GAMEDAY: BARRACUDA VS WRANGLERS
Feb 11, 2023SAN JOSE BARRACUDA (18-25-0-3) vs. CALGARY WRANGLERS (32-11-2-0)
SAT, FEB. 11 | 6:00 P.M. | Tech CU Arena | San Jose, CA
LISTEN | WATCH | GAME NOTES | MEDIA KIT
Wranglers Wrap: After falling 4-1 on Friday, the Barracuda look to snap a four-game skid on Saturday as they close out the four-game season series with the Calgary Wranglers (Flames). SJB is 0-3 versus the Wranglers, getting outscored 16-3 in those three contests. Dating back to last season, the Barracuda have dropped 10 in a row against the Flames top affiliate (Stockton/Calgary) and have not won at home in 11 straight (0-10-1-0), with the last victory occurring on Mar. 10, 2019 (5-4 SOW).
Wranglers Rundown: The Wranglers enter Saturday having won back-to-back games and six in a row on the road. Calgary stands atop the AHL with 32 wins and 66 points and have a Western Conference-best .786 (16-4-1-0) winning percentage on the road. The Wranglers are first in the league with a +35 goals differential on visiting ice, scoring 4.19 goals for per game on the road (1st) and allowing just 2.52 goals against (2nd). Calgary is fifth in the league on the power play (23.2%) and first on the penalty kill (86.7%). Additionally, the Wranglers are first in the AHL in goals for (3.73) and goals against (2.49) and second in shots for (32.87). Calgary has been on the power play 203 times this season, fifth most in the AHL, and are tied for second in shorthanded goals (8). The Wranglers +29 goal differential in the first period ranks first in the league, and their +27 goal differential is second period stands only behind Texas’ +29 rating.
Players to Watch: Wranglers All-Star forward Matt Phillips, who has scored five times in three games against San Jose this season, leads the AHL in tallies (25) and game-winning strikes (9) and is sixth in points (50). In 30 career games against the Barracuda, the fifth-year pro has 24 points (15+9=24). Over his last 19 games versus SJ, dating back to the 2019-20 season, he has notched 20 points (13+7=20). Gilroy native Dustin Wolf, who also represented the Wranglers at the 2023 AHL All-Star Classic, earning Co-MVP honors, is first in the AHL in wins (27), shutouts (4), minutes played (2036), saves (965), goals-against average (2.15), and is second in save percentage (.930). In his career, he is 11-0 versus the Barracuda and 3-0 in 2022-23, matching a career-best with 42 saves on Friday.
New Guys: Since joining the Barracuda via trades in January, both Kyle Criscuolo and Martin Kaut have instantly made a difference, collecting a combined eight points in nine games (5+3=8). Both Criscuolo and Kaut notched goals in their Barracuda debuts last month.
Barracuda Breakdown: The Barracuda enter Saturday a point behind the Bakersfield Condors for the final playoff spot in the Pacific. The Cuda are second in the AHL in penalty minutes per game (18.57), minor penalties (253) and third in times shorthanded (207). Additionally, SJ is 31st in goals for (2.54), and 23rd in goals against (3.37)
Resounding Rookies: Barracuda All-Star Thomas Bordeleau is second among all AHL rooks in goals (19), and power-play goals (8), first in power-play points (17), and T-sixth in scoring (30). Fellow rookie William Eklund, who had his seven-game point streak (3+5=8) snapped on Friday, is T-fourth among first-year players in points (33), and Daniil Gushchin is first among freshmen in shots (133) and shootout goals (3).