Game 3: San Diego Gulls @ Ontario Reign – Oct 13

With Andy Welinski returning from a 1 game suspension it meant someone had to sit, and that someone was .. Steve Oleksy? OK.. yep moving on.

The game was pretty even going early on with both teams trading chances until a failed breakout lead to an outnumbered opportunity down low, and veteran Matt Moulson found Sheldon Rempal for the early Reign lead.

Less than a minute later a nice area pass from Corey Tropp was deftly deflected in by Sam Carrick for his 4th goal in 3 games.

Less than four minutes later after a net-front scuffle that resulted in matching minors for, (noted shithead) McDermid and Blandisi (with an additional 2 for slashing on McDermid served by Morrison) the Gulls capitalized on the ensuing power play after some nice puck movement in the Reign zone. Using Fiore, Shaw and Aberg up front with De Leo and Welinski on the points, the Gulls seemed to overload down low before passing back to the open point. The shot from Welinski produced a huge rebound among the traffic in front which was neatly put home by Shaw for his first of the season.

Less than three minutes later, Josh Mahura made an excellent play to anticipate and break up a Reign zone entry before quickly feeding Chase De Leo who sped in with Giovanni Fiore on an odd man rush. His precision pass was perfectly one-timed by Fiore for his first of the season and the two goal lead.

A minute and a half later the Gulls appeared to still be in control, until a broken down play resulted in a a loose puck bouncing off a defender to Brad Morrison who put a shot through Coreau.

With three minutes left in the period Jack Kopacka made a beautiful pass from behind the net to Aberg out front whose one-timer was denied by Cal Peterson.

The period ended with the Gulls controlling play for stretches, but being out-shot overall 16-12.

Just over a minute into the middle frame, the Reign won a face-off in the Gulls’ zone and a point shot that went wide was vastly overplayed by Coreau, who found himself massively out of position, while the speedy Eyssimont raced around the net and quickly tucked in the easy wrap-around to tie the game.

But less than a minute later a great play by Ben Thomson to strip the puck from a Reign player at center ice lead to a 2-on-1 break with Andy Welinski, Thomson’s low hard shot produced the perfect rebound for Welinski and he restored the one goal lead.

San Diego killed off a Reign man advantage later in the period when Sam Carrick was assessed the lone roughing penalty during another scrum. The Reign got another power-play five minutes later, but this was cut short when they were assessed a two-many-men penalty a minute into it. The Gulls’ puck possession and speed during the ensuing four-on-four resulted in another call against the Reign, and San Diego ventured onto an abbreviated five-on-three.

Ontario killed both of these penalties as the Gulls were too patient and/or appeared perplexed with how best to execute.

San Diego received yet another power play when Jamie Devane (who appears to be McDermid 2.0) leveled Corey Tropp on his way to bench, with the puck no where in sight. The Gulls converted with the man-advantage for the second time that night when Welinski hammered home a one-timer from the point for his second of the game. The period ended with San Diego leading 5-3 and still being out-shot 15-13.

Back to back delay of game penalties incurred in the final second of the middle frame, and 13 seconds into the third, put the Gulls at a 3 on 5 disadvantage for an almost complete two minutes and the Reign quickly converted via Matt Moulson on an easy back-door play.

The Gulls were able to kill the remaining penalty and were able to regain control of the play for the next five minutes until the Reign put one by Coreau on a seemingly harmless cycle that resulted in a broken play and the tying goal.

With 7:49 remaining the Reign were assessed a double minor when Moulson drew blood with a high check on Aberg but the Gulls were unable to convert on the 4 minute man advantage. The Reign controlled play for the remainder of regulation but Coreau turned aside numerous chances. With less than a minute to play Jack Kopacka had to leave the ice as it seemed he caught somebody’s skate inadvertedly on his wrist as he fell near the boards by the Reign bench – a particularly scary moment to end regulation.

OT started with De Leo, Aberg and Welinski – the Reign controlled play and possession for the first 30 seconds until Pontus Aberg took a tripping penalty as he was beaten with speed by Rempal coming into the Gulls zone. San Diego were able to kill the penalty and had multiple opportunities to win it in the final minute through Blandisi and Aberg but were unable to beat Peterson.

On to the shootout.

Coreau was unable to stop Rempal on the first shootout attempt

Carrick responded to tie it for the Gulls.

Coreau stopped the next shot.

Aberg was unable to convert for the Gulls 2nd round

Coreau made an easy save on the Reigns 3rd round shooter.

And Chase De Leo was the hero as he swung in from the right with speed and put it by Peterson with a very hard and well placed wrist shot.