GAMEDAY: BARRACUDA AT CONDORS
Dec 28, 2023SAN JOSE BARRACUDA (9-13-4-0, 22 pts.) vs. BAKERSFIELD CONDORS (11-10-1-1, 24 pts.)
FRI, DEC. 29 | 7:00 P.M. | Mechanics Bank Arena | Bakersfield, CA
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Back in Bakersfield: Beginning on Friday, the Barracuda close out 2023 with a road and home against the Bakersfield Condors (Edmonton Oilers). Friday marks the first meeting on the eight-game seasons series and the first of four at the Mechanics Bank Arena. The Barracuda went 4-4 against the Condors a year ago, and 2-2 on the road.
Saturday in Sin City: The Barracuda went into the Christmas break by falling 3-2 to the Henderson Silver Knights on Saturday night at the Dollar Loan Center. The Barracuda jumped out to a 2-0 advantage in the first after goals by Ethan Cardwell and Brad Marek but the Knights came all the way back to claim the regulation win, their third multi-goal comeback this season against the Barracuda.
Condors Check: The Condors enter Friday with wins in its last two and points in its last four (3-0-1-0), which matches a season high. Former second-rounder Olivier Rodrigue has started each of the last four games, allowing just one goal in his last two outings. Rodrigue ranks first in the AHL in save percentage (.938) and second in goals-against average (.209). Bakersfield has been on the power play a league-low 79 times and has gone on the penalty kill a league-low 81 times entering Friday.
High Card: Barracuda rookie forward Ethan Cardwell notched his team-leading ninth goal of the year on Saturday and now has goals in his last two games, three of his last four, and points in four straight (3+1=4). Among rookies, he is T-eighth in scoring (18) and fourth in goals.
Real Deal Danil: Sophomore forward Danil Gushchin is pacing the Barracuda in scoring (24) and points-per-game (.96), and co-leads the team in assists (16). Gushchin is also T-second on the club in goals (8) and power-play goals (2). In addition, he is third in the league in shots (102).
King Leon: Barracuda blueliner Leon Gawanke ranks T-third in the AHL among defenders in points (20), and is T-fourth in goals (5). The German-born defenseman has 13 points (3+10=13) over his last 14 games. A season ago, as a member of the Manitoba Moose, he led all league defenders in power-play goals (7) and was T-first in total goals (20).
Love Shak: Barracuda defenseman Shakir Mukhamadullin was held off the scoresheet on Saturday, ending his five-game point streak, but still has 11 points (3+8=11) over his last nine games. The former Devils first-rounder is T-fifth among league blueliners in points (18) and power-play assists (7).