GAMEDAY: BARRACUDA vs. CONDORS
Oct 28, 2016Game #3 – San Jose (1-1-0-0) vs. Bakersfield (1-2-0-0)
7:00 PM PST, SAP Center at San Jose, San Jose, California
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Tonight’s Matchup: On Friday, the Bakersfield Condors and San Jose Barracuda meet up for the first time in 2016-17 as San Jose gears up for its home opener. Last year, the Barracuda went 5-6-0-1 against the Condors and 2-4-0-0 on home ice. Bakersfield finished 5th in the Pacific Division and 10th in the Western Conference with a record of 31-28-7-2 (71 pts.), while San Jose claimed the final Pacific Division playoff spot and were 8th in the Western Conference with a record of 31-26-8-3 (73 pts.).
Players To Watch: With his overtime winner against Ontario, Sharks 5th round pick in 2012 (#138 overall) Danny O’Regan now has three points through two games, including goals in each of his first two professional contests. Born in Berlin, Germany, O’Regan appeared in 154 games for Boston University, totaling 154 points (66-88-154), 72 PIMs and a plus-28 rating.
Sharks 1st round pick in 2015 (#9 overall) Timo Meier is scheduled to make his highly anticipated professional debut for the Barracuda on Friday. The lethal offensive threat has been out for a month after being diagnosed with mononucleosis. In 2015-16, Meier scored 87 points (34-53-87) between the Halifax Mooseheads and Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (QMJHL) in his final year of junior hockey.
Former 1st round pick (#4 overall) of the New York Islanders in 2012, the Edmonton Oilers acquired Griffin Reinhart in a draft day trade in 2015. Reinhart split time between Bakersfield and Edmonton in 2015-16. The 6-4 and 216 lb. d-man played 29 games for the Oilers last year, totaling one assist, six PIMs and -6 rating. Reinhart has zero points for the Condors through three games.
Through three games, the third-year pro, Jujhar Khaira, leads the Condors points (4) and goals (3). The former Everett Silvertip’ had four goals and four assists in eight games for San Jose in 2015. The third round pick (#63 overall) in 2012 appeared in his first 15 NHL game last season, totaling two assists and a -2 rating.
Between the pipes: Troy Grosenick got the nod for San Jose in the season opener at Stockton on Oct. 15, but the fourth-year pro took a hard-luck loss, 3-2. Grosenick has a 3.23 GAA through one game and a .900 SV% after allowing three goals on 30 shots. Grosenick went 11-10-4 in 2015-16 with a 3.16 GAA and a .894 SV%.
Mantas Armalis earned a win in his AHL debut last Saturday at Ontario, 5-4 in overtime. Armalis allowed four goals on 15 shots but made the saves needed late to earn the win. Armalis has a 3.66 GAA and a .778 SV% through one game.
Nick Ellis was given the first two starts of his pro career in the first two games of the year for Bakersfield in Manitoba against the Moose. Ellis won a national title as a member of the Providence Friars in 2015. Through two games with the Condors, Ellis is 1-1-0-0 with a 2.53 GAA and a .925 SV%.
Laurent Brossoit enters his fourth year as a pro in 2016-17. The former Edmonton Oil King’ went 0-4 with the Edmonton Oilers in five starts last year with a 3.16 GAA and a .873 SV%. Brossoit spent the majority of the season with the Condors, going 18-9-3 with a 2.66 GAA and .920 SV%. The former 6th round selection (#164 overall) by Calgary in 2011 went 2-0-2 against San Jose in four games in 2015-16. Brossoit suffered a loss in his lone start vs. Tucson on Oct. 22, allowing two goals on 27 shots.
San Jose’s Last Time Out: San Jose used five different scorers to top the Ontario Reign, 5-4, last Saturday at Citizens Business Bank Arena. Kevin Lebanc scored his first goal of his pro career, Tim Heed had three helpers and Nikolay Goldobin scored a goal and two assists while Mantas Armalis earned the win in his AHL debut, stopping 11 shots.
Bakersfield’s Last Time Out: The Bakersfield Condors suffered a 2-1 loss in their home opener last Saturday vs. Tucson. The Condor’s Scott Allen tied the game 1-1 in the third after Tucson’s Brandon Perlini scored the games lone goal in the first, Eric Selleck recaptured the Roadrunners lead late in the third to make it 2-1, a lead Tucson wouldn’t release. Laurent Brossoit took the loss despite making 23 saves.