over its last 10 but have won four in a row at home. 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 (BAK, CV, COL, SD). Texas boasts the AHL’s top power play (22.4%) and top home man-advantage (25.6%), but the league’s 24th (79.9%) ranked penalty kill. Texas is third in the AHL is offense (3.42) and 26th in defense (3.32%).