NOLLY'S NOTES - BLOG #23
Oct 26, 2022Hello, Cuda Country.
Take a bow! What a way to open Tech CU Arena. There’s no other way to put it, Saturday night was a dream. Nearly a sold-out barn, a 4-0 shutout win, and a night I will remember for my entire career. You all brought the energy from the start, and we can’t thank you enough for your support.
The Barracuda followed up Saturday’s blank sheet with a 3-2 come-from-behind victory on Sunday against the Silver Knights and are off to their best start in franchise history, with a 4-0 record. What was different from Sunday than the previous three games, was the fact that the Barracuda had to play from behind. Prior to Sunday, the team had not given up a goal in the first period, outscoring the opposition 6-0 in the opening 20 minutes, and had not trailed at any point.
So, although we’re still very much in the early stages of the year, we saw a different side of the team. Despite the score, the approach stayed the same and the group stuck to the script. Eetu Makiniemi allowed two goals on the first eight shots he saw and then shut the door the rest of the way, turning aside all 28 he saw. For Makiniemi, he has now won eight in a row dating back to last year. The Barracuda are first in the AHL in goals-against between Makiniemi and Dell at 1.50.
The penalty kill stayed perfect, going eight-for-eight over the weekend, and are now 18-for-18 to start the year, the best mark to start a season in franchise history. For those curious, the most penalties killed consecutively by the Barracuda in franchise history is 28 and occurred during the team’s first season. Just one time all last year did the Barracuda go four games without allowing a goal on the PK. The Cuda are the only team in the league yet to give up a PPG.
On Saturday it was all about the rookies. Brandon Coe recorded the first multi-goal game of his AHL career and Tristen Robins, and Thomas Bordeleau also chipped in with goals. On Sunday, Bordeleau netted his team-leading third of the year to begin the comeback and then the vets carried it the rest of the way, as Luke Johnson tied the game in the second and C.J. Suess buried the game-winning goal in the third. Bordeleau (3), Coe (2), Robins (2), and William Eklund (1) have combined for 61% of the team goals so far this year.
The only thing that hasn’t gone the Barracuda’s way this season has been their power play. There are the horses to get the job done so it’s only a matter of time before that phase of special teams begins to carry its weight. So far, the Barracuda are 1-for-13 on the PP, with the only goal coming in the team’s season opener at Iowa on Oct. 14. Looking at the surface numbers, the solution seems pretty clear… shoot more. The power play has had moments where the puck is zipping around but the team is averaging just .61 shots per PP attempt.
Overall, it has been a picture-perfect start for head coach John McCarthy. So much so, it’s hard to crack the lineup and that’s probably why the Sharks elected to assign 2022 first-rounder Ozzy Wiesblatt to the ECHL’s Wichita Thunder on Wednesday. He suffered an injury in the preseason and has yet to appear in a game this season with the Barracuda.
With it being a game today, we’ll keep this one short and sweet. Reminder, the Barracuda take on the Ontario Reign on Wednesday night at Tech CU Arena. Tickets are still available, so come check out the team’s beautiful new home. If you can’t make the game, tune in at 6:30p for our pregame coverage on AHLTV.com, SJBarracuda.com/listen, and the Sharks+SAP Center App. Thanks for reading and we'll talk to you next week.