BARRACUDA HOLD OFF TUCSON AT HOME, WIN 3-2
Mar 25, 2018
San Jose, CA - The San Jose Barracuda (28-25-4-3) defeated the Tucson Roadrunners (36-19-5-1) at SAP Center on Saturday, taking a 1-0 lead in the opening period and holding off the Roadrunners through the remainder of the game to secure the 3-2 win in the last of the eight-game regular season series between the teams.
After nearly nine and a half scoreless minutes to start the first, the Barracuda took a 1-0 lead when Alex Schoenborn (1) collected the puck near center ice and raced across the offensive zone favoring the right post before firing a wrister into the top left corner, over the stick of Roadrunners netminder Adin Hill, for his first goal on the year. Then Julius Bergman (9) would stretch the lead to two at 15:32, scoring on the first power play opportunity for the ‘Cuda with a slap shot from just inside the blue line, set up by a centering pass from Radim Simek. With the defense holding strong throughout the frame, San Jose carried their 2-0 advantage into the first intermission.
The Roadrunners narrowed the gap just 3:10 into the second when Lawson Crouse (10) worked his way out of the corner with help from teammate Mike Sislo and sank a wrister while falling to a knee to make it 2-1. But San Jose would answer two minutes later when Manny Wiederer (7) pushed through the Tucson defense and took a centering pass from Emerson Clark on a breakaway, deflecting it past Hill to give the Barracuda a 3-1 lead. Having allowed three goals on nine shots through 25 minutes of play, Hill was replaced in goal by Hunter Miska, who held off seven shots to close the period.
Tucson scored early again to start the third with Ryan MacInnis (5) firing cross-body from between the circles and finding the top right corner only 20 seconds into play, bringing the Roadrunners within one with 19:40 remaining. But Williams and the San Jose defense held off the Tucson attack throughout the remainder to finish the contest with the 3-2 victory.
Williams (1-0-0) earned the victory, making 27 saves on 29 shots. On the other end, Hill (16-11-4) took the loss, allowing three goals on nine shots before Miska finished the game with 20 saves on 20 shots.
BOX SCORE
The Barracuda will head to Grand Rapids for a tilt with the Griffins on Friday at 4 p.m in the first of a two-game road trip. Listen live on AM 1220 KDOW or on the all-new Sharks + SAP Center App.
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