San Jose Barracuda forward Danil Gushchin celebrates along the ‘Cuda bench one of his two goals during the Barracuda’s 5-3 win over the Tucson Roadrunners at Tech CU Arena on Saturday FEB 8, 2025. (San Jose Barracuda)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE — Danil Gushchin scored two goals and came within a crossbar of a hat trick as the San Jose Barracuda defeated the Tucson Roadrunners 5-3 on Saturday afternoon at Tech CU Arena.

San Jose split the series with their Pacific Division rival and has won three out of its past five games. The ‘Cuda picked up points in six games of their seven game homestand. Tucson has lost nine of its past 10 games.

San Jose (24-14-2-3-53 points) drew first blood just past the halfway point of the first period. Danil Gushchin dropped a back pass over to Braden Hache at the Roadrunners blueline. Hache wrist shot from the point was redirected by Filip Bystedt past Roadrunners goalie Matthew Villalta for his eighth goal of the season at the 10:55 mark.

Bystedt snapped a season long 13-game goal-less draught. This was Hache’s first game with the ‘Cuda since being called up from the Wichita Thunder as he made his home debut.

Tucson (20-20-2-1-43 points) answered back late in the opening frame with an even strength goal. Egor Sokolov won a battle along the left boards. He centered the puck over to Hunter Drew who rang a shot off of the post. The rebound came right to the tape of Sokolov who buried the puck into an open net past ‘Cuda goalie Georgi Romanov for his 15th goal of the season at the 18:08 mark.

The Barracuda regained the lead with 14.8 seconds remaining in the first 20 minutes. Thomas Bordeleau threaded a needle of a pass up to a wide-open Gushchin in between the faceoff circles. Gushchin made a move in before lifting the puck over the glove of Villalta for his 10th goal of the season.

The Roadrunners evened it up at two early in the second period. Max Szuber kept the puck inside the Barracuda zone and was able to push it up to Cameron Hebig along the left boards. Hebig skated in and pinpointed a wrist shot off the far side post and past Romanov for his team leading 17th goal of the season at the 4:31 mark.

Gushchin gave the ‘Cuda its third lead of the game with a power play goal. Luca Cagnoni found Gushchin along the left slot. Gushchin skated in before firing a wrist shot top shelf to the glove side for second goal of the game and 11th of the season at the 12:02 mark.

Gushchin thought he scored his third straight goal of the game with 1:11 remaining in the middle frame when he beat Villalta with a wrist shot after receiving a rink wide pass from Bordeleau after Colin White made a drop pass to Bordeleau. The call on the ice was called a goal by the officials. However, after a very lengthy video review it was determined the puck caromed off the crossbar.

White returned to the Barracuda after being placed on waivers yesterday by the San Jose Sharks.

In the third period the Barracuda held down the fort and shut out the Roadrunners the rest of the contest. White iced the game for San Jose when he scored an empty netter after Tucson pulled Villalta for an extra attacker. White’s sixth goal was scored at the 17:38 mark.

Cardwell completed the scoring for San Jose with an empty goal at the 18:47 mark, his sixth goal of the season. White picked up the only assist on the play to complete a three-point game.

Lleyton Moore scored his sixth goal of the season with 1.2 seconds left in the contest to close out the game’s scoring.

Romanov (10-6-3) finished the game stopping 25 of the 28 shots he faced to earn his 10th victory of the season and snap a three-game winless streak. Villalta (10-15-3-3) made 35 saves on 38 shots in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished 1-for-2 on the power play. Tucson went 0-for-1.

The Three Stars of the Game: 1) Gushchin (2G, 1A) 2) White (1G, 2A) 3) Bordeleau (OG, 2A).

UP NEXT: San Jose starts a four-game road trip on Tuesday 2/11 against the Colorado Eagles at 6:05pm at Blue Fcu Arena.