Game 65: San Diego Gulls vs Ontario Reign – Apr 5

With Andy Welinski returned to the Gulls – Eakins again elected to go heavy on defense and ice an additional blue liner with one less forward. Adam Cracknell was again absent, with Alex Dostie also sat. Sam Carrick – missing in action last game as his wife was giving birth to their first child – was welcomed back. Patrick Sieloff made way for Welinski.

The Gulls caught the Reign sleeping early as Corey Tropp intercepted a pass between Petr Budaj and his defensemen behind the net and quickly tucked the puck into the open net. 1-0 Gulls.

A minute later a strong shift from Sam Carrick was finished by Luke Gazdic as he slammed home a one timer after Carrick made a beautiful behind the pack pass into the slot from the side of the net.

Ontario took back momentum for the next ten or so minutes and overtook the shot total for a brief few minutes as Kevin Boyle was forced to turn aside shot after shot until San Diego went back to their possession game – playing keep away in the Reign zone for the remaining five minutes of the period. Sam Carrick found himself alone in front of Budaj where he was able to receive a pass, spend what seemed like minutes to then turn, control, deek and then patiently send it through the abandoned Ontatio net-minder to give the Gulls the 3-0 lead.

San Diego then spent the remaining few minutes killing a penalty to Corey Tropp for charging and the period ended with the Gulls leading 3-0, shots 15-14 for San Diego.

The second period began with the Gulls killing off the remainder of the Tropp penalty thanks to some strong fore checking from Ben Street and Sam Carrick. Tropp then joined them as he exited the box, intercepted a pass and kept play in the Reign zone. The Gulls then continued to hold momentum and the better of possession until Just Kloos finished off a hard shot that bounced fortuitously off the end boards to find him at the near side to slam home for the Gulls 4-0 lead.

Moments later Jack Kopacka had yet another breakaway – but was stopped as he tried cut across the net and put the puck back between his legs for a shot. It feels like the speedy rookie has had a breakaway in almost every game for the last few weeks. Keifer Sherwood also had a partial breakaway but was stopped as well.

With eight minutes left in the middle frame the Gulls were called for Too Many Men and as Tropp sat in the box to serve the penalty, Chase De Leo jumped on a weak pass from the Reign at the Gulls red line, sped in on a breakaway and slipped the puck bast Budaj while making the Reign defenders look like they were skating through concrete.

Corey Tropp was again asked to throw down, this time with Devane and the very short lived scrap ended with Tropp hog-tying the larger defender to the ice without many punches thrown. Ontario was given the extra minor for roughing and San Diego finished the period on the Power Play. Shots were 27-21 for the Gulls through forty minutes.

Two minutes into the final period Luke Gazdic engaged with Devane for another tilt and although both players held their own, I would give the edge to Gazdic as he took down the Reign defender with an over the top shot.

Things continued to escalate from there as Dotchin and Reddekopp jawed at each-other before the face-off, they were promptly given two each as the Officials did their best to regain control of things.

Immediately upon exiting their respective penalty boxes Dotchin and Reddekopp calmly displaced their helmets and gloves as they circled each other before engaging in a spirited old-school fight. Dotchin got the first clean blow through but Reddekopp held his own for the remainder.

Soon after the Reign scored on a high wrist shot from the point that found its way through traffic and by Boyle to break his shutout bid. 5-1 Gulls.

Just as it was announced the Barracuda had won their game to keep ahead of the Gulls by two points regardless of this games outcome, Carrick took a pass through the neutral zone and split the defense, deeking out Budaj and getting it by him just as he was losing control of the puck on the final move.

The Reign had an opportunity on the shift immediately after but the Gulls collapsed on defense, Matt Moulson got cleaned out and just as Jack Kopacka appeared to be on another odd man rush the play was called dead as Wyszomirski was engaged with Sustr behind the play to answer for the downed Reign veteran.

Things quietened down after that and both teams seemed content to run the clock for the remainder of the game. There were little to no high danger scoring chances for either side and no further chippy play.

San Diego eventually coming out winners 6-1 with shots 35-30 for the Reign.

With the win the Gulls remained in 3rd place in the Pacific, with Tuscon just one point behind. All five teams still in the hunt have played the same amount of games.