GAMEDAY: BARRACUDA VS HEAT (4-9-17)
Apr 9, 2017
SAN JOSE BARRACUDA (42-15-2-5) VS. Stockton Heat (33-25-4-2)
Sunday, April 9, 2017
SAP Center at San Jose – San Jose, Calif. (3:00 p.m.)
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Tonight’s Matchup: On Sunday, the Barracuda wrap up its 12 game season series with the Stockton Heat. San Jose is 6-5-0 against the Heat this season and 3-2-0 in San Jose. In 11 games played, Tim Heed leads all Barracuda scorers with 11 points (2+9=11), while Stockton’s Mark Jankowski has 13 points (7+6=13) in 11 games.
Pacific Power: The San Jose Barracuda clinched its first Pacific Division title (John Chick Trophy) in team history on Saturday after the San Diego Gulls fell, 3-1, in Ontario. Through 64 games, San Jose holds the AHL's best winning percentage (.711) with a record of 42-15-2-5, and have gone 27-7-1-2 since Jan. 1. A point Sunday or a Chicago loss and the Barracuda will win the Western Conference and guarantee home ice through the first three rounds.
Big Boost: On Sunday, the San Jose Sharks loaned defenseman Tim Heed and forwards Barclay Goodrow, and Danny O’Regan back to the Barracuda. O’Regan scored his first NHL goal in the Sharks 3-1 win over Calgary on Saturday night.
Award Season: On Wednesday, Danny O’Regan was named to the AHL All-Rookie Team, and on Thursday, Troy Grosenick and Tim Heed were selected to the AHL First and Second All-Star Team. Grosenick is second in wins (29), second in goals-against average (2.00), second in save percentage .929 and first in shutouts (10). Grosenick is just one of five goaltenders in AHL history to reach double-digit shutouts in a season.
In Case You Missed It: The San Jose Barracuda allowed four first-period goals on Saturday night and couldn't comeback, falling to the Stockton Heat, 5-2, at Stockton Arena. Despite the loss, San Jose clinched the Pacific Division title, John Chick Trophy, after San Diego's 3-1 loss in Ontario. In the first, San Jose and Stockton combined for 86 penalty minutes, but the Heat found the offense, scoring four opening-period goals. Mikkel Aagaard (4) opened the scoring at 6:22 as he jammed a loose puck along the right post past Clarke Saunders' left pad. 17 seconds later, Hunter Shinkaruk (14) ripped a short-side shot past Saunders to give Stockton a 2-0 lead at 6:39. After San Jose turned over the puck in their end, Adam Ollas Mattsson (1) ripped home his first AHL goal from the slot at 11:30. Adam Helewka (14) cut into Stockton's advantage with a wrister from the right wing at 17:57, but Andrew Mangiapane (18) extended the Heat's lead back to three at 17:57 on the power play. In his AHL debut, Colby McAuley dropped a puck for Colin Blackwell (4) as he entered the attacking zone and Blackwell fired a shot far-side at 9:44 to cut the lead down to 4-2. In the third, Shinkaruk (15) put the game out of reach with his second of the game on a two-on-one at 3:50. Saunders (1-1) took the loss after allowing five goals on 27 shots while Gillies earned the victory (18-14-4) after making 31 saves on 33 shots.