SAN JOSE BARRACUDA (2-4-0-0) vs. COACHELLA VALLEY FIREBIRDS (3-2-2-1)

FRI, OCT. 23, 2026 | 7 PM | ACRISURE ARENA |  PALM DESERT, CA

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DESERT DUEL: The Barracuda hit the road for the first time this season, beginning a two-game trip against the Coachella Valley Firebirds on Friday. San Jose enters the weekend with a 2-4-0-0 record after snapping a three-game losing streak with a 5-4 victory over the Calgary Wranglers last Friday. The Barracuda will close out their two-game Southern California swing in San Diego on Saturday before returning home Wednesday to face the Ontario Reign at Tech CU Arena.

TOO HOULE FOR SCHOOL: Behind a three-point performance from Donavan Houle and three assists from captain Jimmy Huntington, the Barracuda snapped a three-game losing streak with a 5-4 victory over the Calgary Wranglers last Friday at Tech CU Arena. Houle scored the game-winning goal in the third period as San Jose erased three separate one-goal deficits. Thomas Messineo added a goal and an assist for the first multi-point game of his AHL career, extending his goal-scoring streak to two games. Andre Gasseau also found the back of the net, giving him three goals over his last two contests. Calgary opened the scoring just 20 seconds into the game, but Messineo responded 33 seconds later, setting the tone for a back-and-forth affair. Brett Leason and Filip Bystedt also scored in the opening period, while Eric Comrie turned aside 26 of 30 shots to earn his first win of the season.

FIREBIRD FEUD: The Barracuda and Coachella Valley Firebirds (Seattle Kraken) renew their Pacific Division rivalry on Friday in the first of eight meetings between the clubs this season. A year ago, San Jose went just 2-6-0-0 against Coachella Valley, including an 0-4-0-0 mark on the road. The season prior, the Barracuda dominated the series, posting a 7-1-0-0 record. Since Coachella Valley joined the AHL in 2022-23, San Jose has gone 10-17-2-3 against the Firebirds, including a 4-9-1-2 mark at Acrisure Arena.

REINFORCEMENTS ARRIVE: The Barracuda received a pair of reinforcements from the Sharks last Thursday, with forwards Alex Barré-Boulet and Cam Lund being assigned to the AHL after both had been sidelined by injuries. An AHL First Team All-Star last season, Barré-Boulet has been one of the league's most productive forwards since turning pro in 2018. He finished second in the AHL in scoring in 2022-23 with a career-high 84 points (24 goals, 60 assists). Lund, a second-round pick (34th overall) by the Sharks in the 2022 NHL Draft, was named an AHL All-Star during his rookie campaign last season before his year was cut short by injury. Neither player suited up in San Jose's 5-4 win over Calgary last Friday.

HEY, FELHA: Barracuda forward Tye Felhaber reached the 300-game milestone in his AHL career last Friday against the Calgary Wranglers. The veteran winger is in his first season with the Sharks organization after spending the previous two campaigns with the Colorado Eagles. During the 2024-25 season, Felhaber established AHL career highs in goals (22), assists (22) and points (44). He also made his NHL debut with the Colorado Avalanche on Dec. 16, 2024, against Vancouver, appearing in five NHL games that season.

AYE AYE, CAPTAIN: The Barracuda named forward Jimmy Huntington the seventh captain in franchise history on Oct. 2. In his first season with San Jose a year ago, the Laval, Quebec, native posted a career-high 48 points (15 goals, 33 assists) in 71 games, finishing tied for second on the team in scoring and earning the Barracuda's Fan Favorite award. Huntington has made an immediate impact to begin the 2026-27 season, highlighted by a three-point performance (two goals, one assist) against Tucson on Oct. 9 and three assists in Friday's 5-4 win over Calgary. The 2024 Calder Cup champion has already recorded multiple three-point performances this season.

FIL THE THRILL: Sharks' 2022 first-round pick Filip Bystedt has been one of San Jose's top offensive contributors to begin the season. The 22-year-old center collected three points (two goals, one assist) in the Barracuda's 5-4 overtime victory against San Diego on Oct. 4, reaching the 100-point milestone in his AHL career. He followed with a power-play goal and an assist against Tucson on Oct. 9, giving him back-to-back multi-point performances. Bystedt led the Barracuda last season in points (60), assists (38), game-winning goals (6) and overtime goals (2), while finishing second in goals (22).

LEASON THE WAY: Barracuda forward Brett Leason has made an immediate impact since being assigned to the club on Oct. 8. The former second-round pick (56th overall) of the Washington Capitals in the 2019 NHL Draft brings 220 games of NHL experience, having spent time with Washington and Anaheim. The 6-foot-5 winger has already made his presence felt offensively, recording points in three of his first four games (two goals, two assists).

GASS UP: Barracuda forward Andre Gasseau has found his scoring touch early in his first professional campaign, netting three goals over his last two games and four on the season, tied for second among all AHL rookies. The Boston Bruins' 2021 seventh-round pick (213th overall) scored twice in San Jose's 6-4 loss to Calgary on Oct. 14 before finding the back of the net again in the Barracuda's 5-4 victory over the Wranglers on Oct. 16. His two-goal performance on Wednesday marked the first multi-goal game of his AHL career. The Sharks acquired Gasseau's signing rights from Boston on June 18, 2026, along with a fourth-round pick (120th overall) in the 2026 NHL Draft, in exchange for a fourth-round pick (104th overall) and a fifth-round pick (157th overall). The 6-foot-4 forward signed a two-year, entry-level contract with San Jose on July 1 after completing four seasons at Boston College, where he totaled 111 points (43 goals, 68 assists) in 135 games.