GAMEDAY: BARRACUDA VS BARRACUDA
Dec 10, 2021SAN JOSE BARRACUDA (6-10-1-0) vs ABBOTSFORD CANUCKS (7-7-2-1)
SAT, DEC. 11 | 1:15 P.M. | SAP Center at San Jose | San Jose, CA
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Home Sweet Home: After a five-game roadie, the Barracuda finally return back to the friendly confines of the SAP Center for the first time since Nov. 20. as they'll kick off a three-game homestand. Saturday’s game marks the fifth on the season series against the Abbotsford Canucks and the first in Northern California. The Barracuda are 2-2 against the Canucks this season and are coming off a 5-2 loss in the most recent matchup on Dec. 5. The Barracuda are 2-4-1 on home ice this season and 0-2 when playing games at 1:15.
Reedy Rolling: Scott Reedy had his five-game point streak (5+3=7) snapped in a 10-1 blowout loss against the Stockton Heat on Tuesday. However, The Prior Lake, Minn. native is still tied for first among all AHL skaters in power-play goals (5), second in shooting percentage (9/43=37.5%), and tied for fourth in goals (9). Prior to turning pro, Reedy led the Minnesota Golden Gophers in goals the last two seasons. Against Abbotsford, Reedy is pacing the Barracuda in points (2+2=4).
Halbgewachs Heat Check: Jayden Halbgewachs has been one of San Jose’s top scorers with 14 points (6+8=14) in 17 games played this season. The fourth-year pro ranks third on the Barracuda in goals (6), tied for second in assists and points, and first in power-play assists (6). Before turning pro, Halbgewachs played five years in the WHL with the Moose Jaw Warriors, pacing the league in points (129) and goals (70) in 2017-18, his final of junior hockey. He is five points away from 100 in his career as a pro.
Sommer Time: Head Coach Roy Sommer returns for his AHL-best 24th season in 2021-22 and his 26th within the Sharks organization. The Oakland, Calif. native has been behind the bench for 1,690 games, going 794-689-48-160 (W-L-T-OTL/SOL) over that span. During the 2015-16 season, the Barracuda’s first in San Jose, Sommer surpassed Fred “Bun” Cook (636 wins) for the most wins in AHL history in a 4-2 win over the Ontario Reign on Feb. 10, 2016.
Blichfeld Boiling: Joachim Blichfeld scored twice in the third period last Saturday against the Canucks as he notched his second-straight two-goal effort. Blichfeld also collected an assist and now has three three-point games in his career, two this season, and nine multi-goal outings in his career. Blichfeld ranks second on the team in power-play goals (4) and T-second overall in the league in that department. Despite scoring just one goal over his first six games this season, Blichfeld now has seven goals on the year which ranks second on the club.
Double Trouble: Both Sheldon Dries and Sheldon Rempal have been the main staples for the Canucks’ offense. Dries has 19 points (12+7=19) in 16 games played and is coming off a two-goal effort against the Barracuda last Sunday. Rempal has 16 points (5+11=16) in 17 games played and is currently on a four-game point streak (2+2=4).
Ghastly Gisueppe: Phil Di Giuseppe had his four-game point streak (2+4=6) snapped last Sunday against the Barracuda. The Toronto native has 14 points (4+10=14) in 17 games played, including a four-assist game against San Jose on November 12 at the Abbotsford Centre. The former Michigan Wolverine is tied with Sheldon Dries for the team lead in points (3+3=6) and first in goals when playing the Barracuda this season.
Home Cooking: The Barracuda enter Saturday’s game with the AHL’s best home power-play, humming at 34.5% (10/29), and have power-play goals in six of their seven home games this year.