GAMEDAY: BARRACUDA VS CANUCKS
Dec 12, 2021
SAN JOSE BARRACUDA (6-11-1-0) vs ABBOTSFORD CANUCKS (8-7-2-1)
SUN, DEC. 12 | 3:00 P.M. | SAP Center at San Jose | San Jose, CA
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Home Sweet Home: After a five-game roadie, the Barracuda finally returned to the friendly confines of the SAP Center for the first time since Nov. 20. as they kicked off a three-game homestand on Saturday afternoon against the Abbottsford Canucks, falling 5-1. Sunday’s game marks the sixth on the eight-game season series against the Canucks and the second in Northern California. The Barracuda are 2-3 against Abbotsford and 2-5-1 on home ice this year.
Reedy Rolling: Scott Reedy had his five-game point streak (5+3=7) snapped in a 10-1 blowout loss against the Stockton Heat on Tuesday, however, the Prior Lake, Minn. native is still tied for first among all AHL skaters in power-play goals (5), second in shooting percentage (9/24=37.5%) and tied for fourth in goals (9). Prior to turning pro, Reedy led the Minnesota Golden Gophers in goals the last two seasons. Against Abbotsford, Reedy is pacing the Barracuda in points (2+2=4).
Halbgewachs Heat Check: Jayden Halbgewachs has been one of San Jose’s top scorers with 14 points (6+8=14) in 18 games played this season. The fourth-year pro ranks third on the Barracuda in goals (6), tied for second in assists and points, and first in power-play assists (6). Before turning pro, Halbgewachs played five years in the WHL with the Moose Jaw Warriors, pacing the league in points (129) and goals (70) in 2017-18, his final of junior hockey. He is five points away from 100 in his career as a pro.
Sommer Time: Head Coach Roy Sommer returns for his AHL-best 24th season in 2021-22 and his 26th within the Sharks organization. The Oakland, Calif. native has been behind the bench for 1,691 games, going 794-690-48-160 (W-L-T-OTL/SOL) over that span. During the 2015-16 season, the Barracuda’s first in San Jose, Sommer surpassed Fred “Bun” Cook (636 wins) for the most wins in AHL history in a 4-2 win over the Ontario Reign on Feb. 10, 2016.
Blichfeld Boiling: Joachim Blichfeld scored twice in the third period last Saturday against the Canucks as he notched his second-straight two-goal effort. Blichfeld also collected an assist and now has three three-point games in his career, two this season, and nine multi-goal outings in his career. Blichfeld ranks second on the team in power-play goals (4) and T-second overall in the league in that department. Despite scoring just one goal over his first six games this season, Blichfeld now has seven goals on the year which ranks second on the club.
Double Trouble: Both Sheldon Dries and Sheldon Rempal have been the main staples for the Canucks’ offense. Dries has 19 points (12+7=19) in 16 games played and is coming off a two-goal effort against the Barracuda last Sunday. Rempal has 18 points (6+12=18) in 18 games played and is currently on a five-game point streak (3+3=6).
Ghastly Gisueppe: Phil Di Giuseppe had his four-game point streak (2+4=6) snapped last Sunday against the Barracuda, but he managed to score in the Canucks 5-1 win over San Jose on Saturday. The Toronto native has 15 points (5+10=14) in 18 games played, including a four-assist game against San Jose on November 12 at the Abbotsford Centre. Against the Barracuda, the former Michigan Wolverine is tied with Sheldon Dries for the team lead in points (4+3=6) and first in goals.
Sluggish Starts: For the 12th time in 18 games this season and the fourth time in five games against Abbotsford, the Barracuda gave up the first goal of the game on Saturday. Just twice has San Jose led after 20 minutes this season and have trailed entering the third period in 15 or their 18 games played this year. In addition, the team has given up 4+ goals in seven of their last eight games and rank last in the AHL in goals-against-per-game (4.39), despite being outshot just six times this year. Entering Sunday, the Barracuda have given up a power-play goal in six-straight games (10/22=45%) and rank 31st in the league on the penalty kill (66.2%). Aside from a four-game stretch from Nov. 14 thru Nov. 21 in which the team went 13-for-13 on the kill, the Barracuda have given up a power-play goal in every game this year.