GAMEDAY: BARRACUDA AT ROADRUNNERS
Nov 30, 2023SAN JOSE BARRACUDA (5-8-4-0) vs. TUCSON ROADRUNNERS (10-6-1-1)
FRI, DEC. 1 | 7:00 P.M. | Tucson Convention Center | Tucson, AZ
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Desert Duel: After a 5-3 win on Wednesday in Coachella Valley, the Barracuda wrap up their three-game road trip in Tucson with back-to-back games against the Roadrunners, beginning on Friday. A season ago, the Barracuda went 5-2-0-1 against the Coyotes’ affiliate, winning the final five straight, including the final three consecutive games at the Tucson Convention Center. The Barracuda enter Friday having won its last two on the road.
Last Time Out: The Barracuda notched a season-high three power-play goals and were able to hold off a late Coachella Valley Firebirds push on Wednesday night at Acrisure Arena for a 5-3 win. The victory was the Barracuda’s (1-6-2-2) first-ever over the Firebirds in 11 attempts. Leon Gawanke led the way as he collected his fourth-career three-point game (1+2=3), and Thomas Bordeleau (0+2=2), Jacob Peterson (1+1=2), and Nathan Todd (1+1=2) all finished with two points. Eetu Makiniemi turned aside 31 shots to earn his first win of the year and his first win against Coachella Valley in three games.
Road Warriors: The Barracuda have won its last two on the road and are now 2-2-1-0 on visiting ice this season. SJ is a +2 away from Tech CU Arena, compared to -14 on home ice and boast the league’s 11th best road power play (21.7%).
Tucson Temp: The Roadrunners, who are 2-0-1-0 over its last three games, rank 29th (2.44) in the AHL in goals for and ninth in goals against (2.83). Tucson is T-second in times shorthanded (82) and rank 13th (84.1%) in the league on the penalty kill. In addition, the Roadrunners are 27th (56) in times on the power play and 31st (10.7%) on the man advantage. Entering Friday, Tucson is 0-10 on the PP over its last four games. Former Kings prospect and now Roadrunners goaltender Matt Villalta ranks T-first in the AHL in wins (9), first in minutes played (888:55), saves (436), and eighth in save percentage (.924). Tucson is 3-4-0-1 at home this season and have a -9 rating, compared to a road record of 7-2-1-0 and a +2 goal differential.
King Leon: Barracuda defenseman Leon Gawanke collected his fourth-career three-point game (1+2=3) on Wednesday in Coachella Valley and is now T-fourth among league defenders in points (14). Gawanke has five points (1+4=5) in his last two games and is now first on the team in power-play points (5), power-play assists (4), T-first in assists (11), and second in points and shots (44).
Gush Goin’: Sophomore forward Danil Gushchin scored for the second consecutive game on Wednesday and now co-leads the team in goals (6), is first in points (15), and first in shots (74). Against Tucson last season, he led the team in goals (6) and ranked second in points (10) in eight games.
Father Like Son: Josh Doan, the son of former Coyotes captain Shane Doan, leads the Roadrunners in goals (7), power-play goals (3), and game-winning goals (3). Among rookies, he is T-fourth in goals, T-third in power-play goals and first in GWG. Josh played two years at Arizona State and was drafted by the Coyotes in the second round (37th overall) of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.