Game 8: San Diego Gulls vs Colorado Eagles

With news that Max Jones had been assigned to San Diego earlier in the day, Coach Kevin Dineen changed up the lines yet again. Inserting Jones on the top line with Carrick and Sherwood and moving Morand down to the fourth line with Dostie as well as the newly inserted Deven Sideroff. Jack Kopacka and Corey Tropp were sat to make room for Jones and Sideroff. On defense, Sieloff came back in as Moldenhauer drew out.

Max Jones made an immediate impact as he drew a hooking call just fifteen seconds into the action and the Gulls wasted no time in taking advantage of the infraction. Daniel Sprong continuing his strong play of late firing a snipe from the bottom of the left circle home for the early 1-0 lead.

Not to be outdone, Brendan Guhle collected a puck in his own end and breezed through the entire Eagles squad, running out of room at the last minute and getting called for Goaltender Interference as he attempted to slide the puck around the Eagles Hunter Miska. With thirty seconds left in the minor Chris Wideman was assessed an additional minor for Cross-Checking to put the Gulls down two men. San Diego was able to overcome the temporary adversity thanks to some strong play from Carrick, Hakanpaa and Benoit. Keifer Sherwood and Chase De Leo then worked together to create a partial break that was stopped but Chase De Leo drew a call on the play. Off of the ensuing Face-Off in the Eagles end – Brendan Guhle fired an absolute bomb from the point to put the Gulls up 2-0.

With both minors now killed the Gulls headed back on the attack and some very succinct passing ended in a beautiful goal for Isac Lundestrom as he finished off a cross-ice pass from Daniel Sprong. 3-0 Gulls.

After the first twenty minutes the shot map gave a pretty good indication of how much San Diego had dominated the opening frame as the Gulls lead in shots 12-7.

The second frame started with the Eagles attempting to exert some physical dominance and as a result an element of chippiness entered the game.

One particular shift with Colorado crashing the San Diego net, the Legion of Boom* took exception and a scuffle broke out. Sam Carrick and TJ Tynan were given matching roughing minors after the Officials managed to separate everybody. The teams traded chances during the next two minutes of four on four action and Colorado then carried momentum into the San Diego zone and caught the Gulls puck-watching once again. Jacob MacDonald sliding one by Stolarz from near the top of the crease to make it 3-1. After the goal Hunter Drew took exception to one of the Eagles players holding his stick and another scrum broke out. Drew was given the only minor after the scuffle to put the Gulls down a man.

San Diego killed the minor with ease while also regaining their three goal lead as Justin Kloos sprung Broadhurst on a breakaway and the veteran forward executed a perfect forehand-backhand bean-pot move to get it by Miska.

Colorado went back to their same strategy of trying to push the envelope and play a physical game on the edge and the two teams traded penalties for the remaining eight minutes of the period. Hunter Drew called for tripping in the neutral zone – a penalty that the Gulls killed in embarrassingly easy fashion with Sam Carrick and Keifer Sherwood almost combining for another short-handed tally.

The period finished with the Gulls leading 4-1 but holding a less dominant lead in shots; 23-20 but still doing a relatively good job of keeping the Eagles out of the immediate slot area.

Once again Colorado began the third by trying to physically run-down the Gulls but again they were unsuccessful as Chase De Leo finally got on the board when he fired a wrist shot from just inside the Eagles blue line that found its way passed Miska to make it 5-1.

San Diego continued to control play, getting yet more chances through odd-man breaks and great hustle.

One play that possibly defined the turn-around in success these Gulls are now finally enjoying was that of Alex Broadhurst. When Jani Hakanpaa broke his stick as he connected on a one-timer, the Illinois native gave him his as the Gulls retreated to defend, sacrificing his body as he lay down to block a shot from the point then clutching his arm in pain as he got back up but continuing to stay with the play as he then kicked the puck out of the Gulls zone while he headed to the bench.

The Sideroff, Dostie, Morand line saw the lions share of the remaining time in the period in an attempt to get them on the board and although they came close – they could not get one by Miska. San Diego coming away 5-2 winners (Colorado got one back on the rush with 8 minutes left).

*If you didnt know, the Legion of Boom is the name I have given the pairing of Hunter Drew and Simon Benoit.

Post Game Notes:

Ketchup, bottle, opened. Before this weekends action the Gulls had scored a total of ten goals through six games. Through these last two games alone they compiled another ten. They are now tied for last in Goals For with Manitoba and Bridgeport (which is better than being absolutely last where they once were).

Starting to click. We are starting to see the real Daniel Sprong. He was all over the ice tonight and doing all of the right things. From his goal, his setup to Lundestrom and every subsequent attempt to setup his team-mates; he is looking every bit the MVP for this team moving forward – which is what he should be given his talent.

Guhle good to go. Brendan Guhle has looked head and shoulders above his competition through his two games of action so far. He demonstrated on multiple occasions how he could skate through an entire team if he so wishes this past weekend and his goal tonight was clearly a professional grade shot.