Roadrunners Fall 3-0 to Gulls in Road Trip Opener

Roadrunners Recap: 4/1/2026

Game #64: Tucson Roadrunners (0) at San Diego Gulls (3)

SOG: TUC (27) – SD (28)
PP: TUC (0/2) – SD (0/4)

SAN DIEGO SCORING: Tyson Hinds (5), Jan Myšák (10), Nico Myatovic (6)
TUCSON SCORING:

SAN DIEGO, CA – The Tucson Roadrunners (30-25-9-0) opened a season-high seven-game road trip with a 3-0 loss to the San Diego Gulls (30-23-8-4) on Wednesday night at Pechanga Arena.

San Diego struck early in both the first and third periods, as Tyson Hinds opened the scoring six minutes into the game before Jan Myšák doubled the lead 2:30 into the final frame. Nico Myatovic sealed the win with an empty-net goal in the final minute.

The Roadrunners entered the night with a chance to leapfrog the Gulls for the final playoff spot in the Pacific Division with a regulation win, but were unable to solve San Diego’s defense or goaltender Calle Clang. With the victory, San Diego maintained its hold on seventh place and extended its lead to three points over the eighth-place Roadrunners. Tucson, however, has a game in hand with eight contests remaining, while the Gulls have seven to play.

The two teams will meet one final time in the regular season on April 15 – the last game of Tucson’s road trip.

Goaltender Matthew Villalta kept Tucson within striking distance, stopping 25 of 27 shots. The loss snapped both his two-game winning streak and Tucson’s two-game win streak against San Diego.

HIGHLIGHTS

TEAM NOTES

• Tucson’s penalty kill has gone a perfect 7-for-7 over its last two games, dating back to Mar. 28 vs Ontario.
• Wednesday marked just the fourth time the Roadrunners have been shut out this season.
• Tucson is now 2-3-2-0 against San Diego this season, including a 2-1-0-0 mark on the road and 0-2-2-0 at home. Wednesday also marked the first time either team has won on home ice through the first seven games of the season series.

INDIVIDUAL NOTES

• Matthew Villalta played his 126th game with Tucson to pass Ivan Prosvetov for second all-time in franchise history. He sits eight games shy of tying Adin Hill’s franchise record (134).
• Sam Lipkin played his 100th career AHL game.

THE RUNDOWN

FIRST PERIOD
Roadrunners forward Daniil But was on the receiving end of a heavy hit from Gulls forward Judd Caulfield just over a minute into the game. The rookie was shaken up briefly but remained in the game and did not miss a shift.

San Diego generated the game’s first scoring chance at 4:34 off the rush on a two-on-one. Matthew Phillips sent a centering pass from the left circle to Jan Myšák at the top of the crease, but Tucson’s goaltender Matthew Villalta turned aside the one-timer to keep the game scoreless.

The deadlock didn’t last long. Tyson Hinds opened the scoring at 5:57, finishing a cross-ice pass from Cal Burke with a one-timer from the lower left circle to give the Gulls a 1-0 lead.

Tucson’s best opportunity came midway through the period when Ty Tullio snapped a lead pass to Austin Poganski, springing him on a breakaway. Poganski, pressured from behind, fired a backhand that narrowly missed the post.

The Roadrunners outshot the Gulls 8-4 through the first 16 minutes, but San Diego found momentum late after Kevin Rooney was assessed a slashing penalty, granting the Gulls the game’s first power play. San Diego created three high-danger chances, but the advantage was cut short with 28 seconds remaining when Stian Solberg was called for high-sticking Max Szuber.

Tucson was unable to capitalize on the ensuing power play and trailed 1-0 heading into the first intermission.

SECOND PERIOD
San Diego controlled the opening half of the period, generating a handful of quality chances, but Tucson found their rhythm as the frame progressed.

Sammy Walker produced Tucson’s best opportunity just past the midway point, ripping a wrist shot from above the right circle, but San Diego goaltender Calle Clang made the stop to keep the Gulls in front.

Moments later, Sam Colangelo broke in alone on a breakaway, but Villalta stood tall to keep Tucson within one. Towards the end of the shift, Yegor Sidorov was called for tripping at 11:08, giving Tucson its second power play of the night.

The Roadrunners nearly turned the momentum on that advantage, but a turnover led to a short-handed breakaway for Nikita Nesterenko. Villalta came up with a timely poke check on Nesterenko to keep Tucson within one.

San Diego earned a power play of its own with 5:50 remaining after Jalen Luypen was whistled for cross-checking, but Tucson’s penalty kill remained perfect.

The Roadrunners were limited in Grade-A chances throughout the period but generated their best look just before the buzzer. But carried the puck into the zone with speed and fired a rocket of a wrist shot from the left circle, but Clang flashed the glove with four seconds remaining to preserve San Diego’s 1-0 lead heading into the third.

THIRD PERIOD
San Diego opened the period on the power play after But was assessed a roughing penalty at the end of the second, but Tucson Roadrunners killed it off for their third successful penalty kill of the night.

However, San Diego struck shortly after. Just 30 seconds after the penalty expired, Jan Myšák extended the lead to 2-0 at 2:32, firing a quick wrist shot from the slot.

Less than five minutes later, Montana Onyebuchi was called for cross-checking, giving the Gulls another power-play opportunity. Tucson generated a dangerous short-handed chance when Hebig carried the puck into the zone on a two-on-one with Poganski. Hebig slid a pass across for a backdoor attempt, but Clang pushed across the crease to deny Poganski with the right pad.

Midway through the period, Nesterenko broke in alone for his second breakaway of the game, but Villalta came up with another key stop, flashing the glove to keep it a two-goal deficit.

Tucson pulled Villalta for the extra attacker with 2:37 remaining, but Nico Myatovic sealed the game with an empty-net goal with 39 seconds left.

UP NEXT
The Roadrunners continue their seven-game road trip with a two-game set against the Henderson Silver Knights on Friday and Satuday. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. AZT on Friday and 6 p.m. AZT on Saturday. Fans can listen live on FOX Sports 1450 AM and the iHeartRadio app and watch on AHLtv on FloHockey.