Sheng Peng
LAS VEGAS — Can the San Jose Barracuda unhorse one of the best goalies in the AHL?
That’s their burning question heading into their best-of-three first round against the Henderson Silver Knights, starting on Wednesday night at Lee’s Family Forum.
Carl Lindbom has a sparkling 24-5-5 record with a .926 Save %. Underscoring Lindbom’s value to the Silver Knights, his back-ups Jesper Vikman and Cameron Whitehead have .866 and .873 Save %, respectively.
The 22-year-old Swede is one of only two AHL starters this season above .920: Michael DiPietro of the Providence Bruins has a .930.
The 2021 seventh-round pick also hasn’t been beat in regulation since Jan. 18: Lindbom is 18-0-2 since then.
And to top it off, Lindbom defeated the San Jose Sharks twice this season, on Nov. 29 and Jan. 11.
So how do the Cuda knock Lindbom down a peg?
Four NHL scouts, none with the San Jose Sharks or Vegas Golden Knights, gave their predictions for Barracuda-Silver Knights.
One scout also suggested a player in this series who might be more dangerous than Igor Chernyshov.
In addition, Barracuda head coach John McCarthy, Colin White, and Filip Bystedt shared their thoughts on Lindbom and the Silver Knights.
“Their speed is dangerous. Fast forwards. They move the puck well. Their defense can spring forward from their zone quick and catch you off-guard,” Scout #1 said. “They can be beaten with their defense, but Lindbom is really good.”
McCarthy agreed: “They’re a high-octane offense team. They got a lot of guys that can really hurt you. They have a very strong power play.”
“I think Henderson and San Jose match up pretty good,” Scout #2 said. “Should be a close series. San Jose in three.”
Scout #3 agreed: “This will be a good series. San Jose has more talent, but they are younger. I would pick San Jose.”
Lots of Henderson’s higher-end offensive talent, Tanner Laczynski, Raphael Lavoie, Jeremy Davies, Lukas Cormier, and Dylan Coghlan are 24 or older. While the Cuda have plenty of veteran talent, high-end prospects Igor Chernyshov, Filip Bystedt, Quentin Musty, and Lucas Cagnoni also have starring roles.
“It should be a good series, but I think San Jose has the edge,” Scout #4 said. “Henderson has the best and most dynamic forward in the series with Connelly, but the depth is better in San Jose.”
More dynamic than Chernyshov, the 20-year-old winger who put up nine goals and 19 points in 28 games with the San Jose Sharks this past season? Trevor Connelly was selected at No. 19 in the 2024 Draft, just ahead of Chernyshov at No. 33.
“I like Chernyshov as an NHL prospect more, but in terms of influencing the play in an AHL game, Connelly has more of an impact,” Scout #4 clarified. “More of a cerebral playmaker and creates for his linemates. Chernyshov is more of a direct player who finishes.”
Scout #1, however, believes the Silver Knights will run through the Barracuda.
“Honestly, the Knights should sweep,” he said. “I like San Jose when they are healthy, but the Knights are healthy too, and they are the best team in the division right now. San Jose caught a bad break with them in the first round.”
For the Cuda, it’ll probably come down to touching up the recently untouchable Lindbom.
“His positioning is great. I don’t think he gives up easy shots,” White said. “That’s where we can’t take those easy shots and let him feel that puck.”
Bystedt and Lindbom both represented Sweden at the 2023 World Junior Championships.
“What stuck out was his mental game,” Bystedt said, “he’s so focused.”
So?
“We got to get a lot more bodies in front of the net and make it hard for him to see the puck,” White said.
“We want to make him uncomfortable,” McCarthy said.