Hitting the road for a back to back in Iowa after a somewhat perplexing week of moves the Gulls eventually iced a line-up consisting of a newcomer PTO signing by the name of Keegan Kanzig – playing alongisde Scott Moldenhauer on the third defense pairing. The 6’7″ Albertan native had just two points with the Idaho Steelheads in the ECHL thus far this season.
The Gulls started out somewhat slow and struggled to get much flow to their offensive game thanks in most part to the extremely stifling defense of the Wild.
As the period progressed you got the sense that the Gulls realized that open space opportunities would be few and far between so they began to just throw anything on net. Slowly building some momentum via some simple plays and getting their best scoring chance of the night from a Blake Pietela redirect in the high slot that Wild goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen had to stretch back the other way to stop.
With two minutes left in opening period Justin Kloos was called for hooking as he slowed the progress of a Wild player cutting across the Gulls zone on an entry and the San Diego penalty kill unit went out against the leagues fifth best Power Play.
The period ended in a scoreless tie and two seconds remaining on the Kloos minor. Shots were 13-5 for the Wild in possibly the most tight-checking and non-exciting period of any Gulls game this season. The shot map showing that San Diego possibly had the best chance of the action so far.
The second period began just as sluggish as the first with both teams limiting chances to the odd broken play – one of which left Anthony Stolarz making some snow angel saves to keep things at 1-1.
Just as San Diego started to generate some chances and find some open space thanks to feeding the open man at the point in the Iowa zone, it appeared that Jack Kopacka had been given a penalty as he battled for a loose puck in the San Diego end but he had actually drawn one as Will Bitten was sent to the box for Holding.
The San Diego Power Play was a forgettable experience as it struggled to gain the Iowa zone and by its conclusion – had given up more scoring chances than it created.
We finally got a sniff of some end to end action as a Gulls pass was intercepted near center ice and sent the Wild in alone on Stolarz – the former Flyers second round pick making a huge save before San Diego headed back the other way on an odd-man break that was stopped by Kahkonen after some nice passing between Carrick and Pietela.
The Gulls got another shot at the Power Play as Max Comtois drew a boarding call down low in the Iowa zone and players briefly met for a scuffle after the call as the newcomer Kanzig sought vengeance for a hard Mike Liambis hit on Wideman that had occurred earlier.
The man advantage looked much better than its first incarnation – actually getting set in the zone and getting some movement around but ultimately did not really challenge Kahkonen.
Teams headed to the second intermission with a scoreless tie once again and shots 22-15 for the Wild, a much better period for the Gulls and slightly less boring than the first. The shot map showing San Diego again having the better chances in close.
The Gulls came out with what should have been a game-opening score shift as Chase De Leo and Justin Kloos had three different high quality chances between them but Kaapo Kahkonen stopped them all.
The Wild then responded with a chance from a broken play that Stolarz had to make a desperation glove save on. Iowa then carried forward the momentum generated from the chance by sneaking one by the Gulls net-minder off of a bad angle shot that bounced off some bodies in front. 1-0 Wild.
The Gulls attempted to fight back. Drawing another call as former Duck JT Brown was given a roughing call after a hard hit he laid on Isac Lundestrom in the Iowa zone. San Diego looked better again with the man advantage but again could not solve Kahkonen, the Finnish net-minder frustrating and turning aside everything the Gulls sent his way.
Iowa seemed to content to bore the Gulls, their fans and those watching on TV for the remainder of the game with a tight-checking strategy until San Diego were awarded a brief five on three after Poturalski was high-sticked coming through center ice. The Gulls thought they had scored with the two-man advantage as Isac Lundestrom put away a loose puck laying in the crease but one Official had already incorrectly blown the play dead while the other emphatically waved good goal. They conferred at center ice and called the goal back because you can never expect the correct and right result from AHL officials – especially on a road game.
The Wild taking this snoozefest 3-0 in the end after two empty net goals in the final minute.
2024-2025 Game 28: San Diego Gulls vs Ontario Reign
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