GAMEDAY: BARRACUDA VS FIREBIRDS
Mar 4, 2023
SAN JOSE BARRACUDA (22-26-1-4) vs. COACHELLA VALLEY FIREBIRDS (35-10-4-2)
SAT, MAR. 4 | 6:00 P.M. | Tech CU Arena | San Jose, CA
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Marching Along: After picking up a 4-2 win over the Ontario Reign on Friday, the Barracuda turn around on Saturday to take on the Coachella Valley Firebirds, closing out its two-game home stand. The Cuda are 0-4-1-1 against Seattle’s top affiliate, but have earned points in the last two meetings. Saturday will be Coachella Valley's final regular-season visit to Tech CU Arena in 2022-23.
Friday Fun: The Barracuda netted a pair of shorthanded goals on Friday night at Tech CU Arena, rolling past the Reign, 4-2. Captain Andrew Agozzino notched a pair of goals, including one of the shorties, and Luke Johnson (SH) and Danil Gushchin also scored as Aaron Dell made 25 saves to claim the win. After Friday, the Barracuda have now earned points in six of their last seven (4-1-1-1).
About Monday: The Barracuda scored just 4:33 into the first period on Monday at the Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert as Kyle Criscuolo notched a power-play goal from the low slot, giving the Cuda its first ever lead against the Coachella Valley Firebirds. In the second, Carsen Twarynski tied the score at 1-1, before the third period saw a combined four goals. Luke Henman would score at 1:35, before Thomas Bordeleau answered back at 3:11. At 5:52, Jeff Viel made it 3-2 Barracuda, only to have Cameron Hughes tie the score three minutes later. In overtime, Kole Lind would record the only shot, beating Aaron Dell on a two-on-one. In the loss, Dell made a season-high 40 saves on 44 shots, while Chris Driedger, in his first game action since tearing his ACL at the World Championships last summer, made 30 saves on 33 shots. The Barracuda finished the four-game road trip with a 2-1-1-0 record, suffering its first overtime loss this year.
Fired Up: The Firebirds are coming off a 5-1 win at Bakersfield on Friday and have wins in four of its last five and points in five of six (4-1-0-1). Coachella Valley, who boasts the AHL's best winning percentage (.745), stands just one point behind the top-seeded Calgary Wranglers in the Pacific Division and have four games in hand. CV is the best road team in the league, donning a .759 winning percentage (20-5-4-0), and have won three in a row on visiting ice. The Firebirds rank third in the AHL in goals for (3.61) and goals against (2.61) and are 10th in shots for (31.10) and fourth in shots against (28.49). On the road, they have scored a league-high 106 goals. Entering Saturday, the Firebirds have allowed the first goal in nine consecutive games, going 5-3-0-1 during the stretch.
Cuda Chronicles: San Jose enters Saturday three points behind the Bakersfield Condors for the final playoff spot in the Pacific Division. After Saturday, the Barracuda will have seven more home games left on its schedule and 18 in total. SJ is 29th in the league in goals for (2.72) and 25th in goals against (3.40). Against the Firebirds, the Barracuda have been outscored 27-9 in the six games.
Kole as Ice: Firebirds forward Kole Lind has 11 points (6+5=11) in six games against the Barracuda, including a shootout and overtime winner in the last two contests.