GAMEDAY: BARRACUDA AT GULLS
Jan 4, 2019San Jose Barracuda (19-6-1-3 .724) vs. San Diego Gulls (15-11-1-3 .557)
FRIDAY, JAN. 4 | 7:00 P.M.
Pechanga Arena | San Jose, Calif.
LISTEN | WATCH | GAME NOTES
Tonight’s Matchup: On Friday, the San Jose Barracuda and San Diego Gulls (Anaheim Ducks) connect for the fifth time this season and the third time in San Diego. San Jose is 1-2-0-1 against its Southern California rival this season, but have been outscored 11-to-two over its last two games against the Gulls. San Diego has won four in a row and has points in nine straight.
Hey now, you’re an All-Star: On Thursday, the AHL announced that Barracuda assistant captain Jake Middleton, winger Francis Perron and goaltender Josef Korenar were all named to the 2019 AHL All-Star Classic, which will take place in Springfield, Mass. 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.
Road Warriors: After Monday’s 6-5 win at Stockton, the Barracuda boast the Pacific’s best road winning percentage (9-3-1-2 = .700) and best road goal differential (+9).
Yo Joe: 20-year-old rookie netminder Josef Korenar has won his last seven games and is first in the AHL in goals-against average (2.19), sixth in save percentage (.918) and is T-third in wins (13). On Thursday, Korenar was named to the 2019 AHL All-Star Classic.
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 (29.5% 2nd in the AHL), game winning goals (3) and is T-third in plus/minus (+14). After netting a power-play goal on Friday, Perron has points (7g, 9a) in 11 of his last 14 games including four multi-point games over that stretch. On Thursday, Perron was named to the 2019 AHL All-Star Classic.
True or False? After recording just one goal over his first 13 games, Alex True has nine goals over his last 16, including seven over his last 12 games. On December 16, True notched his first four-point (1g, 3a) game of his career and has 19 points (9g, 10a) over his last 16. True is T-first on the Barracuda in plus/minus (+16) and is second in both points (24) and goals (10) and is T-second in assists (14). On Monday, True collected three points (one goal, two assists) and now has four multi-point games this season.
Gambrell Good: Rookie forward Dylan Gambrell scored last Friday and Saturday and now has goals in five of his last nine games. Gambrell has points (5g, 8a) in 12 of his last 13 and is second on the Barracuda in points-per-game (.86). Gambrell is currently on a five-game point streak (2g, 3a).
Hard Wood: Acquired in an offseason trade with the Arizona Coyotes, Kyle Wood leads the Barracuda in assists (17), T-third in plus/minus (+14) and is third in points (17). 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.
Youth Movement: The Barracuda enter Thursday with the AHL’s second youngest roster (24.25) only behind the Tucson Roadrunners (23.71). The Barracuda are comprised of 13 AHL rookies and five sophomores. Just four players on San Jose’s AHL roster are Sharks draft picks.