The Gulls Celebrate a goal during their win over the Bakersfield Condors in Game 6. Credit San Diego Gulls.
In a must win game to wrap up the series at home coach Dallas Eakins drastically shook up the lines. Moving Carrick to center Comtois and Cracknell, Kossila was moved away from Kloos and De Leo to center Street and Tropp while Sherwood was swapped to the speed line instead. Luke Gazdic was taken back out and replaced with Matt Berry who was put on a line with Steel and Roy. Defense pairings remained the same from the last game and Boyle backed up Glass once again.
The newly minted lines instantly paid dividends as less than a minute into the game Justin Kloos fed Chase De Leo at the Bakersfield Condors blue-line and the speedy center wasted no time in firing a shot through the legs of Skinner to give San Diego a 1-0 lead.
It was De Leos first goal of the series and a perfect time to start him getting hot again.
Bakersfield were given the first power-play when Megna was forced to negate a scoring chance by wrapping up a breaking Condors forward five minutes into the period and Bakersfield took less than twenty seconds to capitalize, as Patrick Sieloff partially blocked a shot from the point and the ricochet found its way to Brad Malone who deposited it by the diving Glass. 1-1.
At the midway point of the period San Diego responded as the reforged Veteran line harried the Condors in their zone, won a critical puck battle down low and found a wide open Kalle Kossila coming down the slot. The Finnish fourth year pro then fired a perfect shot over the shoulder of Skinner to make it 2-1 Gulls.
With four minutes remaining in the period the Gulls were given a perhaps dubious power-play when Lagesson was given a roughing call for weakly fending off Max Comtois as he executed a huge clean hit. Given it was Lagesson – the same guy who attempted to eye-gauge Tropp earlier in the series; I would call that Karmic justice.
Just as it was looking like the Condors were going to kill the penalty the Gulls second unit kept the zone and the puck bounced down low to Kalle Kossila who then scored perhaps the goal of the game as he walked off the boards and fired a shot from an almost parallel angle to the goal line – picking the far right corner with laser point accuracy. 3-1 Gulls.
The goal spelled the end of the night for Skinner as the Condors switched their goaltender mid-game for the third time in the series.
Bakersfield came back with a push in the final minute, forcing Glass to make three huge stops including a sliding stop on a one-timer and teams headed to the first intermission with shots 9-8 for the Condors but the scoring in favor of San Diego 3-1.
The Gulls began the second period on the Power Play as Caleb Jones was called for elbowing with less than twenty seconds left in the period and wouldn’t you know it – Kalle Kossila split the defense on a zone entry and was hooked just before he could get a shot away to give the Gulls a brief 39 second five on three advantage. Despite winning the face-off they could not convert, the best opportunity coming from Kalle Kossila in tight, attempting to get the hat-trick.
As Bakersfield successfully killed the penalty they caught the Gulls running around in their own zone and fed the puck to a wide open Evan Bouchard and the talented rookie did not miss, firing a hard and low shot through Glass to make it 3-2.
At the thirteen minute mark Glass bumped into his own net and caused it to tip over front-ways as the Condors were cycling in the Gulls zone, a play that rightfully should have been called for delay of game but the officials allowed the veteran net-minder the indiscretion.
The Condors managed a couple of chances in the next few shifts after but it would be San Diego that found the scoreboard once again Max Comtois finished off a play when Sam Carricks shot was blocked but he was able to regain the rebound and feed it to the rookie on the right side. 4-2 Gulls.
Bakersfield responded right away after the goal, controlling the puck in the San Diego zone and forcing the Gulls to take another penalty as Kossila was called for slashing. However; much like previous campaigns against the Bakersfield man advantage the Gulls likely had the better of the opportunities while short handed. Sam Steel stripping Starrett of the puck and almost finishing off the play on a wrap around but the goaltender was able to get back and dive to prevent the goal.
A minute later Max Comtois would return the favor to his center-man as he fed Sam Carrick a beautiful behind the back pass from behind the net while skating away from the play and the veteran wasted no time potting it by Starrett to make it 5-2.
Trevor Murphy was called for an inadvertent delay of game with less than three minutes left but once again the Gulls were dominant on the penalty kill thanks to strong efforts from Sherwood, Kloos and De Leo. The period ended with San Diego still holding the 5-2 lead and shots 18-17 for the series leaders.
San Diego controlled play for the first five minutes of the third, keeping the Condors on their heels while also generating several odd-man rushes as a desperate Bakersfield committed their defenders to offense. Justin Kloos coming close on one such opportunity.
Tempers boiled over just before the midway point of the third as a Sam Steel was given a penalty for taking a punch to the face during a board battle in the Condors end. Yes you read that right, he was given the penalty for receiving the punch. The Condors Kulevich was also given a matching roughing minor on the play to send both teams to four on four play for the next two minutes.
The teams traded power plays for the next five minutes as play grew increasingly more chippy. The Gulls relentless forecheck kept the Condors from generating any real chances on Glass while also creating yet more outnumbered rushes – Corey Tropp and Max Comtois coming close with less than three minutes left but the score remained 5-2.
Comtois was given a tripping penalty soon after and the youngster Bouchard killed what little chance the Condors had by tripping Street as he was escaping the zone on the penalty kill. With two minutes left Ben Street finished off the play he started earlier by winning possession of the puck in the neutral zone and firing it into the empty net that Starrett had just vacated for the extra attacker. 6-2 Gulls.
The Gulls boxed out Bakersfield for the remaining time while the home crowd stood waving towels in unison.
For the first time in their four year franchise history the San Diego Gulls had made it to the final four. The players and coaches lined up to shake hands as is custom at the conclusion of a series but it was visibly noted and audibly described by Andy Zilch that Condors coach Jay Woodcroft shook hands with one of the Gulls coaching staff but broke off before reaching Dallas Eakins.
The Gulls will face Chicago in the Conference Finals which began this Friday. I will follow up this recap with a series analysis and breakdown for the upcoming finals.
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