SAN JOSE BARRACUDA (10-13-4-0, 24 pts.) vs. BAKERSFIELD CONDORS (11-10-1-2, 25 pts.)

SAT, DEC. 30 | 6:00 P.M. | Tech CU Arena | San Jose, CA

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Back in Bakersfield: The Barracuda close out 2023 on Saturday at Tech CU Arena with the second game of back-to-back against the Bakersfield Condors (Edmonton Oilers). The Barracuda won 5-4 in a shootout at the Mechanics Bank Arena on Friday. Saturday marks the second game of four against the Condors over the next eight.

Friday Fun: The Barracuda erased a two-goal deficit in the third period on Friday night at the Mechanics Bank Arena, then fell behind again, before tying the score with an extra attacker and winning it, 5-4, in a shootout against the Condors. The victory was the Barracuda’s first this year when going beyond 60 minutes (1-4). In the win, Leon Gawanke, Danil Gushchin, Scott Sabourin and Cole Cassels scored in regulation, and Gushchin and Nathan Todd tallied in the shootout.

Condors Check: The Condors enter Saturday with points in a season-high five straight games (3-0-1-1). Former second-rounder Olivier Rodrigue has started each of the last five games and ranks first in the AHL in save percentage (.932) and fourth in goals-against average (2.35).

Real Deal Danil: Sophomore forward Danil Gushchin is pacing the Barracuda in scoring (25) and points-per-game (.96), and co-leads the team in goals (9). Gushchin is also T-second on the club in assists (16) and power-play goals (2). In addition, he is third in the league in shots (103). 

King Leon: Barracuda blueliner Leon Gawanke ranks T-four in the AHL among defenders in points (22) and is T-fourth in goals (6). The German-born defenseman has 15 points (4+11=15) over his last 15 games. A season ago, as a member of the Manitoba Moose, he led all league defenders in power-play goals (7) and was T-first in total goals (20). 

Love Shak: Barracuda defenseman Shakir Mukhamadullin picked up an assist on Friday and now has points in six of his last seven games (2+7=9) and has 12 points (3+9=12) over his last 10 games. The former Devils first-rounder is T-seventh among league blueliners in points (19) and T-sixth in power-play assists (7).