GAMEDAY: BARRACUDA VS CANUCKS
Feb 23, 2024SAN JOSE BARRACUDA (17-23-8-0, 42 pts.) vs. ABBOTSFORD CANUCKS (25-17-3-2, 55 pts.)
FRI, FEB. 23 | 7:00 P.M. | Tech CU Arena | San Jose, CA
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Friday Fun: The Barracuda continue their three-game homestand on Friday with the first of back-to-back games against the Abbotsford Canucks (Vancouver Canucks). The Barracuda and Canucks spit a weekend set back in early February at the Abbotsford Centre. Both games were decided by just a goal. All-time the Barracuda are 7-10-1-0 against Abbotsford and 2-5-1-0 at home. A year ago, the Barracuda went 1-3 at home versus the Canucks.
Wednesday Woes: The Barracuda were dealt a 5-4 loss on Wednesday at Tech CU Arena against the first-place Coachella Valley Firebirds. In the defeat, the Barracuda gave up three power-play goals for the third time this season but scored their fifth and sixth power-play goals over their last two games. Nathan Todd recorded three points (1+2=3) and Cole Cassels and Jacob MacDonald picked up a pair of assists. Kyle Rau, Scott Sabourin, and Jack Studnicka also scored for the Barracuda.
Last Meeting: The Barracuda jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the last matchup against Abbotsford on Feb. 3, but Abby would score three times in the second period and would ultimately win 3-2. In the loss, Ethan Cardwell and Cole Cassels tallied, while Georgi Romanov allowed three goals on 22 shots. The Canucks got goals from former Sharks’ draft pick Linus Karlsson, former Sharks and Barracuda defenseman Nick Cicek and Max Sasson. Nikita Tolopilo made 24 stops in the win.
Cuda Check: The Barracuda enter Friday eight points out of a playoff spot, with a game in hand on the Henderson Silver Knights, the team they are chasing. Friday marks the 50th game on the 72-game schedule. SJ is 5-4-1-0 in its last 10 and 4-6-0-0 in its last 10 at home. The Cuda have scored six power-play goals in its last two games and now rank 13th in the league on the advantage (19.1) and 10th in goals for (3.20) but 31st on the penalty kill and T-31st in goals against (3.59).
Todd’s Time: Forward Nathan Todd notched a goal and two assists on Wednesday and now has six goals and four assists in his last five games. Since recording just one goal in his first 15 games with SJ, Todd has potted 15 in his last 33 outings and is averaging over a point-per-game during that stretch (14+19=35). The Kemptville, Ontario, native is first on the team in goals (16), points (40), and second in shots (116), power-play goals (3), and assists (24).
Coles Notes: Barracuda forward Cole Cassels collected a pair of assists on Wednesday and now has points in eight of nine (2+9=11) and nine of 11 (3+10=13). Cassels is currently pacing the SJB in helpers (30) and is third in points (37). Additionally, he is first among Cuda forwards in plus/minus (+12).
About Abby: The Canucks have won two in a row entering Friday but are just 4-4-1-1 over its last 10 and 3-4-1-2 in its last 10 on the road. The Canucks sit at the fifth spot in the Pacific Division, three points behind the fourth-seeded Calgary Wranglers and 13 points ahead of the Barracuda. Abbotsford ranks last in the league on the power play (13.4) but second on the penalty kill (85.6).