GAMEDAY: BARRACUDA VS ROADRUNNERS
Feb 7, 2025SAN JOSE BARRACUDA (23-13-2-3, 51 pts.) vs TUCSON ROADRUNNERS (19-19-2-1, 41 pts.)
FRI, FEB. 7 | 7:30 P.M. | TECH CU ARENA | SAN JOSE, CA
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Tucson Tonight: On Friday, the Barracuda drop the puck on a two-game set with the Tucson Roadrunners (Utah Hockey Club). A year ago, the Barracuda went 3-5 versus Utah’s affiliate and 2-2 at Tech CU Arena. Shakir Mukhamadullin led the way with 10 points (2+8=10) in six games, while Tucson’s Aku Raty had 10 points (4+6=10) in seven games, including a four-point effort (3+1=4) on Dec. 20, 2023, in San Jose. The Barracuda have a lifetime record of 27-18-3-4 versus the Roadrunners.
Home Cooking: The Barracuda, who are in the midst of a season-long seven-game homestand, enter Friday having picked up points in their last seven at Tech CU Arena (5-0-1-1). San Jose’s .750 home winning percentage is second-best in the AHL, only behind Calgary’s .771 home winning percentage.
Saturday Synopsis: Donavan Houle scored the Barracuda’s only goal on Saturday versus the Henderson Silver Knights and Georgi Romanov made 45 saves, but the Knights tied the score in the third on the power play and then won it in a shootout 2-1. It was the Barracuda’s fourth loss this season when leading after 40 minutes (15-1-1-2) and third defeat when giving up two or fewer goals (6-1-0-2).
Roadrunner Report: The Roadrunners enter Friday riding a seven-game winless drought (6-0-1-0) and have just one win in their last 10 (1-7-1-1). Tucson is three points behind the Bakersfield Condors for the final playoff spot in the Pacific Division and 10 points behind the Barracuda. The Roadrunners are third in the AHL in penalty minutes a game (15.27).
All About Asky: The Sharks reassigned top goalie prospect Yaroslav Askarov back to the AHL on Sunday, just in time for his third consecutive AHL All-Star Classic. The 22-year-old is pacing the AHL in save percentage (.938), second in goals-against average (2.00), and T-second in shutouts despite not playing in the league since Dec. 14. In 13 games with the Sharks this season, he has gone 4-6-2 with a 3.10 GAA, and .896 SV%.
Hot Pot: The Sharks recalled Andrew Poturalski on Tuesday. The nine-year vet skated in his seventh NHL game on Tuesday and first with the Sharks. Before the call-up, he was pacing the league in points (45), T-third in power-play goals (8) and assists (27), and T-sixth in goals (18).
Major Movement: Following the trade of Mikael Granlund and Cody Ceci to the Stars, the Sharks recalled Collin Graf, Shakir Mukhamadullin, and Andrew Poturalski from the Barracuda on Sunday. In a corresponding move, the Barracuda recalled Braden Hache from Wichita and signed veteran forward Rem Pitlick.
Pick of the Litter: The Barracuda signed forward Rem Pitlick for the remainder of the 2024-25 season. During his five-year pro career, the native of Ottawa, Ontario, has dressed in 132 games in the NHL with the Nashville Predators, Minnesota Wild, Montreal Canadiens, and Blackhawks, collecting 54 points (21 goals, 33 assists), and 54 penalty minutes. Additionally, he has skated in 148 AHL games with the Milwaukee Admirals, Chicago Wolves, Laval Rocket, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, and Rockford, posting 125 points (55 goals, 70 assists), 90 penalty minutes, plus-25 rating. The 27-year-old was part of the multi-player, three-way trade between the Sharks, Pens, and Habs that included Erik Karlsson. In that deal, he was sent from the Canadiens to the Penguins.
Luca Lightning: 20-year-old rearguard Luca Cagnoni notched his 11th goal of the year on Friday and seventh on the power play. Among rookies, Cagnoni is first in power-play points (17), and T-first in power-play goals (7), and power-play assists (10) and T-seventh in points (26). Among all skaters, he is third in power-play points.
Sparkling Special Teams: The Barracuda rank first in the AHL on the penalty kill (87.0%) entering Friday and T-third in shorthanded goals (7). Additionally, the club boasts the league’s fifth-best power play (21.3%).