GAMEDAY: BARRACUDA VS REIGN
Oct 26, 2022
SAN JOSE BARRACUDA (4-0-0-0) vs. ONTARIO REIGN (4-1-0-0)
WED., OCT 26 | 7:00 P.M. | Tech CU Arena | San Jose, CA
LISTEN | WATCH | GAME NOTES | MEDIA KIT
Mid-Week Matchup: The Barracuda look to remain perfect as they host the 4-1-0-0 Ontario Reign (LA Kings) on Wednesday night at Tech CU Arena, the first meeting on the eight-game season series. Ontario’s only blemish of the early campaign came in its second game of the year on Oct. 18 against the Bakersfield Condors (2-3 L). After a 3-2 win over Henderson on Sunday, the Barracuda are 4-0 for the first time in franchise history and now, along with Charlotte, stand as the only unbeatens remaining in the AHL. After Wednesday, the next matchup between the California rivals will be at Tech CU Arena on Nov. 10. The Barracuda (1.50) and Reign (2.00) rank first and second in the AHL in goals-against average entering Wednesday.
Looking Back: The Barracuda went 1-5 against the Reign a year ago, collecting its only win on Mar. 9, 2022, at the Toyota Arena. Lifetime, San Jose is 23-26-5-1 against the Kings’ top affiliate and 13-13-2-0 at home. In 2021-22, Ontario finished second in the Pacific Division, only behind Stockton, and averaged a league-best 3.89 goals-per-game. The Reign also boasted the AHL’s best PP (27.5%), due in large part to the league’s MVP T.J. Tynan who finished with 46 assists on the man-power advantage. In six games last year, Tynan racked up 14 points (3+11=14) against the Barracuda.
Killin’ It: The Barracuda are off to its best penalty-kill start in franchise history, having successfully killed off the first 18 opposing power plays this season. A year ago, the Barracuda finished with the AHL’s worst PK at (74.7%) and went perfect on the PK over a four-game stretch just once. In 2021-22, against the Reign, the Cuda went 10/17 (58.8%).
Notable Names: Several notable names are back in Ontario with the Reign in 2022-23, including 2x defending AHL MVP T.J. Tynan, 2021-22 First Team AHL All-Star Jordan Spence, first-rounders Tobias Bjornfot (’19), Rasmus Kupari (’18) and Lias Andersson (’17 NYR), and second rounders Sam Helenius (’21), Helge Grans (’20), Sam Fagemo (’19), and Akil Thomas (’18). Key departures for Ontario include Martin Frk (St. Louis Blues) and longtime captain Brett Sutter (Calgary Wranglers).
Stingy Starts: The Barracuda have been the best first-period team in the AHL this year with a +5 rating in the opening 20. Prior to Sunday, the Barracuda had outscored its opponents 6-0 in the first frame and had yet to trail in a game.
Young Guns: Rookies Thomas Bordeleau (3), Brandon Coe (2), Tristen Robins (2), and William Eklund (1) have combined to score eight of the clubs’ first 13 goals. Bordeleau, Coe, and Robins were all selected in the 2020 NHL Draft as part of a historic nine-forward class for the Sharks. The Kings selected Reign d-man Helge Grans two picks ahead of Bordeleau in 2020 and four picks after Ozzy Wiesblatt.