GAMEDAY: BARRACUDA AT REIGN
Mar 8, 2023
SAN JOSE BARRACUDA (22-27-1-4) vs. ONTARIO REIGN (30-20-4-1)
WED, MAR. 8 | 7:00 P.M. | Toyota Arena | Ontario, CA
LISTEN | WATCH | GAME NOTES | MEDIA KIT
Marching Along: After falling 5-4 on Saturday against the Coachella Valley Firebirds, the Barracuda kick off a three-game road trip on Wednesday in Ontario against the Reign, closing out its eight-game season series with the Kings' top affiliate. The Cuda are 4-3-0-0 versus the Reign, having won three of four, and are coming off at 4-2 victory on Friday night at Tech CU Arena. Wednesday will mark the fourth game in the last eight against Ontario.
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 tallies, including one of the shorties, and Luke Johnson (SH) and Danil Gushchin also scored as Aaron Dell made 25 saves to claim the win.
Last Time Out: The Barracuda and Firebirds exchanged leads five times on Saturday, but a late goal by Ty Kartye turned out to be the difference as Coachella Valley scored two unanswered in the third to claim a 5-4 win. In the loss, Andrew Agozzino notched his 20th goal of the year, extending his point streak to eight games (5+7+12), and in the process reached 500 points in the AHL in game #650. Jeff Viel also extended his point streak to a career-best six games (3+6=9) by scoring his second shorty in the last four outings. Ozzy Wiesblatt and Martin Kaut also scored in the loss.
Reign Train: Ontario enters Wednesday having dropped its last four games (0-2-2-0), but still sit just one point behind both the Colorado Eagles and Abbotsford Canucks for the 3rd and 4th spots in the Pacific Division. After Wednesday, the Reign will have 16 games remaining on its 2022-23 schedule and eight games left at home. Ontario, who kicks off a three-game homestand on Friday, is 0-1-1-0 over its last two on home ice and 4-4-2-0 in its last 10. The Reign average the fewest penalties minutes per game in the Pacific (11.48), and only Henderson (190) has been on the penalty kill less than Ontario (196). The Reign are fourth in the league on the power play (23.3), and third on the penalty kill (84.2%), but have given up a league-high 14 shorthanded goals this year, including three in its last two games, and three against the Barracuda in the last two matchups. Ontario is 13th in goals for (3.16) and seventh in goals against (2.84).
Cuda Chronicles: San Jose enters Wednesday five points behind both the Bakersfield Condors and Tucson Roadrunners for the last two playoff spots in the Pacific Division. After Wednesday, the Barracuda will have 10 more road games left on its schedule and 17 in total. SJ is 30th in the league in goals for (2.74) and 26th in goals against (3.43). Against the Reign, they are 4-0 when scoring four goals.
Two-Time T.J.: Two-time defending AHL MVP T.J. Tynan ranks first in the league points (68), helpers (60), and power-play assists (33). Since Jan. 1, Tynan has 40 points (5+35=40) in 28 games, including six points (1+5=6) in four games against the Barracuda. During head-to-head play, Tynan leads all skaters in scoring (1+6=7). In his career against the Barracuda, the veteran forward has notched 27 points (5+22=27) in 18 games.
El Cap: Barracuda captain Andrew Agozzino collected his 500th AHL point on Saturday in the first period. The veteran forward, who scored his 200th AHL goal earlier this year, is currently riding an eight-game point streak (5+7=12) and has 19 points (10+9=19) in his last 15 games. Agozzino leads the Barracuda in points (45), assists (25), and is T-first in goals (20).