Barracuda Riding Hot Streak into Abbotsford Showdown
The San Jose Barracuda are rolling. Winners of four straight, they’re heading north for a two-game set against the Abbotsford Canucks, starting Friday night in British Columbia. And if recent history is any indication, this matchup has all the ingredients for another tightly contested battle.
San Jose has taken three of four meetings against the defending Calder Cup champs this season, including a thrilling 4-3 overtime win back on November 22. Now, with momentum on their side and playoff positioning tightening, the Barracuda are looking to keep the heat on.
Snapping the Skid Against Coachella Valley
Wednesday night’s 2-1 win over the Coachella Valley Firebirds wasn’t just another notch in the win column - it was a statement. For the first time in four tries this season, San Jose finally got the better of their division rival. And they did it with grit, timely scoring, and a rock-solid performance in net.
After a scoreless opening frame, Jimmy Huntington and Jack Thompson lit the lamp just 2:42 apart in the second period to give the Barracuda a two-goal cushion. The Firebirds made it interesting late, pulling their goalie and cutting the lead in half, but Laurent Brossoit stood tall, stopping 37 of 38 shots to seal the deal. That win marked San Jose’s first this season when scoring two or fewer goals - they’d been 0-10-1-1 in those situations before Wednesday.
And here’s the kicker: the Barracuda are now 16-2-1-2 in one-goal games. That’s not just luck - that’s a team that knows how to close.
Abbotsford Struggling to Find Their Footing
The Canucks, meanwhile, are trending in the opposite direction. After winning three straight, they’ve now dropped their last three and find themselves 10 points out of a playoff spot. There’s talent on this roster, no doubt, but the numbers tell the story of a team still searching for consistency.
Their power play is clicking - sixth-best in the league at 21.9% - but the penalty kill is another story entirely. At just 75%, it ranks dead last in the AHL.
And the even-strength numbers don’t paint a much prettier picture: 31st in goals for (2.17 per game) and 28th in goals against (3.39). That’s a tough combo to overcome.
Familiar Faces in New Places
There’s no shortage of connections between these two squads. Abbotsford’s blue line features three former Barracuda defensemen - Cole Clayton, Nikolai Knyzhov, and Jimmy Schuldt.
Clayton landed in Vancouver via the Kiefer Sherwood trade on January 19. Behind the bench, Canucks head coach Manny Malhotra is a familiar name to Sharks fans, having spent the 2009-10 season in San Jose.
And in net for the Barracuda, Laurent Brossoit has his own history in Abbotsford. He suited up for two games with the Abbotsford Heat during the 2013-14 season, back when they were affiliated with the Calgary Flames.
Comeback Mentality
Friday’s game will feature one of the AHL’s most resilient teams. San Jose has made a habit of clawing back into games this season, notching their 17th come-from-behind win just last week. After falling behind 1-0 in the first period, the Barracuda rattled off five unanswered goals to take control.
Their record when conceding the first goal isn’t stellar (10-11-1-0), and they’re still under .500 when trailing after the first period (7-10), but that ability to rally speaks volumes. This team doesn’t fold.
Bystedt Leading the Way
If there’s one player driving the Barracuda engine this season, it’s Filip Bystedt. The AHL All-Star has been electric, leading the team in just about every offensive category - points (36), goals (13), assists (23), game-winners (4), and overtime winners (2).
Earlier this year, he strung together an eight-game point streak, one of the five longest in franchise history. He’s already topped his rookie numbers across the board, and we’re only in early February.
Rookie Watch: Cam Lund and Egor Afanasyev
Cam Lund’s four-game goal streak may have ended on Wednesday, but he still found the scoresheet with an assist. That gives him points in five straight games (4+1=5). The rookie forward joined the Sharks organization last year after wrapping up his collegiate career at Northeastern, and he’s quickly proving he belongs at the pro level.
Egor Afanasyev had his own streak snapped on Wednesday - a career-best seven-game point streak (2+7=9). But don’t let that quiet night fool you.
Since arriving from Nashville in the Ozzy Wiesblatt trade last June, Afanasyev has been a consistent producer. He’s coming off a career year in Milwaukee and also logged time in the KHL with CSKA Moscow.
He’s got the size, skill, and smarts to be a difference-maker night in and night out.
Power Play Still Packing a Punch
Even though their run of seven straight games with a power-play goal came to an end last weekend, the Barracuda still boast one of the league’s most dangerous man-advantage units. They’re second in the AHL overall at 24.7%, and even better on the road - third in the league at 26.5%.
Oliver Wahlstrom leads the charge with eight power-play goals, tied for fourth-most in the league. And on the blue line, Luca Cagnoni has been a force.
He ranks third among AHL defensemen in power-play goals (3), assists (12), and total power-play points (15). When this unit gets set up, they’re a problem.
The Barracuda are playing their best hockey of the season, and they’re heading into a matchup against a struggling Canucks squad with confidence, chemistry, and a growing sense of identity. If they can keep the special teams clicking and continue to get strong goaltending, this road trip could be another step forward in what’s shaping up to be a compelling second half.