Game 32: San Diego Gulls vs Iowa Wild

Another game day another change to the line-up as Troy Terry was announced to have been assigned on a conditioning loan after returning from injury almost seven weeks earlier than expected. Going the other way on the I-5 shuttle was Chase De Leo. Also missing from the Gulls line-up was Jani Hakanpaa who appeared to go down with an injury that occurred during the first period of the previous game against Iowa – thanks Audrey Stratton for pointing that out to me on twitter.

The Gulls got into penalty trouble early as Chris Mueller was called for interference on a zone entry and then Simon Benoit was called for boarding just seconds after the first infraction had been successfully killed. It was one penalty too many as the 9th ranked Power Play in the league took the early lead by finishing off a rebound from a chance down low. 1-0 Wild.

The goal took a lot of life out of the Gulls and just as it felt like the Wild make take full control of the game Simon Benoit fired a one-timer from the point that Robson stopped, the puck bounced back out to the right circle which Benoit then collected, made a move around the defender then pulled up and dropped a pass to an open Gulls winger. Robson was equal to that shot also but it was a very good sequence that gave the Gulls some energy.

Unfortunately a broken play resulted in an odd-man rush for the Wild and Stolarz could not stop the cross-ice pass as Blake Pietela and Justin Kloos watched on. 2-0 Wild.

The Gulls were given their second Power Play chance of the night as Justin Kloos was tripped coming across the Iowa zone with less than a minute left in the opening period. The Gulls didnt do that great with the time they had with the man advantage and the period ended with the visitors taking a 2-0 lead to the first intermission but San Diego leading in shots 10-7. The shot map indicating that both teams were relatively equal in high danger chances but the Wild were likely able to capitalize due to the Gulls doing a poor job of clearing the front of the net.

I didn’t get to see the first five minutes of the second period because AHL TV decided that having a visual feed was overrated. But from what I could tell, Sam Carrick finished off a rebound from a play that Troy Terry created to bring the score to 2-1.

Soon after the Gulls were given their third Power Play opportunity as Wild leading scorer Gerald Mayhew was called for high sticking. Soon after JT Brown sent a puck over the glass on the full to give the Gulls a five on three for almost two full minutes.

San Diego absolutely had to score with the two man advantage and score they did as Josh Mahura walked in from the point after a face-off win from Mueller and fired a hard wrist shot that was deflected by Mueller en-route. 2-2 tie game.

Iowa were easily able to kill the remainder of the additional penalty but it should be noted that Antoine Morand instigated a lot of havoc in front of the Wild net that drew the ire of the Iowa defending tandem.

Teams exchanged chances for the remainder of the middle frame with San Diego finishing the period in the Iowa zone, firing shot after shot on Robson in the dying seconds as both teams headed to the second intermission tied on the scoreboard and San Diego still holding the edge in shots 19-17. The shot map painting a better picture for the Gulls in terms of both defensive coverage and also generating chances down low.

It took just twenty seconds for the Gulls to grab the lead as Josh Mahura got his body in-front of an Iowa shot, grabbed the rebound and sent a perfect pass up ice to a streaking Sam Carrick. The Captain making no mistake on the break-away to make it 3-2.

Iowa came back with a huge push and dominated play for the next five or so minutes, grabbing a game tying goal as once again a defensive lapse in front left Sam Anas alone in the slot. 3-3.

Teams exchanged penalties and Power Play opportunities for the remainder of regulation and the game headed to OT.

Iowa had possession to start the extra session but a timely save from Stolarz presented a turnover and Troy Terry collected and controlled the puck before skating into the neutral zone and sending Josh Mahura on a breakaway, the second year defenseman made no mistake and sent a short angle shot top corner to win it in overtime. A fitting ending for by far and away the best player on the ice on the night.

Post Game Notes:

Mahura The Man: The second year pro has really stepped up his game this year and has had the Ducks fanbase questioning whenever he is not up with the big club. Tonight’s game was a statement that he has more than surpassed Brendan Guhle on the depth chart.

Power Play still has issues: Yes San Diego scored with the two man advantage but other than that the Power Play looked its usual anemic self. It seems unless the Gulls can get an offensive zone face-off, you may as well write off the man-advantage and just stick with the five on five because they sure has heck can’t get a clean zone entry or get set once they do. It has had me wondering if David Urquhart is on the hot seat or if he is given leeway given the Ducks current prospect transitional period.

Morand still clicking: I was very interested to see how the Ducks top line would look tonight given it would feature both Morand and Terry. As I secretly suspected – Morand looked on par with Terry if not a level above with some of his play. Lending credence to my earlier call in the season that Morand will be in the NHL next year.