San Jose forward Tanner Kaspick (#41) pinned Tucson Roadrunners defenseman Vladislav Kolyachonok up against the boards during the Roadrunners 3-1 win at Tech CU Arena on Saturday MAR 23, 2022. (San Jose Barracuda)
by Marko Ukalovic
SAN JOSE — The Tucson Roadrunners scored three unanswered goals in the final 21 minutes to defeat the San Jose Barracuda 3-1 on Saturday afternoon at Tech CU Arena.
San Jose has lost four of its past five games. Tucson has won five of its past six games.
San Jose (19-30-9-2-47 points) drew first blood 48 seconds to start the game. Danil Gushchin picked up his own rebound before centering the puck into the middle where Brandon Coe beat Roadrunners goalie Matthew Villalta with a low wrist shot for his 10th goal of the season.
It was the quickest San Jose has scored a goal to open a game.
Tucson (36-20-3-2-77 points) despite having two power plays could not put a dent in the scoreboard even though they outshot San Jose 16-12 in the first period.
‘Cuda goalie Magnus Chrona, who made his first since being sent back down to the Barracuda, made two big saves in the first five minutes of the opening frame, including robbing Milos Kelemen of a point-blank chance right in front of the crease.
The second period featured a couple of close calls. First, Cole Cassels muffed on an empty net bid where the puck ended up in the glove of Villalta five and half minutes into the second period. Then Ben McCartney breakaway attempt hit off the post at the halfway mark.
San Jose weren’t able to capitalize on 64 seconds of a 5-on-3 power play opportunity with under six minutes remaining in the middle frame as Tucson’s penalty kill were able to kill off both penalties.
Tuscon evened the score with a power play goal late in the period. Jan Jenik skated between two ‘Cuda defenders before finding Josh Doan in the left slot and Doan roofed home a wrist shot past Chrona for his team leading 26th goal of the season at the 19:36 mark. It was Doan’s 10th power play goal, which leads all rookies in the AHL.
The Roadrunners gained its first lead of the game early in the third period. Jenik cruised down the left side boards as he left a drop pass for Colin Theisen who skated in a beat Chrona with a wrist shot top shelf for his sixth goal of the season at the 5:10 mark.
Kolyachonok iced the game for Tucson with an empty net goal from inside his own blueline 1:27 remaining in the game for his eighth goal of the season.
Villalta (26-15-3-3) finished the game stopping 32 of the 33 shots he faced to earn his 26th win of the season. Chrona (5-14-4) made 35 saves on 37 in the losing effort.
GAME NOTES: San Jose finished 0-for-3 on the power play. Tucson was 1-for-3.
San Jose is 1-4 in the season series with Tucson.
Ethan Cardwell had his three-game goal streak snapped.
The Three Stars of the Game: 1) Doan 2) Coe 3) Villalta.
UP NEXT: San Jose and Tucson conclude their two-game weekend series on Sunday 3/24 at 3:00pm at Tech CU Arena.
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