Game 23: San Diego Gulls vs Grand Rapids Griffins

In a rematch of the grudge match that took place last week, the Gulls got some last minute concerning news when it was announced that Kevin Boyle would be out with the Flu. San Diego made an emergency goaltender signing – inking …. to serve on the bench as backup until Olle Ericsson-Ekk could arrive from Tulsa.

It had also been revealed the day before that defender Jacob Larsson had been recalled to Anaheim, with Josh Mahura sent back down. While Jack Kopacka had earned the re-assignment back from Tulsa with this 1.4 points per game performance in the two weeks he had been there.

Facing a tough challenge at the other end – the Gulls also had to contend with the veteran Jimmy Howard who had been assigned to Grand Rapids on a conditioning stint.

San Diego began the game strong, generating the majority of the chances in the first nine minutes with Jack Kopacka and Max Jones featuring for some of the more dangerous ones. The later earning a Power Play for the Gulls as he sent a perfect one touch pass on a three on two rush – forcing former Ducks draft pick Eric Tangradi to haul down Justin Kloos to prevent a sure goal. The San Diego man advantage showed just as much as jump as their five on five play, holding the zone and peppering Howard with shots but the veteran net-minder was able to turn them all aside.

The Griffins followed that up with some pressure in the San Diego zone and earned a Power Play of their own when Isac Lundestrom’s clearance attempt was disrupted by a huge hit and the puck went out on the full. Moments later Guhle and a Griffin player were both given penalties for stick infractions and matching minors. Grand Rapids tested Stolarz at times during the man advantage but the Gulls were able to escape unharmed as we returned to five on five action with just over five minutes remaining in the opening period.

Teams exchanged chances for remainder of the period until Broadhurst was called for .. with just under two minutes remaining in the period as he was forced to … after Daniel Sprong had already flown the zone. The Griffins controlled the zone for much of the man advantage and although Anthony Stolarz made a beautiful glove save on a chance from the low slot, he couldn’t prevent a goal from the near side from a slap-pass that was redirected by Tangradi. 1-0 Griffins.

The period ended with Wideman playing his man hard against the boards but getting called for a trip as the two players skated away at the final horn. Shots were …

Starting the second period on the penalty kill the Gulls were able to negate and diffuse some initial Griffins set plays before Antoine Morand sped away with a loose puck, with Alex Broadhurst and Josh Mahura joining him on the rush. The rookie waited until the perfect moment to fire a pass across that the veteran buried to tie things up and give the Gulls their ninth shorthanded goal on the year. 1-1 tie game.

San Diego were able to kill the remainder of the time in the penalty but the Griffins had a golden opportunity off a give-away by Josh Mahura in the worst possible area but Stolarz was equal to the chance.

The Gulls responded with a rush similar to the Broadhurst shorthanded goal when Max Jones fed a beautiful saucer pass across to Blake Pietela but Howard made a brilliant stop to keep things tied.

Simon Benoit was called for holding on what looked a dubious call and although the Griffins had some stellar chances early, including a monstrous toe stop from Stolarz. The Gulls had back to back chances, including a nice individual effort from Lundestrom. Unfortunately San Diego could not keep up the momentum as the Griffins got one against the grain as a perfect shot from the high hash-marks beat Stolarz to make it 2-1 Griffins.

Things started to get chippy at the halfway point of the period and you got a sense that either some fireworks were going to go off or things get slightly out of hand. Morand was at the center of it all, as a Griffins player did not take kindly to his forecheck and from that point onward the hitting picked up.

Daniel Sprong made his once-a-game show of NHL-level talent as he danced the puck around two Griffins defenders in the offensive zone all while skating backward, finishing the play with a hard slap shot from a low angle that Howard deflected out of play.

Max Jones continued to make himself Public Enemy No1 as he plastered a Griffins player with a hit on the near side boards. Soon after Chase De Leo was tripped as he tried to make a move with the puck in the Griffins zone to give the Gulls a Power Play. San Diego had some very good looks with the man advantage and looked a lot more prepared than they have of late but Jimmy Howard kept everything out and the period finished with the Griffins leading by one and shots …

Both teams had a tentative start to the third period but Alex Dostie fired the first shot when he drew a slashing call as he took the puck behind the Griffins net. The ensuring San Diego Power Play came very close to tying things up but again Howard was able to keep the puck out.

The Gulls kept up the pressure after play returned to five on five and Daniel Sprong found himself with space on the left side, he measured and fired a shot that Howards stopped but he still had room to collect the rebound, move around the veteran goaltender and then tuck it back in the short side to make it 2-2 on a simply brilliant play. 2-2 tie game.

Grand Rapids attempted to retake the lead and momentum – controlling play in the Gulls zone but the San Diego defense kept a closer man to man formation and drew a call when Alex Broadhurst was tripped during a puck battle. Although they did manage to get some movement on the Power Play, it wasn’t enough to open a passing lane and the visitors were able to kill the penalty without Howard having to make any difficult saves.

Just when it seemed the chippy play and physicality had subsided, the Griffins Joe Veleno held Max Jones stick behind the play and as Jones made motion to free himself the rookie forward made a perfect swan dive to draw a roughing call on the Michigan native. Givanni Smith then shouldered Jones to the ice after the whistle to even the penalties up.

Both teams traded chances on the four on four but Daniel Sprong had perhaps the best chance as he accepted a drop pass from Lundestrom and entered the Griffins zone with speed, cutting into the middle and firing a shot that Howard snagged with his glove.

Sprong again featured as he finished a Gulls offensive play by hitting the Red Wings 2018 early first round pick Moritz Seider after the whistle to draw a scrum of Griffins. Perhaps letting off some frustration or perhaps attempting to impress the coaches by providing an additional edge to his game.

Anthony Stolarz again made phenomenal glove save, again on a Griffins player who had found himself alone with time and space in the slot and the teams skated out regulation at two a piece.

Overtime began with Grand Rapids controlling possession but once San Diego were able to gain control, they created consecutive chances ending in a sequence where a outnumbered chance was stopped and play stopped when a back-checking Griffin dislodged the net. San Diego kept up their charge and came close a few more times until Smith was forced to take a penalty to give the Gulls a brief man-advantage with 13 seconds left in the overtime session.

San Diego managed to win the face-off and get the puck to Sprong but his shot from the high right circles was stopped by Howard and we went to the shoot out for the second time this season.

Sprong and Tangradi were stopped in the first round.

Broadhurst was stopped and Hirose squeaked one by Stolarz in the second round.

Justin Kloos could not make his attempt and the Griffins took the win in the skills competition.