GAMEDAY: BARRACUDA AT CONDORS
Dec 19, 2024SAN JOSE BARRACUDA (16-7-0-2) vs BAKERSFIELD CONDORS (9-10-3-1)
FRI, DEC. 20 | 7:00 P.M. | MECHANICS BANK ARENA | BAKESFIELD, CA
LISTEN | WATCH | GAME NOTES | MEDIA KIT
Back in Bako: The Barracuda close out their five-game roadie in Bakersfield on Friday as they drop the puck on the first game of a road and home with the Condors. Friday is the first matchup on the eight-game season series versus the Oilers affiliate. A year ago, the Barracuda went 4-3-1-0 against the Condors and 2-2-0-0 at the Mechanics Bank Arena. So far on the current road trip, the Barracuda are 2-1-0-1 and have collected points in nine of their last 10 games (8-1-0-1).
Wednesday’s Win: The Barracuda improved to 5-0 versus the Coachella Valley Firebirds on Wednesday at Acrisure Arena, claiming a 5-2 victory. Former Firebird Andrew Poturalski finished with a game-high three points (1+2=3) while Goergi Romanov made 28 saves and is now 3-1-1 over his last five. The Barracuda also went on the power play a season-high seven times, scoring three times on the advantage.
Sparkling Special Teams: After scoring three times (3/7) on the power play on Wednesday, the Barracuda have now notched multiple power-play goals in three of their last four games. The Cuda rank second in the league on the power play (24%) and third on the penalty kill (88.9%).
Great Graf: Barracuda rookie Collin Graf collected a pair of points (1+1=2) on Wednesday in Coachella Valley and now co-leads all AHL rookies in points (24) and is first in helpers (18). Among all league skaters, he is T-sixth in points and T-fourth in assists.
Hot Pot: Andrew Poturalksi collected a season-high three points (1+2=3) on Wednesday in Coachella Valley and now has six points (3+3=6) in five games versus his former club this year. Wednesday was his ninth game this season that the nine-year vet has collected multiple points and second in a row (1+4=5). Friday will be Potsy’s 500th professional game (AHL: 493, NHL: 6). The New Hampshire alumni is T-third in the AHL in power-play goals (5), T-fourth in scoring (26), and T-seventh in goals (10).
Calling Card: Ethan Cardwell collected a goal and an assist on Wednesday and now has eight points (2+6=8) in his last four games since being assigned by the Sharks. Last Thursday versus the Firebirds, Cardwell set a franchise record with 10 shots in a 4-3 shootout win. In addition to the 17 games he has played with the Barracuda this season, the second-year pro has also appeared in six games with the Sharks, scoring his first goal on Nov. 29 vs. Seattle. Cardwell led the Barracuda with 23 goals last year and was named the team’s rookie of the year.
Luca Lightning: Among all AHL defenders, rookie Luca Cagnoni ranks T-second in goals (7), second in power-play points (13), T-third in power-play goals (3) and power-play assists (10), and third in points (22). Among league freshmen, he is first n power-play assists and power-play points, and T-third in points and assists. Cagnoni will turn 20 on Saturday.
Blueline Bolster: Barracuda defenseman Lucas Carlsson extended his point streak to six games (3+3=6) on Wednesday when he made it goals in consecutive contests. Since being held off the scoresheet, in his first two games with the Cuda, the veteran defender has collected points in eight of his last nine (3+5=8). The Sharks signed the rearguard to a two-way, two-year contract on July 1. A year ago, Carlsson finished third among AHL defenders in goals (15) and represented the Charlotte Checkers at the 2024 AHL All-Star Classic in San Jose.
Ask & You Shall Receive: The Sharks recalled prized goalie prospect Yaroslav Askarov on Wednesday after Vitek Vanecek suffered an injury while serving as the backup during Tuesday’s game versus Winnipeg. Askarov ranks T-first in the AHL in shutouts (3), second in save percentage (.938), third in goals-against average (2.00), and fourth in wins (9). The former 11th overall pick by the Nashville Predators was traded to the Sharks on August 23, 2024, in exchange for forward David Edstrom, a 2025 conditional first-round pick, and goaltender Magnus Chrona.