Game 49: San Diego Gulls @ Bakersfield Condors

Hitting the road to face a Bakersfield team missing some key players to the Oilers while also missing two of their own to injury in Poturalski and Kloos. Keegan Kanzig was re-inserted and Ryan Johnston taken back out, while Jack Kopacka sat in favor of Brent Gates Jr.

San Diego got things started by getting a goal from Alex Broadhurst that took almost a full three minutes to be deemed official. The veteran forward coming out from behind the Condors net to slip the puck by Stuart Skinner and started to celebrate along with Chase De Leo but play went on with no reaction from Officials as the puck remained in play. After a few minutes of action Daniel Sprong appeared to flub a home-run pass for an icing – but which may have been intentional – and the Officials reviewed the play.

The goal was deemed good when it was discovered the net was temporarily off of its moorings and the puck slipped out the other side of it when the goal was scored. 1-0 Gulls.

San Diego controlled play for much of the next six minutes and tallied once again when Simon Benoit almost lost possession of the puck at the point but managed to get his stick to disrupt a Condors clearance which bounced back to him and the second year defencemen moved the puck down low before hitting Chase De Leo with a pass in the slot. De Leo then unselfishly fed Broadhurst at the near side of the Condors net who then in turn also unselfishly one-timed a pass across to Comtois on the other side for an easy tap in goal.

Things got a little heated for the remaining time of the period with a fight between Kanzig and Peluso featuring as the precursor for several post-whistle scrums and scuffles.

San Diego generated a few more chances – mostly courtesy of the Broahurst-De Leo-Comtois line but Gates Jr and Dostie had some good looks also.

With San Diego failing to score on their first man-advantage chance at the tail-end of the period, Max Comtois was given an unnecessary interference call to put the Gulls down a man for an almost two minutes to start the middle frame. San Diego headed to the first intermission ahead by two goals and up in shots 18-13. The shot map showing the score could likely be several goals higher but for the play of Skinner.

San Diego killed the Comtois minor with almost lackadaisical ease, even padding their lead in the process as Antoine Morand elected to play keep away before spotting Isac Lundestrom with a cross-ice pass near the offensive blue line – Lundestrom in turn returned the favor by finding Morand slipping into a soft area in the slot and the rookie caught Skinner cheating as he got a shot by him near the post. 3-0 Gulls. Shorthanded.

San Diego were caught with too many men a few minutes later and the Bakersfield Condors Power Play surprised by not only getting set but stringing together several very high danger chances with some deft and accurate passing play. Anthony Stolarz was the difference as he made a spectacular point-blank save with the left pad at the end of one such flawlessly executed passing play.

None the less the Condors got on the board a few minutes later as a Condors shot from the point was redirected in front and the former Flyers second round pick could not track it. 3-1 Gulls.

Things suddenly got slightly more interesting as Simon Benoit was called for Hooking on the very next shift to give the Condors yet another chance with the man advantage. San Diego thankfully were able to kill the minor without allowing too many other nervous moments.

San Diego calmed things down and took back control for the remainder of the period as they got back to their possession game, taking a 3-1 lead to the second intermission and leading in shots 29-19. The shot map showing the Condors actually having the better of the chances for the period but San Diego continuing to control much of possession.

Bakersfield attempted to gain momentum to start the third but mostly resulted in San Diego breaking up their zone entries by standing firm at the blue-line.

The first ten minutes flew by without much to talk about – neither team had any real dangerous chances and Alex Dostie had perhaps the Gulls first opportuniy of the first ten minutes of the final period as he fired a one-timer from the slot on Skinner but was denied.

Things seemed to be moving slow for much of the period until the Sherwood, Carrick and Pietela line finally got some forward momentum going for San Diego and Pietela would have had a glorious chance in the slot but was slashed before he could get a shot away. The Gulls would have gotten a Power Play but for Kiefer Sherwood earning an additional two after the whistle for unsportsmanlike conduct.

The Carrick line followed that strong play up with a goal a few minutes later as Blake Pietela collected his own rebound after he jumped on an opportunity that was started by a strong drive to the net by Carrick. 4-1 Gulls. It should be noted that Antoine Morand and Simon Benoit also contributed on the play by keeping the puck in the Bakersfield zone and helping to tire the Condors line that had been trapped out there.

San Diego closed out the remainder of the period by maintaining possession and throwing a few more chances on Skinner while Bakersfield put up barely a whimper as time ran down.

The Gulls taking the win 4-1 and moving into a temporary fourth spot tie with Ontario in points – but still ahead by points percentage. The Reign look to have earned at least a point out of their match with the Eagles tonight so that tie will be short lived.