San Diego Gulls @ San Jose Barracuda: Game 4

In a potential series clinching game Coach Dallas Eakins chose not to vary the line-up that got the win in the previous game. Jeff Glass again earning himself the nod to start.

As has been the case all series, the Barracuda got off to a fast start as they got the puck in between the hash-marks and fired a shot on Glass that squeaked through his pads and trickled over the line just fifty seconds into action. 1-0 Barracuda.

Four minutes in and the Gulls still did not have a shot on goal, Max Jones did not help things by taking a high sticking penalty in the Barracuda zone to send San Diego to the penalty kill.

It felt like San Jose were the hungrier team through the first ten minutes but the Gulls did start to show some signs, albeit through some rather disjointed efforts – they did come close when they finally managed to get some shots on Korenar. Max Jones having the puck bounce over his stick as he followed up a rebound on a rush.

With just over four minutes left and with still only one shot registered on goal the Gulls miraculously got a game tying score when Corey Tropp retrieved a puck from behind the Gulls net and made a beautiful behind the back pass to Sam Carrick all alone in front to make it 1-1.

San Diego controlled the majority of play for the remainder of the period getting several chances but still trying to go for the setup instead of the shot. They did manage to bring up their shot total to a more respectable line of ten by periods end, to end up just one shot behind the Barracuda after the first twenty and head into the first intermission tied despite the very poor start.

• Kid doing a Fortnite dance during a break
• AHLTV scoreboard covering the screen during play
• #BENOITSMASH
• #DREWSMASH
• Snipe City Drew
• Brendan Guhle takes a bad penalty
• Trevor Carrick takes a penalty at the worst time possible
• Maple Syrup Bros
• Captain Sam Scores!
• Limoges Lets it GOOOOO!
• #PUREPERREAULT
• Spot Jeff Bush and the hat
• Dubious call goes against the Gulls
• Jacob Perreault draws a penalty
• Tropp The Mic – Style Goal
• Zilch hot mic interlude – fastfood chat or beatboxing

Teams started the second period by trading chances but San Diego appeared to be a lot more switched on with their defensive coverage than they were in the early goings of the first. Corey Tropp drew a double minor when a high sticking drew blood as it caught him up high and the Gulls went to the four minute power play. Using good puck movement with the man advantage the Gulls appeared to be targeting Kossila at the far side as the trigger man, at one point even passing up a shot from the slot to feed him but Korenar was equal to all opportunities until the final two minutes when the puck was eventually fed back to Andy Welinski and his bomb from the point went through traffic clean and past Korenar for the 2-1 Gulls lead.

Two minutes later the Gulls doubled their lead when Max Jones tipped a breakout pass and Sam Steel pounced on the opportunity – throwing it past the stunned Korenar for the 3-1 San Diego lead.

The rest of the period saw chances for both teams as well as one very scary moment as Max Jones lay prone by the Barracuda bench then eventually helped off the ice without putting any weight on his right leg. I did not see the play that lead to the injury but here is hoping the ailment is not too serious.

The Barracuda got one back with seven minutes left in the second period as Nick DeSimone finished off a rebound on the Power Play with Kiefer Sherwood sitting in the box for slashing. 3-2 Gulls.

The period ended San Diego leading in shots 23-20 but with obviously huge concerns over the Jones injury.

With there being potentially twenty minutes left until the Gulls advanced to the next round it would be fitting that the first ten of it would go without a whistle as both teams played wide open hockey. Again the Gulls kept the majority of San Jose chances to the perimeter with Glass only needing to come up big on Lukas Radil once in the slot. While San Diego countered with a goal from Adam Cracknell after Jack Kopacka intercepted a breakout pass from the half-wall and fed it to Berry who fired a shot that Cracknell tipped on its way past Korenar. 4-2 Gulls

San Jose started to come in waves but the Gulls held strong, preventing any high danger chances from eventuating and suddenly it came down to four minutes left in the game with San Diego still leading 4-2.

• Kid doing a Fortnite dance during a break
• AHLTV scoreboard covering the screen during play
• #BENOITSMASH
• #DREWSMASH
• Snipe City Drew
• Brendan Guhle takes a bad penalty
• Trevor Carrick takes a penalty at the worst time possible
• Maple Syrup Bros
• Captain Sam Scores!
• Limoges Lets it GOOOOO!
• #PUREPERREAULT
• Spot Jeff Bush and the hat
• Dubious call goes against the Gulls
• Jacob Perreault draws a penalty
• Tropp The Mic – Style Goal
• Zilch hot mic interlude – fastfood chat or beatboxing

The Barracuda pulled Korenar with two minutes left but again San Diego held firm in denying the Northern Californians from setting up in the Gulls zone, forcing turnovers and holding their blue line. Just as it seemed San Diego could not quite get close enough to ice it into the empty net, Justin Kloos broke through when he unselfishly drew his defender and slid it behind his back down low to Chase De Leo who made no mistake from the left side to put San Diego up 5-2 with under two minutes left

The Gulls shut things down for the remainder of the time allowed and advanced to the second round on a strong team effort despite the slightly nervous start. Shots were 32-30 for the Barracuda to finish.

San Diego now wait to see if they face Bakersfield or Colorado in the next round. The Condors currently lead the series two games to one.

Post Game Notes:

• Even thought I did not initially see the play, it sounded like Max Jones may have accidentally hurt himself when he charged into a bench-side scrum and possibly tripped over his or another players stick to land awkwardly. I will keep an eye out for reports and try to get an update over the coming few days.
• It was truly a team effort as twelve players on the Gulls each recorded a point and Sam Steel was the only one to register a multi point night with his goal and an assist on the Welinski power play marker.
• It might be pure coincidence but as Jones is looking in doubt to start the next series, Max Comtois is on the brink of being eliminated from his final postseason in juniors as his Voltiguers are down 3-1 against Antoine Morand and the Mooseheads. His scoring touch would be a welcome addition to the Gulls drive.