Game 44: San Diego Gulls @ Ontario Reign – Feb 8

Looking to avenge their loss at home and get back in the win column in the hotly contested Pacific division the Gulls would need to do so without All Star Kevin Boyle as he was called up to the Ducks to cover for the John Gibson injury.

The Gulls started out well, spotting an early two goal lead through goals from Corey Tropp and Chase De Leo mere minutes apart.

Tropps goal was his 11th and broke a three game scoring drought and was his first point for the month of February. The Gulls desperately need him to get going down the stretch.

De Leo’s was a nice tip on a good long point shot from Sustr, who has had himself a good stretch of games. He has been a different player since the All Star break.

The next five minutes was all Gulls as wave after wave they attacked Peterson with numerous odd man chances but the Reign netminder turned aside every chance.

The Reign fought back and had Glass scrambling on a few chances but the veteran goaltender was able to maintain the two goal lead with some help from his defense.

Some poor coverage by San Diego on a Reign dump and chase lead to Ontario bringing it back within one with less than a minute left in the opening period as Matt Moulson was left alone in front of Glass to receive the pass and put it high over the helpless Gulls goaltender.

After a good shift from the De Leo line the Reign struck back a minute and a half into the second period with some good passing down low, San Diego were not tight enough on their coverage and an open man was able to put the puck high over the shoulder of Glass.

Ontario rode their momentum and drew a penalty on the Gulls. Winning the face off in the Gulls zone they set up quickly and wristed a shot by Boyle from the right side twenty seconds into the man advantage to take the lead.

Before things could get worse Eakins elected to use his time out and the Gulls responded by slowing things down, eventually drawing a penalty as the Reign hauled down Steel before he could get to a loose rebound in front of the Ontario net.

San Diego failed to convert but came close just after courtesy of some smart play from the De Leo line. Kopacka hitting the post on a wicked one timer from a nice pass from the former Manitoba Moose.

The Gulls kept play in the Reign zone for the next eight minutes before Max Jones stormed in on the left wing and sent a perfect shot that went post and in to bring the Gulls back into a 3-3 tie.

The Reign keep San Diego contained and generated some high danger chances that Glass was equal to but a strong shift by the Steel and Terry line resulted in a hooking call drawn by the later with a minute left in the middle frame.

The Gulls were unable to convert with the man advantage but kept up the pace in the third and Jack Kopacka generated his own chance with speed and followed up the rebound to take the lead 4-3. The kid stays hot.

Ontario as per their usual response began to up the ante with physical play but San Diego responded in kind lead by a particularly awesome shift from the De Leo line with Kiefer Sherwood throwing his body around to great effect.
With just under eight minutes left the Gulls padded their lead when Jack Kopacka avoided a hit on the boards and swept the puck to Kossilla who in term back hand swiped it across to Tropp for the easy put in.

With noted shithead Kurtis McDermid challenging rookie Josh Mahura to a fight behind the play the Gulls took advantage of their strength of numbers down low and Chase De Leo cleaned up a rebound in front for the 6-3 lead.

McDermid continued to throw a tantrum and took a penalty on the next shift. The Reign might have been in reach of getting back in the game down two goals but his need to challenge Mahura to fight directly resulted in his team going down by three and then taking a needless silly penalty on the next play is just another reason why I still vehemently disagree and now in comical fashion at Felix including him on his top ten defensive prospects list.

The Reign took another penalty on the ensuing penalty kill and were down two men for a full forty seconds but the Gulls could not finish.

Ontario did manage to bring back some semblance of respect when Boko Imama rumbled down the left side and sent a hard shot through Glass to bring the Reign back within two. He then went straight to Kiefer Sherwood and threw a left hook on his way past. Both teams then met at center ice and Sherwood bravely continued to taunt Imama.

San Diego came out 6-4 winners in a game where not all lines were clicking but the Reign ultimately let themselves down with poor discipline.