GAMEDAY: TIGRES DEL MAR VS FIREBIRDS
Mar 2, 2024TIGRES DEL MAR (17-27-8-1, 43 pts.) vs. COACHELLA VALLEY FIREBIRDS (32-13-5-2, 71 pts.)
SAT, MAR. 2 | 6:00 P.M. | Tech CU Arena | San Jose, CA
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Home Cooking: The Tigres Del Mar return home to Tech CU Arena for one game on Saturday as they host the Coachella Valley Firebirds for the second matchup of a home and road series. After a 4-1 loss at Coachella Valley on Wednesday, the Tigres Del Mar have now dropped five in a row (0-4-0-1) and are 1-4-1-0 against the Firebirds this season. Since beating CV for the first time in franchise history on Nov. 29, 5-3, the Tigres Del Mar have lost three in a row to Seattle’s affiliate and are just 1-9-2-2 lifetime against the Firebirds and 0-7-0-0 at home.
Last Time Out: The Tigres Del Mar gave up two shorthanded goals, a power-play goal, and a five-on-five goal on Wednesday in Coachella Valley and fell 4-1 to the Firebirds. Scott Sabourin scored the Barracuda's only goal 25 seconds into the third period to make it 3-1 at the time but it was too late as the Firebirds would score again four minutes later. Cameron Hughes finished with two goals, and Chris Driedger made 29 stops to improve to 7-1 lifetime against the Barracuda.
Teams of Terror: The Tigres Del Mar gave up a pair of shorthanded goals on Wednesday and have now allowed a league-high 11 on the season. The Barracuda also allowed a power-play for the sixth consecutive game (19/27=70%) and rank 31st in the league on the PK (74.85%). In addition, the Barracuda went 0/2 on the power play, ending the team’s five-game PPG streak.
Cuda Check: The Tigres Del Mar enter Saturday nine points out of a playoff spot with 19 games to go. SJ has dropped five in a row (0-4-0-1) after Wednesday’s loss at CV and are 3-5-1-1 in their last 10.
Todd’s Time: Forward Nathan Todd collected an assist on Wednesday and now has points and assists in his last six games (2+6=8) and points in nine of 10 (6+8=14). Since recording just one goal in his first 15 games with SJ, Todd has potted 15 in his last 37 outings and is averaging over a point-per-game during that stretch (14+23=39). The Kemptville, Ontario, native is first on the team in goals (16), points (44), power-play goals (5), power-play assists (13) and second in shots (130), and assists (28).
Sabs Sizzling: Scott Sabourin buried his 14th goal of the year on Wednesday and now has goals in four of five. The veteran forward is first in the AHL in penalty minutes (150), second in minor penalties (30), and T-third in majors (6). Among Tigres Del Mar skaters, he is T-first in power-play goals (5), shorthanded goals (1), and game-winning goals (3).
Fired Up: The Firebirds have points in 15 of 16 (12-1-2-1) and sit atop the Pacific Division. Coachella Valley ranks third in the league in goals for (3.46) and goals against (2.58), first in shots for (34.10), and have points in their last five (4-0-1-0) after a 4-1 win at Bakersfield on Friday.
Dynamic Duo: Over the last two years, Kole Lind and Max McCormick have combined for 37 points (18+19=37) in 14 games against the Tigres Del Mar. Lind ranks T-fifth in the AHL in scoring (47) and T-third in assists. In six games against the Tigres Del Mar this season, he has seven points (3+4=7). Max McCormick is T-sixth in points (44) and T-fourth in goals (24). Against the Barracuda this season, he has a team-high nine points (4+5=9) in six games.