PALM DESERT, Calif. (Oct. 23, 2026) – Behind goals from five different skaters and a 22-save performance from Ilya Samsonov, the San Jose Barracuda (3-4-0-0) earned a convincing 5-2 victory over the Coachella Valley Firebirds (3-3-2-1) on Friday night at Acrisure Arena. Andre Gasseau continued his hot start to the season with his team-leading fifth goal, while Alex Barré-Boulet collected two assists in his first game with the Barracuda this season. San Jose earned its second consecutive victory and first road win of the year.

The Barracuda wasted little time getting on the scoreboard, opening the scoring at 5:10 of the first period when Gasseau netted his fifth goal of the season, beating Nikke Kokko on a breakaway with a backhand-to-forehand move. The first-year pro has now scored in three consecutive games, finding the back of the net four times during that stretch. Just 1:28 later, Brett Leason doubled San Jose's advantage with his third goal of the year, tipping in a shot from Leo Sahlin Wallenius. Leason has now scored in three straight games and recorded points in five of his six games this season. Coachella Valley cut the deficit in half at 13:02 when Lukas Dragicevic snuck a shot through from the bottom of the left circle during a delayed penalty. San Jose carried a 2-1 lead into the first intermission after outshooting the Firebirds 11-4.

After a strong push from Coachella Valley to begin the middle frame, the Barracuda extended their lead at 7:32 when defenseman Libor Hájek scored his first goal of the season, beating Kokko on his own rebound. The goal, which would stand as the game-winner, restored San Jose's two-goal cushion. The Barracuda added another at 15:20 when Donavan Houle snapped a shot off the post and in from just inside the left circle, giving him goals in consecutive games. San Jose carried a commanding 4-1 lead into the second intermission.

The Barracuda continued to apply pressure in the third period, outshooting the Firebirds 15-11 in the final frame. With Coachella Valley's net empty, Ethan Cardwell put the game out of reach at 14:53, scoring his second goal of the season off a feed from Barré-Boulet to make it 5-1. The Firebirds added a late goal at 19:21 when Jani Nyman scored his league-leading ninth of the season, but San Jose cruised to the 5-2 victory.

Samsonov turned aside 22 of 24 shots to earn the win in his first AHL appearance in more than 2,000 days, while Coachella Valley netminder Nikke Kokko finished with 29 saves on 33 shots. The Barracuda outshot the Firebirds 34-24 and went a perfect 3-for-3 on the penalty kill, holding Coachella Valley's potent power play scoreless. San Jose finished 0-for-3 on the man advantage.

The victory marked San Jose's first win at Acrisure Arena since April 9, 2025, and just its fifth in franchise history at the building.

The Barracuda will conclude their two-game Southern California road trip on Saturday when they face the San Diego Gulls before returning to Tech CU Arena on Wednesday, Oct. 28, to host the Abbotsford Canucks.

BOX SCORE

The Barracuda will conclude their two-game Southern California road trip on Saturday when they face the San Diego Gulls before returning to Tech CU Arena on Wednesday, Oct. 28, to host the Abbotsford Canucks. For tickets, go to SJBarracuda.com/tickets.