GAMEDAY: BARRACUDA VS ROADRUNNERS
Dec 4, 2022SAN JOSE BARRACUDA (11-9-0-1) vs. TUCSON ROADRUNNERS (10-7-1-0)
SUN, DEC. 4 | 3:00 P.M. | Tech CU Arena | San Jose, CA
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Tussling Tucson: After a 4-2 win on Saturday against the Tucson Roadrunners, the Barracuda go for the weekend sweep of the Coyotes’ top affiliate on Sunday afternoon. San Jose has now won consecutive games against Tucson after beginning the year 0-3. Sunday will be the sixth game on the eight-game season series and the last meeting at Tech CU Arena between the clubs.
Tucson Test: After beginning the year 6-1, the Roadrunners have gone 4-6-1-0 over its last 11. Tucson forward Michael Carcone, who did not play Saturday, ranks T-fifth in the AHL in scoring (22) and assists (16). The Ajax, Ontario native enters Sunday with assists in his last three games and a team-high eight points (3+5=8) in four games against the Barracuda this year. In nine career games versus San Jose, he has 13 points (6+7=13).
Prickly Pair: The Roadrunners (1st: 22.00) and Barracuda (2nd: 20.62) rank first and second in the AHL in penalty minutes per game entering Sunday. San Jose is first in the league in majors (17), and minor penalties (129). In five head-to-head games, the Pacific Division rivals have combined for 68.2 penalty minutes per game. Jeff Viel is second in the AHL in minors (15), penalty minutes (67), and T-fourth, along with teammate Montana Onyebuchi, in majors (3). William Eklund is T-first among rookies in minors (10).
Rookie Arrivals: Rookies Thomas Bordeleau (10), Tristen Robins (7), William Eklund (6), Danil Gushchin (5), Brandon Coe (2), and Ozzy Wiesblatt (1) have accounted for 31 of the Barracuda’s 58 goals scored this year (53%). The most among any rookie class this season. Wiesblatt (Rd 1, 31st overall), Bordeleau (Rd 2, 38th Overall), Robins (Rd 2, 56th Overall), Gushchin (Rd 3, 76th Overall), and Coe (Rd 4, 98th Overall) were all part of the Sharks' historic nine-forward draft class in 2020. Bordeleau is first amongst rookies in goals, and T-second along with teammate Robins in power-play goals (4).
Powering Up: The Barracuda netted a season-high three power-play goals on Saturday and have now scored power-play tallies in eight consecutive games (11/42=26%), just one game away from matching the franchise record. In five contests against the Roadrunners, the Barracuda have scored a PPG in each (8/26=30%).
Killin’ it: The Barracuda went 3-for-3 on the PK on Saturday and now rank second in the league on the penalty kill (87%). San Jose is 1-7 this year when giving up an opposing power-play goal, earning its only win on Nov. 25 at Henderson (5-2 W). Against the Roadrunners, the Barracuda are 20-for-24 (83%) on the PP.