San Jose’s Strauss Mann makes a save against the Tucson Roadrunners in his team’s 4-3 win at the Tucson Convention Center Arena on Friday APR 14, 2023. (San Jose Barracuda)

by Marko Ukalovic

Danil Gushchin scored two goals, including the eventual game-winner as the San Jose Barracuda defeated the Tucson Roadrunners 4-3 on Friday evening at Tucson Convention Center Arena.

San Jose snapped its two-game losing streak with one more game remaining in the regular season. Tucson has lost six in a row earning just three points in their last six games (0-3-2-1).

What was supposed to be a battle for the seventh and final playoff spot in the Pacific Division between the two teams, turned out to be meaningless games for both teams at the opening faceoff with Tucson clinching seventh place last weekend when it picked up a point in an overtime loss against the Texas Stars. It held the tiebreaker over San Jose with more regulation wins (25-22).

Tucson (30-32-8-1-69 points) drew first blood in the first period when Nathan Smith was left all alone in front of the crease where he used a forehand to backhand move to beat ‘Cuda goalie Strauss Mann with a shot from point blank range. Smith’s 12th goal of the season came at the 7:45 mark.

San Jose (30-34-2-5-67 points) evened the score on the power play late in the opening frame. Gushchin found ‘Cuda captain Andrew Agozzino with a back door pass that Agozzino tapped home into an empty net for his team leading 26th goal of the season at the 14:51 mark. By doing so, Agozzino set a new franchise record for the most goals in a regular season as he eclipsed the mark set by Barclay Goodrow during the 2015-16 season.

The Barracuda gained its first lead just under four minutes later with an even strength goal. This time Agozzino returned the favor as he set up Gushchin who skated in from the left wing and beat Roadrunners goalie Tyler Parks with a low wrist shot to the short side for his 20th goal of the season at the 18:38 mark.

Both teams played a tight checking second period as only a total of 13 shots were produced with each goaltender keeping the puck of its own respective nets.

Tucson evened the game 80 seconds into the third period. A giveaway by the ‘Cuda led to Josh Doan beating Mann with a wrist shot from close range for his third goal of the season.

San Jose regained the lead at the 7:52 mark with an even strength goal. Moments after their fifth power play ended a shot from the right slot by CJ Suess caromed off the end boards and deflected into the back off the net off a Roadrunner player’s stick that was camped out in front of the crease. It was Suess’s ninth goal of the season.

Gushchin scored his second goal of the game with the ‘Cuda on the man advantage just past the halfway mark of the final frame. Agozzino centered a pass out the faceoff circles where Gushchin blasted a slapshot past Parks for his 21st goal of the season at the 10:27 mark to give San Jose a much needed insurance goal.

Cameron Hebig gave the Roadrunners hope of a comeback when he scored a shorthanded goal at the 15:03 mark. Hebig cleaned up a big rebound off of a shot by Vladislav Kolyachonok for his ninth goal of the season.

Tucson’s had a chance at the end with a power play opportunity and Parks pulled for an extra attacker but their bid for the equalizer was thwarted when Steven Kampfer was called for a tripping penalty with 28 seconds remaining.

Mann (7-7) finished the game stopping 34 of the 37 shots to earn the victory. Parks (8-8-2) made 25 saves on 29 shots in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished 2-for-6 on the power play. Tucson was 0-for-4.

The Three Stars of the Game were: 1) Gushchin 2) Agozzino 3) Ethan Frisch.

UP NEXT: San Jose play their season finale against Tucson on Saturday 4/15 at 7:00pm at Tucson Convention Center Arena.