GAMEDAY: BARRACUDA VS FIREBIRDS
Dec 9, 2022
SAN JOSE BARRACUDA (12-9-0-1) vs. COACHELLA VALLEY FIREBIRDS (11-4-2-FRI, DEC. 9 | 7:00 P.M. | Tech CU Arena | San Jose, CA
LISTEN | WATCH | GAME NOTES | MEDIA KIT.
Firing Up: After consecutive wins over the Tucson Roadrunners last weekend, the Barracuda continue its season-long six-game home stand on Friday with the first ever meeting against the Coachella Valley Firebirds (Seattle Kraken). Friday’s matchup is the first on the eight-game season series and the first of three games in December, all in San Jose, versus CV.
Fire Drill: The Firebirds enter Friday having won its last four in a row and have points in nine of 10 (7-1-2-0). Coachella is the best road team in the AHL (9-2-2-0) and are in the midst of a 16-game road trip before the franchise opens its brand-new Acrisure Arena in Palm Springs on Dec. 18 against Tucson. The Firebirds split its first four home games between Climate Pledge Arena (Seattle, WA), Kraken Community Iceplex (Seattle, WA), and Angel of the Winds Arena (Everett, WA).
Truth or Dare?: Former Barracuda and Sharks forward Alex True is in his second season within the Kraken organization after being Seattle’s Expansion Draft Pick from the Sharks in 2021. So far this year, True has eight points (three goals, five assists) in 17 games with the Firebirds. The Denmark native is second in Barracuda franchise history in points (128), goals (59), assists (69) and is third in games played (128).
Player to Watch: After leading the AHL in scoring in 2021-22 with the Chicago Wolves and collecting his second Calder Cup championship, the Seattle Kraken signed veteran AHL forward Andrew Poturalski to a two-year, one-way contract this summer. The seventh-year pro, and former San Diego Gull, is pacing the Firebirds in scoring (5+17=22) through 17 games. After a seven game point streak (1+10=11), he has been held of the scoresheet in his last three.
By the Numbers: The Firebirds are 10th in the AHL in goals for (3.47) and eighth in goals against (2.88). Additionally, the Kraken's affiliate is plus in all three periods, ranks second in shots against (28.65), and have scored the first goal in 11 of its 17 games. To this point, Coachella Valley has played the fewest total games in the league at 17 and the second most on the road (13). The Firebirds are led by Stanley Cup winning head coach Dan Bylsma who served as the assistant in Charlotte with the Checkers last year, while the Kraken split its affiliation with the Florida Panthers.
Spiky Fish: The Barracuda rank second in the AHL in penalty minutes per game (29.32) and first in majors (17) and minors (136). Jeff Viel is second in the AHL in minors (16), penalty minutes (67), and T-fourth, along with teammate Montana Onyebuchi, in majors (3). William Eklund is T-second among rookies in minors (9).
Rookie Arrivals: Rookies Thomas Bordeleau (11), Tristen Robins (7), William Eklund (6), Danil Gushchin (6), Brandon Coe (2), and Ozzy Wiesblatt (1) have accounted for 32 of the Barracuda’s 62 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 first amongst rookies in goals, and T-second, along with Robins, in power-play goals (4).
Powering Up: The Barracuda have scored on the power play in nine consecutive games (13/45=28%), matching the longest streak in franchise history with a power-play goal. Thomas Bordeleau and Tristen Robins co-lead the team with four power-play goals each. The Barracuda scored five power-play goals in its two wins over Tucson last weekend.
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. Current Firebirds forward Andrew Poturalski picked up the primary assist on the goal. The 10-year vet also collected an assist in Sunday’s win and now has points in nine of his last 11 (6+7=13). Agozzino leads the Barracuda in scoring (20), shots (62), and power-play assists (7).