GAMEDAY: BARRACUDA VS FIREBIRDS
Dec 7, 2024SAN JOSE BARRACUDA (12-6-0-1) vs COACHELLA VALLEY FIREBIRDS (11-6-1-2)
SAT, DEC. 7 | 6:00 P.M. | TECH CU ARENA | SAN JOSE, CA
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Fired Up: The Barracuda host the Coachella Valley Firebirds on Saturday night for the first of back-to-back games over the weekend at Tech CU Arena. Saturday is Teddy Bear Toss Night presented by Kaiser Permanente. San Jose and Coachella Valley are set to faceoff three consecutive times beginning Saturday and four times in December. The Cuda are 1-0 against the Kraken affiliate this year after a 5-1 win at home on Oct. 30, the first win ever at home versus the Firebirds and just the second ever in 17 attempts.
Most Recent Matchup: In the last meeting versus the Firebirds on Oct. 30, Yaroslav Askarov made 36 saves, and the Barracuda potted five goals en route to a 5-1 win, the first-ever win at Tech CU Arena against CV in nine games. Colin White scored a shorthanded goal and Askarov assisted on Andrew Poturalski’s empty netter. Luke Grainger scored his first pro goal and Collin Graf and Lucas Vanroboys chipped in with goals. Former Colorado Eagle Ben Meyers scored the Firebirds' only tally at 10:30 of the second period while Ales Stezka suffered the loss.
About Wednesday: The Barracuda earned a point on Wednesday night at Tech CU Arena but would ultimately fall 2-1 in the 12th round of the shootout to the San Diego Gulls. Justin Bailey scored 6:16 into the first period before Roland McKeown answered for SD on the power play in the second. After the Gulls scored in the first round of the shootout, Collin Graf kept San Jose’s hopes alive by notching a goal in the top of the third round. Both Yaroslav Askarov and Calle Clang would turn aside the next 18 combined shooters until Nathan Gaucher won it for the Gulls in the bottom of the 12th round.
Bailey Boiling: Justin Bailey extended his goal streak to three games on Wednesday and now have five points during that stretch (3+2=5). The veteran forward has four goals in his last six games after recording just one goal through his first 11 appearances this season. A year ago, as a member of the Sharks, the Buffalo native set career-highs in games played (59), goals (5), assists (4) and points (9).
Home Sweet Home: Despite Wednesday’s shootout loss, the Barracuda enter Saturday riding a four-game point streak overall and at home. The Barracuda boasts the Western Conference’s best home winning percentage at .773 (8-2-0-1) and have the second-best plus/minus in the Conference at home (+16). A year ago, San Jose did not win their eighth game at home until Jan. 24 (22 games).
Eye Eye Captain: The Barracuda named former Firebird Jimmy Schuldt the club’s sixth captain in franchise history two weeks ago. Schuldt, 29, is in his first season with the Barracuda after helping guide the Coachella Valley Firebirds to back-to-back Calder Cup Finals. The sixth-year pro was originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Vegas Golden Knights on April 4, 2019. Prior to turning pro, the rearguard spent four years at St. Cloud State, serving as the team’s captain for three of the four seasons. Andrew Poturalski, Lucas Carlsson, Colin White, and Scott Sabourin were named alternate captains. Schuldt skated in 139 regular season games over two years with the Firebirds from 2022-24, collecting 13 goals and 43 assists, along with a +44 rating.
Hot Pot: Former Firebird Andrew Poturalksi picked up a helper on Wednesday and is now T-sixth in the AHL in points (20), T-third in power-play goals (4), and T-eighth in total goals (8). Among Barracuda skaters, he is first in goals and power-play goals, and second in points, and assists (12). In 98 games over two seasons with Coachella Valley from 2022-24, Poturalski notched 26 goals and 67 assists, along with a plus-22 rating, 12 power-play goals, and five game-winning goals. During 29 playoff games, he scored five times and added 17 assists.
Ask & You Shall Receive: Among AHL goalies, Yaroslav Askarov is second in save percentage (.940), fourth in goals-against average (1.91), and T-fifth in wins (7). Askarov was named the AHL’s Goalie of the Month in October after going 5-0 with a pair of shutouts. The former 11th overall pick by the Nashville Predators was traded to the Sharks on August 23, 2024, in exchange for forward David Edstrom, a 2025 conditional first-round pick, and goaltender Magnus Chrona.
Collin Cookin’: Collin Graf collected three assists on Saturday and now ranks T-second in the AHL in assists (17) and T-fourth in scoring (22). Among rookies, he is first in helpers, T-second in points, and power-play assists (7). Graf now has six multi-point games this season, including a pair of three-assist efforts.
Do the Cagn Cagn: Luca Cagnoni scored twice on the power play on Saturday and now ranks T-third in the league in power-play points (10), T-fourth in power-play assists (7), T-fourth in power-play goals (3) and T-eighth in goals (7) and T-eighth in points (18). Among league defensemen, he is T-first in goals, T-third in power-play goals, second in power-play points, T-second in total points, and T-third in power-play assists.