GAMEDAY: BARRACUDA VS FIREBIRDS
Feb 21, 2024SAN JOSE BARRACUDA (17-23-8-0, 42 pts.) vs. COACHELLA VALLEY FIREBIRDS (29-13-4-2, 64 pts.)
WED, FEB. 21 | 7:00 P.M. | Tech CU Arena | San Jose, CA
LISTEN | WATCH | GAME NOTES | MEDIA KIT
Home Sweet Home: After a 2-1 road trip, the Barracuda return to Tech CU Arena on Wednesday night to face off with the Coachella Valley Firebirds (Seattle Kraken). The Cuda were dealt a 4-0 loss at Coachella Valley last Thursday and are now 1-3 against the Kraken affiliate this season. The Barracuda are coming off a 7-3 win at Bakersfield on Saturday and are 3-1 over their last four games. The Barracuda are 0-5-1-0 lifetime at home against Coachella Valley, getting outscored 34-14.
Saturday Sizzle: The Barracuda notched a season-high four power-play goals on Saturday at Bakersfield en route to a 7-3 win, matching the most goals scored in a game this year. Seven different players found the back of the net and Cole Cassels (1+2=3), Kyle Rau (1+2=3), Nathan Todd (1+1=2), and Scott Sabourin (1+1=2) all recorded multiple points. Magnus Chrona made a career-high 35 saves to pick up his first win since Jan. 3.
Last Meeting: The Barracuda were shutout for the fourth time this season on Thursday at Acrisure Arena in the Palm Desert and the first time since Jan. 5. Kole Lind scored the game-winning goal at 15:24 of the first and Max McCormick made it 2-0 at 1:25 of the third before the Firebirds notched a pair of shorthanded empty-netters. Chris Driedger made 25 saves to earn his second consecutive blank sheet.
Cuda Check: After Saturday’s win at Bakersfield, the Barracuda are now 3-1 over their last four games and 6-3-1-0 in its last 10. The Barracuda are eight points out of a playoff spot with 24 games remaining.
Todd’s Time: Forward Nathan Todd notched a goal and an assist on Saturday and now has five goals and two assists in his last four games. Since recording just one goal in his first 15 games with SJ, Todd has potted 14 in his last 32 outings and is averaging point-per-game during that stretch (13+17=32). The Kemptville, Ontario, native is now T-first on the team in goals (15), points (37), second in shots (112), power-play goals (3), and third in assists (22).
Coles Notes: Barracuda forward Cole Cassels collected a goal and two assists on Saturday and now has points seven of eight (2+7=9) and eight of 10 (3+8=11). Cassels is currently pacing the SJB in helpers (28) and is third in points (35). Additionally, he is first among Cuda forwards in plus/minus (+12).
Fired Up: The Firebirds enter Wednesday riding a six-game road point streak (4-0-2-0) and are 7-1-1-1 in their last 10. Before falling 5-2 on Saturday against Colorado, the Firebirds had earned points in 10 straight (8-0-1-1). Coachella Valley enters Wednesday atop the Pacific Division with 64 points and is fifth in the AHL in goals for (3.46) and third in goals against (2.63).
Dynamic Duo: Kole Lind and Max McCormick each notched a goal and an assist on Thursday in the Firebirds' 4-0 win over the Barracuda. In 12 games against San Jose in the last two years, the pair have collected a combined 34 points (16+18=34). McCormick enters Wednesday riding a three-game goal streak (4), recording five points during the stretch (4+1=5), and is now T-third in the AHL in goals (23). Lind is T-fourth in the league in assists (33) and has 10 points (2+8=10) over his last eight games. Both players are tied for the Firebirds team lead in points (43) and rank T-sixth in the AHL in scoring.