Barracuda Look to Stay Hot in Coachella Valley After Overtime Thriller in Tucson
The San Jose Barracuda are back on the road Wednesday night, wrapping up a three-game swing with a tough test against the Coachella Valley Firebirds. After a gutsy 4-3 overtime win in Tucson last Saturday, the Barracuda are hoping to carry that momentum into Acrisure Arena - a building that hasn’t been kind to them this season. San Jose has dropped both of its matchups against the Firebirds so far, including a 4-2 loss on December 17.
Resilient in the Desert
Saturday’s win over the Tucson Roadrunners was a showcase of grit and timely execution. The Barracuda found themselves trailing twice in regulation, but each time they answered. Filip Bystedt, Colin White, and Jimmy Huntington all found the back of the net to keep San Jose in the fight, and it was Egor Afanasyev who delivered the dagger - a power-play snipe at 4:31 of overtime that sealed the win.
That victory pushed San Jose to an impressive 6-1 record in overtime games this season, a testament to their poise when the stakes are highest. Goaltender Laurent Brossoit, making his debut with the Barracuda, turned aside 19 of 22 shots to pick up the win. Meanwhile, Luca Cagnoni and Lucas Carlsson each notched two assists, and Huntington added a helper to go along with his goal - a strong two-way performance from the veteran forward.
Sharks Make a Splash: Sherwood In, Clayton Out
The NHL parent club made headlines Monday, acquiring forward Kiefer Sherwood from the Vancouver Canucks in a trade that sent defenseman Cole Clayton and two second-round picks the other way. Clayton, 25, was brought in on a one-year, two-way deal this past offseason. In 33 games with the Barracuda, he registered five points and 21 penalty minutes while posting a minus-one rating.
Sherwood brings a different dimension to the organization - a high-motor forward with scoring touch and NHL experience. While it remains to be seen how quickly he’ll be integrated into the Sharks’ or Barracuda’s lineup, this move signals a push for more offensive firepower.
Veteran Presence: Leddy Joins the Barracuda
San Jose’s blue line got a big boost this week with the addition of 16-year NHL veteran Nick Leddy. After clearing waivers, Leddy was assigned to the Barracuda, bringing over 1,000 games of NHL experience and a Stanley Cup ring from his time with the 2013 Chicago Blackhawks.
While it’s been over a decade since Leddy skated in the AHL - he played 53 games with Rockford from 2010 to 2012 - his presence should be invaluable to a young Barracuda defensive corps. His ability to move the puck, quarterback a power play, and mentor emerging talents like Luca Cagnoni could be a game-changer.
Bystedt’s Breakout Continues
Filip Bystedt’s sophomore season has been nothing short of electric. The 21-year-old center was named to the AHL All-Star Classic last week, and it’s easy to see why. He leads the team in points (29), assists (18), and overtime game-winners (2), and is tied for the team lead in goals (11).
What’s more impressive is how quickly he’s closed in on - and surpassed - many of his rookie-year numbers. He’s already topped last season’s totals in both power-play and game-winning goals, and he’s just one goal and one assist away from matching his overall rookie output - in 16 fewer games.
Earlier this season, he rattled off an eight-game point streak, one of the longest in franchise history. Simply put, Bystedt has arrived.
Penalty Kill Finding Its Groove
San Jose’s penalty kill has been a tale of two seasons. Through the first 17 games, it was a glaring weakness - just 62.3% efficiency.
But over the last 19 outings, something’s clicked. The Barracuda have killed off 52 of 56 penalties in that span, good for a scorching 93% success rate.
That turnaround has vaulted them to sixth in the league in road penalty killing (84.8%) heading into Wednesday’s matchup. Against the Firebirds specifically, they’ve been sharp - 11-for-12 on the kill so far this season.
Cagnoni Continues to Climb
Second-year defenseman Luca Cagnoni is proving last season’s breakout wasn’t a fluke. He’s currently tied for second among AHL blueliners in power-play goals (3), fourth in points (23), fourth in power-play assists (10), and sixth in goals (5). That’s elite company.
As a rookie, Cagnoni led all AHL defensemen in power-play points (32) and was top-five in both goals (10) and assists (22) with the man advantage. He finished the season among the top six in goals (14), points (49), and assists (35), earning a well-deserved spot on the AHL All-Rookie Team.
Now in year two, he’s showing no signs of slowing down. His offensive instincts, especially on the power play, remain a major weapon for the Barracuda.
As the Barracuda prepare to face a Firebirds team that’s had their number this season, they’ll be leaning on their recent momentum, a bolstered blue line, and the continued growth of their young core. If Saturday’s comeback win in Tucson was any indication, this group has the grit and firepower to make some noise - not just on this road trip, but in the playoff picture as well.