San Jose Barracuda didn’t have much luck in Tucson losing both games on the road trip. The Barracuda lost the second game on Mon Feb 8, 2021 at the Tucson Convention Center (sjbarracuda.com image)

by Marko Ukalovic

TUCSON, Ariz—The Tucson Roadrunners scored two goals in the second period en route to a 5-3 victory over the San Jose Barracuda on Monday evening at Tucson Convention Center Arena.

San Jose received its first regulation loss after losing in overtime to Tucson the day before and earned one point in the two game series.

The Barracuda (0-1-1) broke the seal late in the first period when John Leonard set up Joachim Blichfeld who rifled home a wrist shot past Roadrunners goaltender Ivan Prosvetov for a 1-0 lead. Blichfeld’s first goal of the season came at the 14:14 mark.

Tucson (2-0-0) came back with the equalizer just under 90 seconds later when some hesitation by ‘Cuda goalie Alexei Melnichulk to play the puck near the trapezoid cost his team. Michael Carcone ended up with the puck and centered a pass out to Jan Jenik who tapped home the puck into an empty net at the 15:19 mark.

A San Jose turnover led to the first lead for Tucson. Kevin Roy raced down the left side and fired a puck on net that Melnichuk stopped but Lane Pederson came crashing in and cleaned up the rebound for his first goal of the season at the 16:44 mark.

Alxander True scored the first of his two goals late in the opening frame. A shot from the point by Brinson Pasichnuk was redirected past Prosvetov by True at the 16:57 mark.

The Roadrunners didn’t waste anytime regaining the lead in the second period. Jenik led and two-on-one break and found Carcone, who snapped home a wrist shot for his first goal of the season at the 1:43 mark.

Tucson gained a two-goal advantage late in the middle frame when they scored its first power play goal of the season at the 17:33 mark. Michael Bunting tipped home a point shot from Pederson.

San Jose cut the lead to a one-goal game with a power play goal of its own. Anti Suomela centered a backhand pass in front of the crease were True was camped out in front of and tipped home the puck past Provetov for his second goal of the evening at the 4:24 mark of the third period.

The Roadrunners closed out the scoring with an insurance goal from Roy. Bunting centered a pass from behind the net and Roy wristed a one-timer past Melnichuk for his first goal of the season at the 17:16 mark.

Prosvetov (2-0) finished with 33 saves on 36 shots to earn the victory. Melnichuk stopped 28 of the 33 shots he faced in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose was 1-for-4 on the power play. Tucson was 1-for-5.

Barracuda forward Zach Gallant made his AHL debut.

Pederson finished with a three-point night (1G,2A).