GAMEDAY: BARRACUDA VS CONDORS
Dec 11, 2022
SAN JOSE BARRACUDA (12-10-0-1) vs. BAKERSFIELD CONDORS (9-12-1-0)
SUN, DEC. 11 | 5:00 P.M. | Tech CU Arena | San Jose, CA
LISTEN | WATCH | GAME NOTES | MEDIA KIT | CONDORS NOTES
Sunday Funday: After an 8-3 loss to the Coachella Valley Firebirds on Friday night, the Barracuda wrap up its season-long six-game homestand on Sunday with the second meeting of the year against the Bakersfield Condors (Edmonton Oilers). The Barracuda are 1-0 against the Oilers affiliate this season after a 2-1 victory on Nov. 26 at Mechanics Bank Arena. During the home stand, the Barracuda have gone 2-3 and are 7-6-0-1 overall at Tech CU Arena. A year ago, SJ went 3-2 against the Condors at home and are 21-12-2-2 all time versus Bakersfield in the Bay Area.
Shake & Bak: On Saturday, the Condors snapped its six-game losing streak with a 5-4 overtime win over the Coachella Valley Firebirds as Seth Griffith netted the first and final goals of the game. The six-game skid was the longest without a point in Condors’ franchise history and began with a 2-1 loss to the Barracuda on Nov. 26. Bakersfield is the worst second-period team in the AHL (-17) but rank third in the league in plus/minus in the third period (+9). The Condors have been outshot 626-to-732 and are a minus in every period in shots, averaging 33.27 (30th) shots against per game and 28.45 (28th). shots for. Entering Sunday, the Barracuda are averaging 2.83 goals for (27th) while the Condors are averaging 2.86 goals for (26th).
Player to Watch: After scoring a pair of goals on Saturday, including the overtime winner, third-year Condors' forward Seth Griffith is now pacing Bakersfield in scoring (21) and assists (15). A year ago, his ranked fourth in the AHL in points (80) and helpers (50), T-fifth in power-play goals (12) and T-seventh in power-play assists (21). Despite not recording a point in the loss to the Barracuda on Nov. 26, Griffith has 22 points (12+10=22) in 19 career games against San Jose.
Sluggish Starts: The Barracuda have given up the first goal in each of its last eight games, going 4-4 during the stretch. The Cuda have allowed the first goal in 14 of its 23 contests this year and are 7-6-0-1 when doing so.
Spiky Fish: The Barracuda rank first in the AHL in penalty minutes per game (20.91), majors (19) and minors (143). Jeff Viel is second in the AHL in minors (17), penalty minutes (74), and T-fourth in majors (4). William Eklund is T-third among rookies in minors (9).
Rookie Arrivals: Rookies Thomas Bordeleau (11), Tristen Robins (7), William Eklund (7), Danil Gushchin (6), Brandon Coe (2), and Ozzy Wiesblatt (1) have accounted for 33 of the Barracuda’s 65 goals scored (51%). The most among any rookie class this season. Wiesblatt (Rd 1, 31st overall), Bordeleau (Rd 2, 38th Overall), Robins (Rd 2, 56th Overall), Gushchin (Rd 3, 76th Overall), and Coe (Rd 4, 98th Overall) were all part of the Sharks' historic nine-forward draft class in 2020. Bordeleau is T-first amongst rookies in goals, and T-third, along with Robins, in power-play goals (4).
Powering Up: Before going 0-for-2 on the power play on Friday, the Barracuda had scored on the man advantage in nine consecutive games (13/45=28%), matching the longest streak in franchise history with a power-play goal. Over its two games last weekend against the Tucson Roadrunners, the Barracuda buried five power-play goals.
Toast to 200: Captain Andrew Agozzino netted his 199th and 200th career AHL goals on Sunday in a 4-3 overtime win against the Tucson Roadrunners. His overtime winner came at 4:13 of the extra session and was his first OTW since he did it with the San Diego Gulls against the Barracuda on March 6, 2021. The 10-year vet also collected an assist in Sunday’s win, and Friday's loss, and now has points in 10 of his last 12 (6+8=14). Agozzino leads the Barracuda in scoring (21), shots (64), and power-play assists (7).