San Diego Gulls players celebrate an Adam Cracknell (27) goal during their 4-2 win over Bakersfield in Game 4. Credit San Diego Gulls.
As it was unfortunately predicted, Max Jones was deemed out with an upper body injury. Kevin Roy took his spot on the Steel and Sherwood line. Jeff Glass got the start – another decision that might have been in doubt given the Gulls play in Bakersfield tomorrow night.
San Diego were sent to the penalty kill within seconds of puck drop as Corey Tropp was called for cross-checking behind the play. The Condors did not convert on the man advantage but carried momentum from there, getting the better of the chances for the next seven minutes or so including a post and a partial breakaway.
Kevin Roy made an immediate impact as he was hauled down on his first shift attempting to chase down a loose puck. The resulting man advantage enjoyed some zone-time but failed to get any significant looks on Starrett. Just as time was expiring the Condors sprung the rookie forward Benson on a breakaway but Glass was able to make the stop.
Kiefer Sherwood took a stick up high as he contested a puck down low in the corner of the Condors zone and the Gulls headed back to the power play. After finding it difficult to get setup for the first few attempts, San Diego were finally able to get set and it paid dividends as Adam Cracknell fought a rebound into the net after a huge shot from Welinski bounced just wide off the boards. 1-0 Gulls.
Ben Street almost made it 2-0 a few moments later as he was able to speed in on a two on one with Sam Carrick but his shot was high and wide. Kevin Roy also had a good opportunity come off the left boards but Starrett made the pad stop.
With four minutes left the Gulls lackluster play in their own zone came back to bite them as a weak clearance resulted in an outnumbered opportunity for the Condors and nobody from San Diego picked up the right side to allow the Condors to bang in an easy one-timer past Glass to tie it up at 1.
The Gulls received their third power-play of the period and game as Max Comtois was hauled down behind the Condors net but were unable to convert as the seconds in the opening period wound down. Teams headed to the first intermission tied at one a piece and shots 10-6 in favor of the visitors.
Coach Dallas Eakins started the veteran line to the start the second and just as I was internally wondering when that line was going to start stepping up Sam Carrick intercepted a Condors pass behind the net, swung out front and fired a shot by Starrett to make it 2-1 Gulls just 25 seconds in.
San Diego dominated play after the goal as Eakins rolled the veteran line and the De Leo line back to back. When the Lundestrom line jumped on as the Gulls were continuing to enjoy extended time in the Condors zone they took just seconds to give San Diego a 3-1 lead courtesy of Adam Cracknell once again. The veteran forward fired a shot from the near side in almost the same spot that Carrick scored from a few minutes earlier. 3-1 Gulls.
Things settled down somewhat for the next few minutes but San Diego did continue to prevent Bakersfield from getting anything setup in their zone while keeping up their ferocious fore-check. Bakersfield swapped out Starrett for Skinner once again which makes you wonder if maybe they should have started the youngster in the first place.
Simon Benoit laid a huge hit on Esposito behind the San Diego net as the Condors forward jumped on a pass from Glass behind the net and Brad Malone went after the rookie defencemen to answer for the clean hit. San Diego failed to convert on the power play that resulted. A few minutes later the Officials deemed it time to give the Condors a power play as they called Max Comtois for a weak hooking infraction. San Diego killed the minor and things started to get increasingly more chippy as Brad Malone did not seem sated by his brief tussle with Benoit as he dropped his gloves with Larsson – who did not anything to do with the potential violence the Condors journeyman was intending. On the resulting power play the Gulls made it 4-1 as Kevin Roy took a pass from the boards from Ben Street and fired a one-timer through the legs of Skinner. I highly recommend these super awesome Kevin Roy T-Shirts while we are at it…
Things continued to simmer between the two clubs in the final two minutes and as Jake Dotchin fired a shot from center ice on net he was met with shoves from the Condors Callahan to give the impression that the upcoming third period was likely to have some fireworks. San Diego went to the second intermission up 4-1 and shots 21-17 for the Gulls.
San Diego started the third on the penalty kill as we learned Jake Dotchin was assessed a penalty at the end of the middle frame, presumably for being a large human.
Sam Steel had a clear cut breakaway during the penalty kill but the rookie was at the end of his shift and he was caught up to just as he made a move on Skinner and was stopped.
The Gulls were given yet another power play opportunity as the Condors were called for cross-checking again but the man advantage seemed largely uninspired as they passed it around the Bakersfield box. Jeff Glass was forced to make a huge save on a Condors chance during the power play and as the minor was killed the Condors started to rebuild momentum.
With just under twelve minutes left they brought the score back within two after San Diego were unable to regain control in their own zone and Bakersfield Captain Keegan Lowe snuck down low to slam a rebound by Glass. 4-2 Gulls.
Bakersfield continued to push as the Gulls sat back and settled into a familiar passive defensive style rather than the aggressive forecheck that had given them the game thus far. Jeff Glass stood tall and turned aside all that he could for the next few minutes.
Thankfully the Condors were called for charging as Sherwood received a hard high hit behind the play and Bakersfield’s newfound fledgling momentum was halted by a San Diego power-play. Again the extra man unit seemed content to passively pass around the box before finally getting a shot on net from Street on the right side and then all hell broke lose as players dived to get on loose pucks. Corey Tropp coming within inches off finishing off a play at the nearside post to continue his unlucky night.
San Diego were able to re-establish their forecheck after the unsuccessful but much better power play effort and frustrated the Condors as they desperately fought to get two more goals. Skinner was pulled with under a minute left but the Gulls kept a tight defensive perimeter around Glass and were able to wind time down thanks to key clears. Corey Tropp finished things off by winning a race to once such clearance and then holding it up against the boards for a good ten seconds with Condors players all around him unable to free the puck.
The Gulls coming away with the win, taking a 3-1 lead back to Bakersfield tomorrow where they can potentially close out the series.
Veteran Line Stepping Up: As noted above, I was starting to wonder if and when the veteran line would step up in this series and boy did they arrive tonight. Carrick had a two point night and although Street and Tropp did not feature more than a point each they were instrumental in the win, getting key goals and defusing Condors momentum at key moments.
Cracknell Carrying The Load: A two goal night for Adam Cracknell gives him four in the series and a total of 8 points in just three games. The veteran is by far and away this years version of Eric Fehr but all importantly he is being a key factor in this Calder Cup drive.
Glass Bounces Back: After allowing 7 goals on 37 shots (81.1 SV%) in the last game, Jeff Glass redeemed himself by letting in just the 2 on 28 shots (92.9%) tonight. The Gulls will need more 90+ SV% performances from him if they hope to continue this Calder Cup run.
About Dotchin……….: I can kind of see why Dotchin is the likely candidate to be scratched were Mahura or Guhle able to return to the line-up. There were points tonight where he did not seem entirely engaged. I noted one such example where I actually yelled out “Dotchin what are you doing” as he just stood in front of the Gulls net while the Condors circled the Gulls zone and all of his team-mates either pursued the puck or picked up a man. I am not sure what is up with his play lately but he can play better than this, much better.
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