Tucson Roadrunner defenseman Montana Onyebuchi goes toe to toe with San Jose Barracuda forward Scott Sabourin during a fight at center ice at Tech CU Arena on Friday FEB 7, 2025. (San Jose Barracuda)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE — Sammy Walker had an impressive debut for the Tucson Roadrunners.

Walker scored four points and was involved in every goal as his team overcame a two-goal deficit for a 4-3 comeback victory over the San Jose Barracuda on Friday evening at Tech CU Arena.

San Jose has lost two games in a row. Tucson snapped its season worst eight-game losing streak.

Walker, who was picked up off of waivers by the Utah Hockey Club after being released by the Minnesota Wild, was assigned to Tucson on Monday after the AHL All-Star break.

A scoreless first period featured a heavyweight bout of a fight between each team’s respective enforcers, San Jose’s Scott Sabourin and former Cuda defenseman Montana Onyebuchi at the 8:51 mark. Tucson (20-19-2-1-43 points) outshot San Jose 13-7 in the opening frame that featured the Barracuda killing a double minor for high sticking by Joey Keane.

‘Cuda goalie Yaroslav Askarov, who made his first start with San Jose since being sent back down by the parent team Sharks, was the ‘Cuda’s best penalty killer during the first 20 minutes of the game.

San Jose (23-14-2-3-51 points) drew first blood early in the second period. A shot attempt by Ethan Cardwell was blocked by Onyebuchi. The puck pinballed in a sea of traffic in front of the crease before leaking out to Thomas Bordeleau who snapped home a wrist shot past Roadrunners goalie Jackson Stauber for his eighth goal of the season at the 1:55 mark.

The Barracuda doubled their lead with a power play goal exactly six minutes later. Ethan Cardwell sent a pass back up to the point to Luca Cagnoni. The rookie defenseman weaved his way between two Roadrunners defenders before finding Pavol Regenda in front of the crease. Regenda walked around Stauber before depositing the puck into an open net for his first goal in a ‘Cuda uniform and fifth of the season at the 7:55 mark.

The Roadrunners cut the Barracuda lead in half with a power play goal on its fifth attempt. Ben McCarthy made a drop pass back up to the point to Robbie Russo. The veteran defenseman whipped a wrist shot past a screened Askarov for his first goal of the season at the 17:09 mark.

Tucson scored its second power play of the game just 30 seconds later as San Jose continued its undisciplined parade to the penalty box. Egor Sokolov found Sammy Walker down low in front of the crease. Walker cleaned up his own rebound for his first goal in a Roadrunners uniform and third of the season at the 17:39 mark.

Walker picked up the primary assist on the Roadrunners third unanswered goal to start the third period. Walker skated down the right wing before centering pass over to Austin Poganski who buried a one-timer top shelf past Askarov for his 10th goal of the season 16 seconds into the period to give Tucson their first lead of the game.

San Jose responded with the equalizer just over three minutes later. A shot from the point by Lucas Vanroboys caromed off the back boards and off the pad of Stauber. Brandon Coe, who crashed the net, tapped the puck into an empty net for his third goal of the season at the 3:42 mark.

Tucson regained the lead near the halfway mark of the period. On a counterattack, Curtis Douglas from the right-wing boards slung a pass in front of the crease that caromed off the skate of Walker for what proved to be the game winning goal, his second goal of the game and fourth of the season, at the 9:07 mark.

Stauber (7-5-0) finished the game stopping 26 of the 29 shots he faced to earn his seventh win of the season in just his 12th start. Askarov (9-5-1-3) didn’t deserve the hard luck loss as he made 30 saves on 34 shots.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished 1-for-4 on the power play. Tucson went 2-for-6.

The Three Stars of the Game: 1) Walker (2G, 2A) 2) Coe (1G, 1A) 3) Cardwell (0G, 2A).

UP NEXT: San Jose and Tucson conclude their two-game weekend series on Saturday 2/8 at 2:00pm at Tech CU Arena.