Game 63: San Diego Gulls vs Bakersfield Condors – Mar 29

Corey Tropp (12) battles against the Condors. Credit San Diego Gulls.

With Kevin Roy still out and Jake Dotchin recalled to the Ducks to cover for the Josh Manson injury – Coach Eakins elected to go with 11 forwards and 7 defencemen again, inserting Moldenhauer in Dotchins spot. Curiously Alex Dostie and Jared Thomas had been called up from the ECHL the day before but were not inserted into the line up.

Both teams traded power play chances within the first ten minutes of action but neither were able to convert. The Gulls had their man advantage opportunity first but the Bakersfield penalty kill was their usual annoyingly aggressive selves and San Diego could not get much of an opportunity.

The Condors took control after gaining the Gulls zone and putting back to back scoring chances on the Gulls net through cross ice one-timers and recovering rebounds, eventually hammering one by Boyle for the early lead. Condors 1-0.

Bakersfield scored again when Moldenhauer took a needless boarding penalty, the rookie Cooper Marody took the pick through the Gulls offensive zone and went against the grain to get by Sieloff and then send a backhand through Boyle. A frustrating goal for the Gulls to take because they hadn’t been playing terribly and the Condors were getting away with a lot of subtle picks and grabs.

Things went from bad to worse when Sam Carrick was given a dubious interference call (really?? after all the subtle picks the Condors had been doing all period?) and the Condors scored on the resulting power play. The Gulls were all around bad on this kill. Sustr had an opportunity to win a puck battle and clear but did not, and Boyle was not strong on his nearside post where the Condors forward essentially bullied the puck over the line.

The period ended with the Condors taking a 3-0 lead into the first intermission with shots 12-11 in favor of the Gulls.

Jeff Glass came out to start the second and after an initial siege from the Condors, San Diego controlled much of play for the middle frame. Getting two power play opportunities and actually looking good before converting on their second thanks to a bullet from Sam Carrick through traffic.

The period ended with shots 17-13 for the Gulls and 29-24 overall. Dallas Eakins also engaged in a yelling match with the Condors coach as they headed to the respective team tunnels.

The final period was similar to the middle frame in that San Diego controlled play for much of it, they saw more time with the man advantage, including a call that was as a result of interference, something it seemed early on that the officials were happy to let the Condors get away with.

They were finally rewarded for all of their effort when Corey Tropp battling in front of the net was able to slam home a rebound to make it 3-2.

With Glass pulled the Gulls launched a valiant come back but the Condors collapsed and played a text box road game to steal the two points.

The loss dropped the Gulls back to 3rd in the Pacific.