Game 21: San Diego Gulls @ Colorado Eagles

With Brendan Guhle being reassigned the day before, an already somewhat full and healthy Gulls blue line suddenly got that much more crowded. By contrast the dinged up forward group had yet more changes as for the first time this season, both Luke Gazdic and Corey Tropp were inserted into the line-up at the same time. Kevin Boyle was given the rare start in net.

With San Diego starting off well and leading in shots 9-2 after the first five minutes, things quickly changed as back to back to back penalties handed momentum to Colorado and gave the aforementioned stacked blue-line as well as the well-rested Kevin Boyle a real test. The period flowed through with minimal stops and ended in a scoreless tie with the Eagles leading in shots 12-10 but with the shot map indicating that San Diego had the better of chances, albeit in the first five minutes of play.

The Gulls began the middle frame with some jump and drew a call as Chase De Leo was slashed while attempting a shot off the rush on the right side.

On their first man advantage of the game a beautiful yet simple pass from Brendan Guhle to Corey Tropp stationed in front gave San Diego the lead and their first Power Play goal in over 20 straight opportunities. 1-0 Gulls.

Once again play flowed smoothly with minimal to no stoppages and despite the Gulls getting one more Power Play opportunity, they could not convert on the brief man-advantage that was cut short by Daniel Sprong taking a slashing call during the sequence.

Much like the first period, momentum slowly but surely swung in the Eagles favor. The home team breaking through and getting on the board to tie the game when an errant puck found itself in no-mans land behind the Gulls defense and Kevin Boyle. The New Jersey native made the 50/50 decision to charge out of the net to clear it and as he did it bounced off a back-checking team mate and ended up going in the goal to tie things up at one. 1-1.

Colorado rode the wave of momentum as their crowd came alight and Boyle weathered a barrage of chances for the remainder of the period while the Gulls struggled to keep possession or solidify any sense of territory in the opposite zone. The period ending with the teams tied yet again and shots 25-22 for the Eagles, the shot map indicating just how much things had opened up over second set of twenty minutes.

Following the exact same pattern of the first two periods, the Gulls came out with the initial jump and got the first few chances on net but the Eagles quickly turned momentum in their favor.

Before long it became evident that if the Gulls had any hope of winning or getting at least a point out of this game, it would be because of Kevin Boyle. The former U-Mass standout made save after huge save as he frustrated the Eagles for the much of the remainder of the period. It didn’t help that San Diego kept giving away possession under the relentless pressure of the home team but by the same token for every puck that trickled loose from Boyle into a danger area, there was always a Gull there to clear it.

With a minute remaining in the period things remarkably opened up and San Diego were able to spend some time in the unfamiliar Colorado zone. Max Jones came close to getting a go-ahead goal after a Justin Kloos drive and wrap-around pass but the stalemate remained and the teams headed to three on three sudden death overtime.

Colorado once again controlled much of the possession and chances for the extra session and it wasn’t until the final minute that the Gulls finally combined for some chances on Miska. As this game had gone – it felt like a shootout was inevitable and that is how things did eventually wind up.

The Gulls lead off with Daniel Sprong who made a very nasty stutter step move that had Miska beat but he lost the puck before he could finish.

Colorado answered with Grier who was stopped by Boyle on his backhand.

Alex Broadhurst then made it look easy with a simple forehand to backhand move as he cut across, putting the Gulls up by one.

Next for the Eagles was their 2018 first round pick Martin Kaut but the young Czech was also snubbed by Boyle.

That left Justin Kloos with a chance to win and win it he did as he skated in with purpose and fired a shot high over Miskas shoulder. The Gulls taking the game 2-1 on the back off Kevin Boyle’s phenomenal performance.

Post Game Notes:

Goalie Voodoo: Eye tests, fancy stats, heck even anyone who was watching their first game would be able to tell you that the Gulls had no business winning this game. Yet they did and it was all thanks to Kevin Boyle. In his first start since the end of November the fourth year Gulls goaltender faced 42 shots to carry the team and steal the win. His first win of the season.

Forward Depth Proving Shallow: The blue line may well now be stacked but the scoring is starting to dry up and tonight’s very lopsided show of possession is of great concern. Andrew Poturalski is at week 6 of his 8-12 week injury prognosis, so at best the Gulls can expect him back at home against Ontario at the end of the month. Kiefer Sherwood has been reported to be getting medical attention in Anaheim and seen walking around Pechanga during games. Given it was a knee injury I am guessing a minimum 6 week wait which would put him coming back at that same December 28th Ontario game at the soonest but that is a wild guess. Pietila being out for a second consecutive game with the Flu is also concerning, but I am betting we see him back for the Grand Rapids rematch next week.

Sprong answers: I called out the Power Play and Daniel Sprong in my last post-game recap. Tonight they responded. Sprong’s secondary assist on the Tropp Power Play goal tied him with Carrick and Wideman for the team lead in scoring with 16 points. Now if he would just work on his consistency….