Game 8: San Diego Gulls @ Ontario Reign – Nov 3

With Kalle Kossila being returned in time for the Gulls visit to Ontario, it meant that not only was Dostie scratched – but also Deven Sideroff as the additions of Steel and Blandisi pushed the Gulls forward depth to an all time high. Sideroff has played very well of late so its a little rough for him to get scratched but thats the reality of how things are starting to look as both clubs get healthy. Kevin Boyle also got the start – to give him some game-time and a chance to redeem himself after getting pulled against Stockton last weekend.

Ontario enjoyed a run of three straight powerplays due to some tick-tacky stick calls against the Gulls before Troy Terry drew a hooking penalty with under five minutes left and Josh Mahura converted with his first AHL goal off a wrist shot from the right point.

The opening period ended with the Gulls out-shooting the Reign 10-7 despite being shorthanded for just under a third of it.

Ontario came out hitting to start the second and the Gulls surrendered a game-tying goal off a broken play just over three and a half minutes in.

The Reign then continued to smother any attempt by San Diego to gain momentum by clogging up the neutral zone and applying a heavy hitting fore check in the Gulls’ defensive zone. I found myself – much like the Gulls – slowly falling asleep (I think the Reign camera operator had a hand in helping that along also, seriously sir/madam – how hard is it to follow hockey action and/or the puck?) – until the Tropp line finally got some shots and pressure on Cal Peterson in the final minute of the period. The middle frame ended with a scrum to the right of the Gulls net with Benoit and Walker in a tussle that didn’t quite progress to a fully fledged fight and surprisingly Sustr involved also. Shots were 14 to 6 to the home team.

Chances started out even to begin the third, but momentum soon swung the Gulls’ way as they obtained a power play when Ontario were caught with too many men. They could not finish despite generating a few chances, the most noticeable of which involved Josh Mahura taking the puck from his own end through the entire squad to get his own opportunity. San Diego carried momentum for the next ten minutes, putting Cal Peterson under siege with wave after wave. The “kid” line came close as did the Tropp line but it was the Reign who scored next as San Diego were caught playing sloppy in their own zone, and a turnover by Max Jones resulted in an Austin Wagner tally. A minute later the Reign executed on the exact same play and it seemed like the wheels might be falling off.

San Diego went back to the attack with some form of desperation and got a power play, but again could not finish as Cal Peterson continued to frustrate as the Reign defense continued to clog and suck the life out of the game. With less than three minutes left, Max Jones stormed into the Reign zone, cut to the front of Peterson and sent a shot top corner for his first AHL goal.

San Diego pulled Boyle with two minutes left and had a minute of zone time but were unable to get a clear chance on Peterson other than a wobbling puck for Carrick down low, Ontario then intercepted and got some space before icing the contest with a shot into the empty net.

The disappointing loss sinks San Diego down the competitive Pacific as they are forced to stay idle over the coming week.