GAMEDAY: BARRACUDA VS ADMIRALS (1-6-17)
Jan 6, 2017Game #28 – San Jose (16-7-1-3) vs. Milwaukee Admirals (19-8-2-2)
Friday, January 6, 2017
7:00 PM PST, SAP Center, San Jose, Calif.
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Tonight’s Matchup: The San Jose Barracuda look for their sixth straight win on home ice as they welcome in the Milwaukee Admirals for the first time in team history. Friday’s matchup is also San Jose’s first game against a non-Pacific Division opponent this season.
In 2015-16, the Barracuda went 3-3 against non-Pacific Division foes and 1-2 at home. The Admirals are a perfect 5-0 against the Pacific this season after topping the San Antonio Rampage three times and the Texas Stars twice.
Spectacular Special Teams: Despite allowing a pair of power-play goals to the Rampage on Wednesday the Barracuda still sit atop the league on the PK (87.9%). The Barracuda also matched a season high with three power-play tallies on Wednesday and are now third in the AHL on the man advantage (27.2%).
Home Sweet Home: On Wednesday, the Barracuda set a franchise record with their fifth straight home win and extended their home point streak to a franchise long eight games.
All-Star Nods: On Thursday the AHL announced that Barracuda Goaltender Troy Grosenick and rookie Forward Danny O’Regan had been named to the 2017 All-Star game, which will take place in Lehigh Valley at the end of the month. Grosenick is having a career campaign in his fourth season as a pro, posting a 9-5-1 record in 19 games played. The Brookfield, WI, native leads the AHL in shutouts (5), is 12th in wins, sixth in save percentage (2.06) and T-third in goals-against average (.929). Amongst AHL rookies, O'Regan ranks second in points (31) and assists (21) and is third in points per game (1.15). He also ranks first on the Barracuda in points, T-first assists and second in goals (10).
Heed Check: Among defenseman in the AHL, Barracuda blueliner Tim Heed ranks second in the league in points (30) and T-first in assists (21). He is also T-second in goals (9), T-first in power play goals (6), and first in game-winning goals (3). Heed is second on the Barracuda in points, T-first in assists, third in goals, first in power play goals, T-first in game-winning goals and T-second in plus/minus (+8). On Wednesday, Heed potted a pair of power-play tallies in the third period to lead the Barracuda over the Rampage, 4-2. The former Defenseman of the Year in the Swedish Hockey League was recalled to the Sharks for San Jose’s game on Thursday but did not dress in the contest. Heed is riding a four-game point streak (2+5=7) from Dec. 28 to now and has points in 9 of his last ten games (4+12=16).
Marcus Soaring: After not registering a point in 10 games from Nov. 11 to Dec. 11, Marcus Sorensen has points in five straight (3+2=4) and seven of his last eight (4+3=6). Sorensen is tied for the team lead in plus/minus (+9) and is T-third in goals (8).
San Jose's Last Time Out: The San Jose Barracuda scored three power-play goals on Wednesday and Troy Grosenick made 36 saves to lead the Barracuda to a 4-2 win at SAP Center over the San Antonio Rampage. Danny O’Regan and Marcus Sorensen each scored in the first for San Jose before A.J. Greer tallied late in the frame for San Antonio and Gabriel Bourque evened the score in the second. In the third, Tim Heed laced two bombs from the point on the power to give San Jose all the insurance needed to earn their fifth straight home win.
Milwaukee's Last Time Out: The Milwaukee Admirals jumped out to a 2-0 lead with a pair of power-play goals on Monday against the Rockford IceHogs and rolled to a 5-2 victory on home ice at UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena. Trevor Murphy scored twice, and Anthony Bitetto, Pontus Aberg, and Justin Kirkland each tallied for the Ads while Marek Mazanec earned the win by making 28 saves.