The first-place Tucson Roadrunners cruised to a comfortable 4-0 win over the San Jose Barracuda Tuesday night. The victory extended Tucson’s winning streak to four games and lowered the team’s postseason magic number to 13.
“I thought we started a little sluggish but I thought we got going,” Roadrunners coach Mike Van Ryn said. “A lot of guys played well tonight. It was nice to see some guys get rewarded.”
Conor Garland, playing in his 100th professional game, put Tucson ahead 1-0 on a power play goal just over seven minutes into the first period.
The Roadrunners increased the lead to 2-0 when Lane Pederson netted a rebound goal with about six minutes to go in the period. Goalie Adin Hill was credited with the assist on Pederson’s goal. It was Hill’s third career assist and the fourth goaltender assist in Roadrunners history.
With 4:25 remaining in the period, Tucson’s Nick Merkley went down with a lower body injury and was helped off the ice to the locker room. Merkley missed over a month of the season with an unrelated upper body injury.
Merkley’s departure could leave Tucson without two of its top offensive threats for the foreseeable future. Earlier in the day, the Arizona Coyotes called up forward Dylan Strome. Strome leads the Roadrunners with 50 points including 22 goals.
Tucson grabbed a 3-0 lead on a fast break goal by Mario Kempe four-and-a-half minutes into the second period.
A power play goal by Michael Bunting brought the score to 4-0 late in the period.
Hill saved all 20 shots that came his way. Hill is coming off a call-up to the Coyotes where he earned his first NHL win.
“I don’t think Adin struggles with his confidence,” Van Ryn said. “It’s one thing that makes him good and we’re working on him with keeping it in check a little bit.”
The Roadrunners tallied 35 shots on goals. The shutout marked the second time in three games that Tucson has held its opponent scoreless.
Tucson extended its first-place position in the American Hockey League’s Pacific Division with the win. The Roadrunners will look to sweep the midweek series against San Jose when the two teams rematch Wednesday night.
“I think we have another level,” Pederson said. “I think there’s always room to improve, like taking care of the puck a little better. I think we can get a little bit better tomorrow.”
