GAMEDAY: BARRACUDA VS FIREBIRDS
Dec 8, 2024SAN JOSE BARRACUDA (13-6-0-1) vs COACHELLA VALLEY FIREBIRDS (11-7-1-2)
SUN, DEC. 8 | 3:00 P.M. | TECH CU ARENA | SAN JOSE, CA
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Fired Up: After a 1-0 win on Saturday night, the Barracuda go for the weekend sweep of the Coachella Valley Firebirds at Tech CU Arena on Sunday afternoon. Sunday marks the second of three consecutive games against the Firebirds and the second game of four in December. After Saturday’s win, the Barracuda are now 2-0 against Seattle’s affiliate after just one win over the first two years of the rivalry. The Barracuda have a lifetime record against the Firebirds of 3-10-2-2 and 2-6-1-0 at home.
Saturday Sizzle: Yaroslav Askarov made 36 stops en-route to his third shutout of the year and 12th of his AHL career as the Barracuda upended the Coachella Valley Firebirds, 1-0, on Saturday night at sold-out Tech CU Arena for Teddy Bear Toss Night presented by Kaiser Permanente. During a seven-minute span in the first, the Barracuda outshot the Firebirds 11-1, and at 17:26 Lucas Vanroboys steered in the puck from the crease to initiate the Teddy Bear Toss. The Barracuda would kill off four Firebird power plays including one with under five minutes left in the game to preserve the 1-0 win.
Bailey Boiling: Prior to Saturday, Justin Bailey had scored goals in his last three and recorded five points (3+2=5) during that span. The veteran forward has four goals in his last seven 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 Sunday riding a five-game point streak overall and at home. The Barracuda boasts the Western Conference’s best home winning percentage at .792 (9-2-0-1) and have the second-best plus/minus in the Conference at home (+17). A year ago, San Jose did not win their eighth game at home until Jan. 24 (22 games).
Ask & You Shall Receive: Yaroslav Askarov collected his third shutout of the year on Saturday and now ranks T-first in the AHL in shutouts, first in save percentage (.946), second in goals-against average (1.75), and fourth in wins (8). 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.
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-seventh in the AHL in points (20) and goals (8) and T-third in power-play goals (4). 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.