Barracuda Look to Bounce Back in Tucson After Tough Loss to Roadrunners
The San Jose Barracuda continue their desert road swing on Saturday night, wrapping up a weekend back-to-back against the Tucson Roadrunners at Tucson Arena. Friday’s matchup didn’t go their way-despite some promising moments, the Barracuda fell 4-2 in a game that showed flashes of resilience but ultimately slipped away in the third period.
Friday Night Recap: A Missed Opportunity
San Jose looked like they might turn the tide after shaking off an early miscue that led to a Tucson goal. Kasper Halttunen answered back with a power-play tally late in the first, and Ethan Cardwell gave the Barracuda their first (and only) lead early in the second.
But the Roadrunners wasted no time responding, tying the game before the period was out. Early in the third, Austin Poganski buried what turned out to be the game-winner, and Tucson never looked back.
Gabriel Carriere posted 21 saves in net for San Jose, while Jimmy Huntington chipped in a pair of assists. Cardwell finished with a goal and a helper, continuing his strong play of late. But the Barracuda couldn’t generate enough sustained offense to keep pace down the stretch.
Bystedt Earns All-Star Nod, Hits Career Milestone
Filip Bystedt is putting together a standout sophomore season, and the league is taking notice. The 21-year-old center was named San Jose’s representative for the AHL All-Star Classic this week-and it’s well-deserved. Bystedt leads the team in points (28), assists (18), and overtime game-winners (2), and he’s second in goals (10).
He’s already outpaced his rookie totals in both power-play and game-winning goals, and he’s done it in 17 fewer games. Earlier this year, he strung together an eight-game point streak, one of the longest in franchise history. On Saturday, Bystedt is set to skate in his 200th professional game-a milestone that speaks to both his durability and rapid development.
New Faces on the Blue Line
The Barracuda lineup got a shake-up following a trade between the Sharks and Blackhawks. San Jose added goaltender Laurent Brossoit, defenseman Nolan Allan, and a 2028 seventh-round pick in exchange for blueliners Ryan Ellis and Jake Furlong, along with a 2028 fourth-rounder.
Allan, a former first-round draft pick, made his Barracuda debut on Saturday and logged a team-high 22:08 of ice time. It’s a promising start for the 6-foot-2 defenseman, who brings size, pedigree, and poise to the back end.
Old Friends in New Sweaters
Saturday’s opponent features some familiar faces for Barracuda fans. Tucson forward Andrew Agozzino, defensemen Robbie Russo and Montana Onyebuchi, and assistant coach Zack Stortini all spent time with San Jose. Agozzino, in particular, left a mark-he served as the Barracuda’s captain last season and set then-franchise records for points (61) and goals (26) in a single campaign.
Penalty Kill Heating Up
If there’s been one constant during this recent stretch, it’s been the Barracuda’s penalty kill. San Jose went a perfect 1-for-1 on the PK on Friday, improving to 36-for-37 (97%) over their last 12 games and 13-for-13 in their last six. On the road, they’ve been just as sharp-35-for-36 (97%) over their last 10.
Compare that to the first 17 games of the season, when they were killing off penalties at just 62.3% (38-for-61), and it’s clear this unit has turned a corner. Overall, they still rank 31st in the AHL on the PK (77.2%), but on the road, they’ve climbed to fifth (85.7%)-a testament to the adjustments and buy-in from the group.
Quentin Musty Making His Mark
Sharks 2023 first-round pick Quentin Musty is showing exactly why he was so highly touted. Among AHL rookies, he’s tied for sixth in scoring (24 points), tied for third in assists (16), tied for second in power-play goals (6), and second in power-play points (13). Musty’s blend of vision and scoring touch is making him a fixture on the Barracuda’s top units and a name to watch as the season progresses.
Cagnoni Continuing to Shine on the Blue Line
Second-year defenseman Luca Cagnoni is backing up his All-Rookie Team campaign with another strong season. He’s currently tied for second among AHL defensemen in power-play goals (3), tied for fifth in total points (21), tied for fourth in power-play assists (9), and tied for fifth in goals (5).
Last season, he led all AHL defensemen in power-play points (32) and ranked among the top five in both goals and assists. His offensive instincts and puck-moving ability continue to be a major asset for San Jose.
Lucas Carlsson: Still Lighting the Lamp
Veteran defenseman Lucas Carlsson remains one of the AHL’s most dangerous blueliners. He’s tied for second among defensemen in goals (8) and power-play goals (3).
A two-time AHL All-Star, Carlsson led all defensemen in goals (20) back in 2022-23 with the Charlotte Checkers. He’s still bringing that scoring punch to the ice every night.
Regenda Bound for Milano
Forward Pavol Regenda is heading back to the Olympics. The Slovakian winger was named to his national team for the 2026 Winter Games in Milano-Cortina, marking his second Olympic appearance. He helped Slovakia capture bronze in 2022 and has also represented his country at four straight World Championships.
This season, Regenda has split time between the Sharks and Barracuda, and he’s made his NHL minutes count-scoring seven goals in just 10 games, including a hat trick on Jan. 3. Acquired from Anaheim in January 2025, he’s quickly become a valuable depth piece for the organization.
What’s Next
The Barracuda will look to rebound on Saturday night and even the weekend series against a Roadrunners team that’s proven tough to crack. With rising stars like Bystedt, Musty, and Cagnoni continuing to make strides-and a penalty kill operating at near-elite levels-San Jose has the pieces to turn things around. The question is whether they can put it all together for a full 60 minutes.