Barracuda Heating Up as They Host Firebirds in Pacific Division Showdown
The San Jose Barracuda are riding a wave of momentum as they close out a four-game homestand Wednesday night against the Coachella Valley Firebirds. After a rocky start to the season series - 0-3 so far against Coachella Valley - San Jose is looking to flip the script on home ice at Tech CU Arena, where they’ve been red-hot lately.
The Barracuda have won three straight overall and four in a row at home, pushing themselves into a tie for fourth place in the Pacific Division with 51 points. The kicker? They’ve got two games in hand on the Firebirds, making this a prime opportunity to gain some breathing room in a tight playoff race.
Statement Win Over Calgary
San Jose comes into this one fresh off a dominant 7-2 win over the Calgary Wranglers - and it wasn’t just the scoreline that impressed. The Barracuda got even-strength goals from seven different players, showcasing the kind of depth that makes this team dangerous when they’re rolling.
Defenseman Braden Haché opened the scoring with his first of the season, and the Cuda never looked back. A three-goal second period, with key contributions from Oliver Wahlstrom and Mattias Hävelid, set the tone. Then they poured it on early in the third with three more to put it out of reach.
Filip Bystedt led the charge with a three-point night (1G, 2A), while Egor Afanasyev extended his point streak to seven games with a goal and an assist. Between the pipes, Gabriel Carriere turned aside 22 shots to seal the win - San Jose’s fifth straight against Calgary this season.
Coachella Valley Brings Firepower
The Firebirds won’t be an easy out. They’re coming off a 5-1 road win over Ontario and have now rattled off four straight away from home. Offensively, they’ve been one of the league’s most potent squads, ranking third in goals per game (3.45).
Logan Morrison has been a big reason why. The third-year pro sits fourth in the AHL in goals (21) and tied for sixth in points (40). He’s been a consistent threat, and the Barracuda blue line will need to keep tabs on him all night.
Comeback DNA
One thing we’ve learned about this Barracuda squad - they don’t fold when they’re down. Friday’s win over Calgary marked their 17th come-from-behind victory of the season. After conceding the opening goal, they rattled off five unanswered to take control.
San Jose is 10-11-1-0 when allowing the first goal and 7-10 when trailing after the first period - not sparkling records, but they’ve shown time and again they can claw their way back into games. That kind of resilience can’t be taught, and it’s starting to become part of their identity.
Bystedt Leading the Charge
Filip Bystedt has been everything the Barracuda could have hoped for and then some. The AHL All-Star leads the team in nearly every major offensive category: points (36), goals (13), assists (23), game-winners (4), and overtime winners (2).
He’s already surpassed his rookie totals in points, assists, power-play goals, and game-winners - and he’s done it in 13 fewer games. Earlier this season, he pieced together an eight-game point streak, one of the longest in franchise history. Simply put, he’s been the engine driving this team.
Rookie Watch: Cam Lund Making Noise
Cam Lund is starting to find his rhythm at the pro level. The rookie extended his goal streak to four games on Saturday, a stretch that started back on Jan. 21 - fittingly, against the Firebirds. In three games versus Coachella Valley this season, he’s chipped in a goal and two assists.
After wrapping up his college career at Northeastern last year, Lund jumped into the Sharks lineup for a 12-game stint, picking up two goals and an assist. That experience is clearly paying off now, as he’s becoming a steady contributor for the Cuda.
Afanasyev Keeps Producing
Egor Afanasyev continues to be a force. With a goal and an assist Saturday, he’s now riding a seven-game point streak (2G, 7A). Since being acquired from the Predators last June, he’s been a consistent offensive presence.
Last season with Milwaukee, Afanasyev put up career highs across the board - 27 goals, 27 assists, 54 points - and added a little bit of everything: power-play goals, shorthanded tallies, game-winners. He even spent time with CSKA Moscow in the KHL, where he tallied 21 points in 53 games. That experience is showing now, as he’s become a key piece in San Jose’s top six.
Special Teams Still a Strength
The Barracuda’s power-play streak may have ended at seven games on Saturday, but don’t let that fool you - they’re still lethal with the man advantage. San Jose ranks second in the AHL in power-play efficiency at 25.2%.
Oliver Wahlstrom leads the way with eight power-play goals, tied for fifth in the league. And on the back end, Luca Cagnoni has quietly been one of the AHL’s top power-play defensemen, ranking third among blueliners in power-play goals (3), assists (12), and points (15).
What’s at Stake
This one’s got all the makings of a statement game. Two teams tied in the standings, both playing well, both looking to gain ground in a jam-packed Pacific Division. For the Barracuda, it’s a chance to extend their home dominance and finally get one back against a Firebirds team that’s had their number this season.
Puck drops Wednesday night at Tech CU Arena. If the Barracuda keep playing like they have lately - rolling four lines, getting timely goaltending, and staying sharp on special teams - they’ve got more than a puncher’s chance to make it four straight wins and climb another rung in the standings.