SAN JOSE BARRACUDA (15-27-1-0) vs BAKERSFIELD CONDORS (20-12-4-4)

WED., FEB. 23 | 7:00 P.M. | SAP CENTER | SAN JOSE, CA

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Condor Connection: The Barracuda and Condors connect for the sixth time on the 10-game season series on Wednesday. For the Barracuda, it's the first of consecutive games against the Oilers affiliate. After picking up a point in six straight games (5-0-1-0) and wins in eight of 10, the Condors have dropped four of their last five (1-4-0-1). The Barracuda ended a seven-game skid on Saturday in Texas with a 7-6 shootout win and enter Wednesday with a 2-0 record against the Condors on home ice this season.

Cool Condor: Since missing a pair of games against the Barracuda on Jan. 22 and 23, Seth Griffith has 15 points (8+7=15) over his last 11 games and ranks fifth in the league in scoring (48), fifth in power-play assists (16), t-fourth in points (31), and fourth in shooting percentage (25.8%). Versus the Barracuda, Griffith co-leads the team with four points (2+2=4) in three games played and has 13 career points (7+6=13) in 13 games against the Barracuda. 

Cuda Killa: Bakersfield Condors goalie Stuart Skinner is 1-0 against the Barracuda this year, picking up a 34-save shutout on Oct. 10 and boast a 14-2 lifetime record against the Sharks affiliate. Skinner replaced Alex Stalock on Sunday in a 7-4 Condors loss at the Heat but is 0-1-1 over his last two AHL starts after beating the Sharks 3-0 on Feb. 14 for his first NHL shutout (20 saves).

PK All Day: While the Barracuda penalty kill has ranked at the bottom of the AHL for a good majority of the season, that unit has begun to turn the corner having killed off 19-straight dating back Feb. 3. The Barracuda’s four-consecutive games not allowing a PPG is tied for the longest stretch this year. The Barracuda also rank t-third in the AHL with eight shorthanded goals. Against Bakersfield, the Barracuda have killed off 15 of 17 (88.2%) Bako power plays. 

Center Swap: The Sharks recalled center-man Jasper Weatherby on Tuesday and in a corresponding move reassigned center Lane Pederson to the Barracuda. Pederson, 24, is in his first season as a Shark after playing four years within the Coyotes organization. In 2019-20, the undrafted forward notched 34 points (16+19=34) in 37 games with the Roadrunners and was named to the AHL All-Star Classic. The year prior, he potted 47 points (23+24=47) in 63 games with Tucson. In 41 career NHL games, with the Sharks and Coyotes, the Saskatoon, Sask., native has five points (1+4=5). In 15 career games against Bakersfield, all as a member of the Roadrunners, Pederson has eight points (3+5=8). Pederson was a linemate of Barracuda forward Nick Merkley when the two played in Tucson.

Sommer Time: On Jan. 8, 2022, head coach Roy Sommer picked up AHL victory #800 with a 6-3 win over the Henderson Silver Knights. The Oakland, Calif., native has been behind the bench for 1,718 games in the AHL, going 804-706-48-160 (W-L-T-OTL/SOL) over that span. During the 2015-16 season, the Barracuda’s first in San Jose, Sommer surpassed Fred “Bun” Cook (636 wins) for the most wins in AHL history, notching a 4-2 victory on Feb. 10, 2016, over Ontario. Sommer collected his 700th win on Dec. 3, 2017, at Bakersfield (2-1 W). 

Reeds Rolling: Scott Reedy has been held off the scoresheet in his last six outings but still ranks t-eighth in the AHL in goals (18), t-second in power-play goals (10), and first in shooting percentage (21.1%). In five games against the Condors this season, the Minnesota alumnus has four points (3+1=4).