Sharks prospects help San Jose Barracuda open AHL playoffs on high note

The San Jose Sharks AHL affiliate is one win away from advancing to the second round of the Calder Cup playoffs Related Articles Is this the last hurrah in San Jose for Barracuda s all-time top scorer As crucial date looms Sharks talks for new SAP Center lease take a turn Which ex-Sharks competitor will win the Stanley Cup Here are everyone s odds San Jose Barracuda to face rival as AHL reveals first-round playoff schedule How can the Sharks improve Grier talks priorities maybe trading top pick Forwards Pavol Regenda and Filip Bystedt both scored third-period goals and goalie Yaroslav Askarov made saves for his first career AHL playoff shutout as the Barracuda beat the Ontario Reign - on Friday in Championship of their best-of-three opening-round series at Crypto com Arena in Los Angeles Regenda acquired from the San Diego Gulls in January scored at the mark of the third period to give the Barracuda the lead before Bystedt added several insurance with a power-play goal at the mark Bystedt was the Sharks first-round pick in Defenseman Luca Cagnoni who had two assists in six games with the Sharks this season assisted on both goals Saturday Cagnoni in his first year as a professional was third among all AHL defenseman with points in regular-season games and was in recent weeks named to the league s all-rookie band Earlier in the third period the Barracuda killed off a double minor for high-sticking on forward Zack Ostapchuk San Jose went -for- on the penalty kill and -for- on the power play The Barracuda s two goals were enough offense for Askarov who only had to make one third-period save in his first meeting since April Askarov who will likely be on the Sharks roster in the fall has shutouts in the AHL but all have come during the regular season Friday marked his th Calder Cup playoff meeting Match is on Saturday at Crypto com Arena with the Barracuda having last change Battle if necessary will be on Monday at Toyota Arena in Ontario The Barracuda played Thursday without AHL leading scorer Andrew Poturalski and fellow top forward Thomas Bordeleau both out with injuries Poturalski lower body is considered week to week and Bordeleau upper body is day to day The top seven teams in the AHL s Pacific Division advanced to the playoffs The Barracuda are the sixth seed and the lowest remaining seed after the first round will play No Colorado in the division semifinals The two other teams will meet in the other semifinal This is the first time the Barracuda have been in the postseason since when the AHL only held playoffs for Pacific Division teams