With the announcement that Sam Carrick and Chase De Leo had been recalled earlier in the day, the Gulls faced an unfair further adversity as they lose the leading and second leading scorer. Eakins went back to the 12 forwards and 6 defender setup as he put in the recalled Thomas, Dostie and the returned from injury Luke Gazdic while scratching Moldenhauer from the defence corps.
San Diego came out strong to start, leading the shots 14-9 by the end of the first period as well as picking up to two power plays during the first twenty minutes. Despite their personnel disadvantage, you could sense they understood the gravity of the situation and with 5 games left after this one, the onus was on getting back in the win column – no excuses.
Both teams played mostly conservative in the second frame, Kalle Kossila may have had the best chance when he looked off Kopacka on a 2 on 1 and fire a shot on Gillies but the big goaltender was equal to the task. Adam Cracknell was given a roughing called during a Stockton cycle in the Gulls zone with twelve minutes left to play but San Diego were able to kill the minor.
San Diego were definitely playing with a lot more desperation than we have seen on a team scale tonight as at one point a goal mouth scramble was inches away from meaning a Heat lead but the puck was kept out by scrambling dives and team defense.
Corey Tropp and Adam Cracknell had some great chances in the final few seconds and the end result was Cracknell finding himself alone in front of Gillies, receiving the pass, but making one too many moves before putting it just after time had expired.
The second period ended with shots 25-20.
San Diego came out flying to start the third. Jack Kopacka had back to back chances and Corey Tropp had a clear cut breakaway after he poke-checked the puck away at neutral ice but had the puck bounce on him as he headed in alone. Thankfully on the next shift Adam Cracknell finished off a good shift from Gates Jr as he finished off a pass from Berry in the crease after some chances generated by Keaton Thompson who received the pass from Gates Jr.
San Diego controlled play for much of the next few minutes until some complacent defending in their own zone lead to some dangerous chances for the Heat and they finally got one by Boyle on a tight angle shot after Mahura let his man get away from him in the high slot. 1-1 game.
The Gulls were unable to regain momentum until the final five minutes of the game after being forced to kill back to back penalties, Kevin Boyle was huge in preventing another Heat score – playing aggressive and not giving up any rebounds.
They held the Heat in their zone for a full minute but soon after Stockton took the game right back and hemmed the Gulls in, putting shot after shot on Boyle. With thirteen seconds left the Heat broke Gulls fans hearts by getting a rebound by Boyle to take the 2-1 lead. In desperation Dallas Eakins called a time and pulled Boyle with five seconds left but the Gulls lost the face-off in the Heat zone and the visitors held on for the win to give the Gulls their third straight loss.
Thankfully the Eagles lost their game against the Roadrunners to remain in 4th and keep the Gulls in 3rd. But the Roadrunners win also meant that they snuck up to just three points behind both the Eagles and Gulls now for the final playoff spot.
The Eagles have 4 games left, facing Chicago twice & San Jose twice. Roadrunners have 6 left, Iowa twice, Ontario, Bakersfield & then the Gulls twice to close the season. It’ll come down to the wire but the Gulls can control their destiny with wins in those final two.
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