Photo credit: @sjbarracuda

By Marko Ukalovic

The Pacific Division-leading Tuscon Roadrunners (35-18-4-1) flexed their muscles in dealing a big blow to the San Jose Barracuda’s (26-24-4-3) fading playoff hopes with a dominating 4-0 shutout victory on Tuesday evening at the Tuscon Convention Center Arena. It was the Cuda’s third consecutive loss and sixth time they have been shutout this season.

The Roadrunners drew first blood on their second power play opportunity when Connor Garland was able to light the lamp after snapping home a rebound off a shot from Mike Sislo that got past the outstretched arms of Cuda goalie Antoine Bibeau (18-13-3) for his sixth goal of the season at the 7:11 mark of the first period. Dakota Mermis received the secondary assist.

Tuscon made it a 2-0 game just seconds after killing off a penalty by Lane Pedersen. Carter Camper sent in a shot on goal that Bibeau was able to deflect behind the goal. Pedersen collected the puck, circled around the net and slid the puck into an empty net for his 11th goal on the season at the 13:53 mark. Goalie Adin Hill (16-10-3) received an assist on the goal.

Mario Campe would chase Bibeau from the game when he scored a breakaway goal at 4:36 mark of the second period. After a failed clearing attempt out of the Cuda zone, Garland fed a pass over Campe, who skated in with a pretty move going backhand to forehand to bury the puck past Bibeau for his 16th goal on the season. Stephon Williams took over for Bibeau in net.

Michael Bunting made it 4-0 on the power play. After Williams was able to stop consecutive shots by Pederson and Lawson Crouse, Bunting made the third attempt a charm, scoring his 17th goal on the season at the 15:37 mark.

Hill, who wasn’t busy during the first 40 minutes, was strong in the third period and finished with 20 saves for his third shutout of the season. Bibeau suffered the loss, making 14 saves on only 17 shots. Williams, in his first relief appearance for the Cuda, made 17 saves on 18 shots.

GAMES NOTES: San Jose went 0/4 on the power play. Tuscon went 2/5.

Tuscon was without their leading point scorer, Dylan Strome, who was recalled up to the Arizona Coyotes.

Despite suffering from the flu, Julius Bergman–initially listed as a scratch–was in the lineup for the Cuda.

The Cuda are now 5-1-0-1 all time against Tuscon.

FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT! San Jose’s Emerson Clark and Tuscon’s Garland exchanged fisticuffs in a penalty-filled first period at the 7:26 mark.

Streaks stopped–Captain John McCarthy and Rourke Chartier both had their four-game scoring streaks end and Adam Helewka’s three-game streak stopped.

It was the first loss for San Jose at Tuscon Convention Center Arena this season.

With the loss, the Cuda dropped to last place in the Pacific Division.

UP NEXT: The Barracuda will look to salvage the end of their four-game road trip in the back-end of their two-game series against Tuscon on Wednesday 3/21 at 7:05 pm PST.