GAMEDAY: BARRACUDA VS CANUCKS
Feb 4, 2023SAN JOSE BARRACUDA (18-23-0-3) vs. ABBOTSFORD CANUCKS (25-15-2-2)
SAT, FEB. 4 | 2:00 P.M. | Tech CU Arena | San Jose, CA
LISTEN | WATCH | GAME NOTES | MEDIA KIT
Home Sweet Home: After a 3-2 loss to the Abbotsford Canucks on Friday, the Barracuda continue its five-game homestand on Saturday with the second game of a back-to-back versus Vancouver’s top affiliate. The Barracuda are 1-4 versus the Canucks this season after Friday, getting outscored 20-9 in the five tilts. After Saturday, the Barracuda will be off until next Friday for the AHL’s All-Star break.
Canucks Connection: On Friday, the Barracuda led 2-1 going into the third period, but the Canucks would score two unanswered goals to steal the 3-2 win. In the loss, Andrew Agozzino and Adam Raska scored, but the Barracuda were shutout in the final 40 minutes as Abbotsford got a goal from Christian Wolanin in the first and tallies from Nils Aman and Nils Hoglander in the third to pick up the come-from-behind win. The loss was the Barracuda’s first this season when leading after two periods (9-1-0-0). Arturs Silovs replaced an injured Jake Kupsky in the second to earn the win, while Aaron Dell took the loss.
New Guys: Since joining the Barracuda via trades in January, both Kyle Criscuolo and Martin Kaut have instantly made a difference, collecting a combined seven points in seven games (4+3=7). Both Criscuolo and Kaut notched goals in their Barracuda debuts, and Kaut now has points (1+3=4) in each of his first three games with the team.
About Abbotsford: The Canucks are coming off back-to-back wins after dropping three in a row and sit just a point behind Colorado for the third spot in the Pacific Division. Since beating the Barracuda 5-1 on Jan. 14 at Tech CU Arena, Abby is just 3-5-1-1 over its last 10. Before its last 10, the Canucks had won eight of nine and 15 of 18. When scoring first, the Canucks boast the second-best winning percentage in the league (14-2-0-2=.833%) and are 13-1-0-1 when leading after the first and 16-0-0-1 when leading after the second. Additionally, Abby is 11-4-2-2 in one-goal games. The Canucks rank seventh in goals for (3.50), 15th in goals against (3.05), ninth in shots for (31.20), and second in shots against (27.18). Abbotsford is a plus in goals and shots in every period.
Barracuda Breakdown: The Barracuda enter Saturday just outside of the Pacific Division playoffs. The Bakersfield Condors, who are holding onto the last playoff spot, had its four-game winning streak snapped on Friday in Calgary, so both clubs still sit at 39 points, although the Condors have a game in hand. The Barracuda are 30th in the AHL in goals for (2.59) and 24th in goals against (3.36).
Players to Watch: All-Star defenseman Christian Wolanin collected three points (1+2=3) on Friday is second in the AHL in assists (45), T-third in scoring (47), second in power-play assists (22), and T-third in power-play points (23). He ranks first among defensemen in all those categories. Netminder Arturs Silovs is T-second in the league in wins (18), minutes played (1831), fourth in saves (722), T-third in shutouts (2), and is 3-0 against the Barracuda with a 1.23 GAA and .952 SV%.
Power of Pouliot: The Barracuda are 10-7-0-2 with defenseman Derrick Pouliot in the lineup this year and 8-16-0-1 without him. In addition, when #55 has played this season, the Barracuda are 88% (68/77) on the PK as opposed to 74% (145/181) without him.
Resounding Rookies: Barracuda All-Star Thomas Bordeleau is third among all AHL freshmen in goals (18), second in power-play goals (8), first in power-play points (17), and T-fifth in scoring (29). Fellow rookie William Eklund is T-third among first-year players in points (32) and Daniil Gushchin is first among freshmen in shots (124) and shootout goals (3). Former Sharks draft pick Linus Karlsson is third on the Canucks in points (32) and T-third among rookies. Additionally, Karlsson is first among first-year players in game-winning goals (4).