San Jose Barracuda forward Anthony Vincent engages in a fight with Tucson Roadrunners forward Sam Lipkin during the first period at Tech CU Arena on Sunday MAR 1, 2026. (San Jose Barracuda)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE — The Tucson Roadrunners scored three unanswered goals in the third period en route to a 6-4 comeback win over the San Jose Barracuda on Sunday evening at Tech CU Arena.

San Jose had its three-game winning streak snapped and lost for the first time in regulation when scoring four goals. Tucson has won two of its past three games and has earned points in five of the six games against the Barracuda.

Roadrunners defenseman Scott Perunovich scored the game winning goal on a breakaway with 2:32 remaining in the third period. Perunovich scored his sixth goal of the season as he was set up by Jack Ricketts and Dmitri Simashev.

Tucson (24-20-8-0-56 points) drew first blood early in the first period with an even strength goal. Ty Tullio led a counterattack into San Jose’s zone. Sam Lipkin found Michal Kunc along the right flank who blasted a one-timer past Cuda goalie Matt Davis for his fifth goal at the 5:34 mark.

San Jose (31-16-2-2-65-points) responded with an even strength goal near the halfway mark of the opening frame. Donovan Houle made a drop pass over to Jimmy Huntington at the blueline. Huntington skated into the middle before rifling a wrist shot past Roadrunners goalie Jaxson Stauber to the short side for his 11th goal of the season at the 8:53 mark. Nolan Allan received the secondary assist.

The Barracuda gained its first lead with a power play goal late in the period. Huntington centered a pass from behind the goal line out to Lucas Carlsson who beat Stauber through the five hole with a one-timer from in between the faceoff circles for his 12th goal of the season at the 13:32 mark. Egor Afanasyev received the secondary assist.

Huntington earned a “Gordy Howe” hat trick in the first period when he got into a scrap with Kevin Connauton at the 14:42 mark.

Huntington scored his second goal of the game with San Jose’s second goal on the man advantage early in the second period. Luca Cagnoni’s shot from the top of the point was redirected through the five-hole of Stauber by Huntington for his 12th goal of the season at the 1:33 mark.

The Roadrunners made it a one-goal game with a power play goal near the halfway mark of the middle frame. Perunovich found Daniil But along the left boards. But skated around to the slot and fired a wrist shot past Davis for his 10th goal of the season at the 8:23 mark.

Tucson evened the game with its second unanswered goal of the period. Cameron Hebig scored his 17th goal of the season when he beat Davis with a shot from the right slot to the short side at the 12:47 mark. Austin Poganski Montana Onyebuchi recorded assists on the play.

Anthony Vincent regained the lead for San Jose just under two minutes later. Kyle Crnkovic stripped the puck off of Maveric Lamoureaux from behind the Roadrunners net. Crnkovic centered the puck over to Vincent who needed three tries for his seventh goal of the season as Stauber initially stopped his first two attempts from point-blank range.

But scored his second goal of the game as he evened it up at four a piece early in the third period. But flipped a shot in from the point the air through a sea of traffic that found its way past Davis and into the back of the net. But’s 11th goal of the season came at the 7:07 mark.

Kevin Rooney iced the game with an empty net goal at the 18:35 mark, his 12th of the season.

Stauber (10-11-5) finished the game stopping 28 of the 32 saves to earn the victory. Davis (0-1-0), who made his AHL debut after being called up from the ECHL’s Wichita Thunder, made 31 saves on 36 saves in the losing effort.

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

The Three Stars of the Game: 1) Huntington 2) But 3) Perunovich.

UP NEXT: San Jose concludes their three-game homestand against the San Diego Gulls on Wednesday March 4th at 7:00pm at Tech CU Arena.