GAMEDAY: SHARKS VS HEAT
Jan 12, 2019Worcester Sharks (21-8-1-3 .697) vs. Stockton Heat (16-17-3-0 .486)
SUNDAY, JAN. 13 | 3:00 P.M.
SAP Center at San Jose | San Jose, Calif.
LISTEN | WATCH | GAME NOTES
Nor Cal Connection: On Sunday, the San Jose Barracuda and Stockton Heat (Calgary Flames) connect for the eighth time this season and fourth meeting at SAP Center. San Jose is off to a 6-1-0-0 start against the Heat this year, and have won the last four games against Stockton. The Barracuda are 29-11-2-1 (.720) all-time versus the Flames affiliate and 15-6-0-0 with the friendly confines of the Tank (.714).
500 in Teal: On October 26, Barracuda captain John McCarthy played in his 500th AHL game. On December 8, McCarthy skated in his 600th career professional game. On Friday, the Olympian appeared in his 500th AHL game within the Sharks organization. McCarthy is the Barracuda’s all-time leader in games played (223), points (118), goals (52) and assists (66).
Hey Now, You’re an All-Star: The AHL announced earlier this month that Barracuda assistant captain Jake Middleton, winger Francis Perron, and goaltender Josef Korenar will all be heading to Springfield for the 2019 AHL All-Star Classic, which will take place on January 27-28. In addition, Barracuda head coach Roy Sommer will be the Pacific Division’s coaching representative for the AHL All-Star Classic.
Off to Orlando: On Saturday, the Barracuda reassigned defensemen Cody Donaghey and Mike Brodzinski to the Orlando Solar Bears. Brodzinski appeared in one game during his recall to San Jose and has skated now skated 61 games with the Barracuda over his three professional seasons, totaling 10 points (2g, 8a). Donaghey was acquired in a trade with the Ottawa Senators this summer and is leading all Solar Bears d-men in points (23), goals (9) and assists (14).
Home Sweet Home: Despite Friday’s 3-1 loss to Ontario, the Barracuda still boast the Pacific Division’s best home winning percentage (11-4-0-1 = .719). In addition, the Barracuda are +18 in goal-differential which is the best in the Pac. Earlier this season, San Jose set a franchise watermark by winning eight consecutive games at home.
Yo Joe: Despite suffering consecutive losses for the first time in his career, 20-year-old rookie netminder Josef Korenar still ranks second in the AHL in goals-against average (2.29), 10th in save percentage (.914) and is T-sixth in wins (13). Korenar is the third consecutive Barracuda goaltender to be named to the AHL All-Star Classic (Troy Grosenick ’17, Antoine Bibeau ’18, Josef Korenar ’19).
Bibs is Back: After suffering four-straight losses, Antoine Bibeau has won his last two games and has allowed just two goals on 66 shots during the two contests. Bibeau ranks eighth in the AHL in goals-against average (2.53) and is T-seventh in save percentage (.916).
Francis on Fire: Acquired from the Ottawa Senators in the Erik Karlsson trade, Francis Perron is first on the Barracuda in points (27), goals (13), power-play goals (6), shooting percentage (28.3% 1st in the AHL), T-first in game-winning goals (3) and is T-third in plus/minus (+13). After netting a power-play goal last Friday, Perron has points (7g, 9a) in 12 of his last 15 games including four multi-point games over that stretch. Perron returned to San Jose’s lineup on Friday after missing four games due to a lower-body injury.
Hard Wood: Acquired in an offseason trade with the Arizona Coyotes, Kyle Wood leads the Barracuda in assists (19), first in plus/minus (+17) and is T-fourth in points (21). Wood was an AHL All-Star in 2016-17 and was named an AHL All-Rookie member after totaling 43 points (14g, 29a) with the Tucson Roadrunners.