GAMEDAY: BARRACUDA AT SILVER KNIGHTS
Dec 22, 2023
SAN JOSE BARRACUDA (8-12-4-0, 20 pts.) vs. HENDERSON SILVER KNIGHTS (14-10-1-2, 31 pts.)
FRI, DEC. 22 | 7:00 P.M. | Dollar Loan Center | Henderson, NV
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Home is Henderson: The Barracuda kick off a three-game road trip on Friday in Henderson against the Silver Knights (Golden Knights). Friday, the first of back-to-back against the Knights, is the third meeting this month and the sixth on the eight-game season series. The Barracuda are 1-2-2-0 against HSK and 0-1-1-0 at the Dollar Loan Center. Lifetime, in Vegas/Henderson, the Barracuda are 2-10-1-1, earning their first two wins last season.
Wednesday Woes: The Barracuda gave up a season-high eight goals on Wednesday, falling 8-6 to the Tucson Roadrunners. The 14 combined goals were the second most in a single game in franchise history. In the loss, Brad Marek notched his first multi-goal game of his career and Shakir Mukhamadullin, Thomas Bordeleau, Scott Sabourin and Leon Gawanke all scored. Mukhamadullin and Sabourin finished the game with three points (1+2=3), as Sabourin also fought Montana Onyebuchi for the Gordie Howe Hat-Trick. Eetu Makiniemi, who had won his prior two starts, was in net for all eight goals against. Tucson’s Aku Raty finished with a game-high four points (3+1=4).
Henderson Hookup: After beating the Knights for the first time this season, 6-1, on Dec. 8, the Barracuda were dealt a 5-1 loss the following night on Dec. 9 at Tech CU Arena. In the defeat, Adam Cracknell notched a hat trick, and Isaiah Saville made 31 saves in his season debut. Sheldon Rempal and Brendan Brisson (EN) also scored, while Georgi Romanov took the loss. Prior to the last hookup, the Barracuda had scored the first goal in each of the four matchups.
Knight Light: The Knights enter Friday having won four in a row, outscoring their opponents 16-5 during the stretch. Henderson has a power-play goal in each win (5/17=19%) and now ranks eighth (21.2%) in the league in that department. The Knights are one of the best teams in the AHL at drawing penalties, having gone on the man-advantage 118 times so far this season, which is third most in the league. HSK enters Friday just three points out of the top spot in the division and 11 points ahead of the Barracuda. Former Panthers first-rounder Grigori Denisenko leads the team in scoring (25) and assists (16), and 38-year-old Adam Cracknell is pacing the club in goals (12) and is second in the AHL in power-play goals (6).
Real Deal Danil: After picking up an assist on Wednesday, sophomore forward Danil Gushchin now has points in his last three (1+3=4) and four of his last five (2+6=8). Gush is pacing the Barracuda in scoring (23) and points-per-game (1.00), co-leads the team in goals (8), and is T-second in assists (15). In addition, he is third in the league in shots (97). Against Henderson, Gushchin is leading all skaters with 10 points (2+8=10) in five games.
Nate the Great: Barracuda forward Nathan Todd had his point streak snapped at seven games (5+7=12) on Wednesday, the second longest of his career. The veteran forward has goals in four of his last six and 15 points (5+10=15) over his last 14 outings, after recording just a goal and an assist through his first nine in a Cuda sweater. A year ago, Todd notched 14 points (8+6=14) in 16 games with the Springfield Thunderbirds before suffering a season-ending lower-body injury. Saturday was his 150th game in the AHL. Todd has five points (2+3=5) in five games against Henderson this season, which ranks T-second on the team.
King Leon: Barracuda blueliner Leon Gawanke collected a goal and an assist on Wednesday and now has points in three straight (1+4=5) and four of five (2+4=6). Among league defenders, he is T-fifth in points (20) and goals (5), and T-sixth in assists (14). The German-born defenseman has 13 points (3+10=13) over his last 12 games. A season ago, he led all league defenders in power-play goals (7) and was T-first in total goals (20). Gawanke has five points (2+3=5) in five games against Henderson this season, which ranks T-second on the team.
Love Shak: Barracuda defenseman Shakir Mukhamadullin notched his first three-point game (1+2=3) of the year on Wednesday and now has points in his last four (2+5=7) and six of seven (3+7=10). The former Devils first-rounder leads the team in power-play points (9) and power-play assists (7) and is fifth in shots (47).