Game 57: San Diego Gulls @ Tuscon Roadrunners

After suffering a debilitating loss in a penalty filled affair the Gulls looked to rebound against the division leading Roadrunners to salvage any kind of points from the final game of their seven game road trip.

Coach Dineen electing to keep the same players in the line-up but subtly shaking up the first three forward lines to try get some more scoring going after the offense was rudely halted in the night prior.

• Kid doing a Fortnite dance during a break
• AHLTV scoreboard covering the screen during play
• #BENOITSMASH
• #DREWSMASH
• Snipe City Drew
• Brendan Guhle takes a bad penalty
• Trevor Carrick takes a penalty at the worst time possible
• Maple Syrup Bros
• Captain Sam Scores!
• Limoges Lets it GOOOOO!
• #PUREPERREAULT
• Spot Jeff Bush and the hat
• Dubious call goes against the Gulls
• Jacob Perreault draws a penalty
• Tropp The Mic – Style Goal
• Zilch hot mic interlude – fastfood chat or beatboxing

San Diego came out with jump and controlled play and possession for much of the first period as the teams exchanged power plays.

All of their effort was rewarded on their second Power Play of the game after Brendan Guhle had his jersey visibly tugged from behind by the not-sure-what-he-was-thinking-there Gregoire. The Gulls first unit setting up in the Tuscon zone and tearing holes through the Roadrunners box with cross ice passes – most of which were expertly done by Troy Terry before the man himself fought a loose puck all the way to the top of the crease and wired a hard backhander past Adin Hill to open the scoring. 1-0 Gulls.

The Gulls fourth line followed up the goal with an inspired shift that ended with Antoine Morand engaging in his first professional fight as he dropped the gloves with Andy Miele for a short tussle.

Justin Kloos was called for tripping with just under four minutes remaining and Kevin Boyle was called upon to make several big stops as the Roadrunners got set and were able to find space at the point to generate shots at the San Diego net through traffic.

The period ended with yet more scuffles as Roadrunners players continued to needlessly niggle some of the Gulls smaller forwards – once again Troy Terry appearing to be the target of their game-plan of pain.

Shots were 13-6 for San Diego as they took a 1-0 lead into the first intermission. The shot map showing the Gulls able to dominate down low while keeping Tuscon high danger chances isolated to mostly their time with the man-advantage.

The Gulls began the second much like they did the first by controlling the Tuscon zone and putting the Roadrunners on their heels, drawing a penalty just before the five minute mark. However the second Power Play unit struggled to gain the Tuscon zone and spent the majority of the time cycling within the neutral zone trying to find an entry.

The Roadrunners tipped momentum with the successful penalty kill and caught the Gulls tired unit in their own zone, a weak clearance was intercepted and Tuscon eventually tied things up in what seemed an inevitability. 1-1 Tie game.

San Diego mounted a response and were given another Power Play less than a minute later – this time both units spent time in the Tuscon zone and were able to pepper Hill with shots, concluding with a great chance from Simon Benoit at the top of the circles but the Roadrunners goaltender came up with the big glove save to keep things tied.

The Roadrunners swiftly shifted momentum back and drew a call on the Gulls as Poturalski was called for Holding with a little over four minutes left in the middle frame. The Gulls were able to kill the minor with ease but the Roadrunners kept up the pressure for the remaining time in the period, forcing Boyle to make two more key stops as teams skated to the second intermission tied up at one a piece. Shots were 11-6 on the period for San Diego and 24-12 overall, the shot map showing the Gulls looking good despite the momentary lapse in defense that lead to the Tuscon goal.

It took San Diego just twenty seconds to break the tie as the puck dropped on the third and final period. Troy Terry leading a rush and firing a shot that was initially blocked but trickled to Carrick at the side of the net and his shot bounced by a confused and stunned Hill to make it to 2-1 San Diego.

San Diego controlled play for the next few minutes coming very close to getting a third goal on a nice play between Antoine Morand and Kyle Criscuolo but the later could not get the handle in time to take advantage of a temporary empty left side of the net.

Troy Terry followed that up by finding himself alone in space and receiving a perfect pass from Chris Wideman as he intercepted a Tuscon breakout. The Denver University alum pivoting and wiring a shot over Hills glove to make it 3-1 Gulls.

The Roadrunners mounted a response and went on their fourth Power Play of the night as Chris Wideman was called for tripping with fourteen minutes left in the period.

Tuscon held the Gulls zone for the entire penalty and drew another call on Simon Benoit with two seconds left in the minor to set up back to back Power Plays as the second year defender was sent to the box for cross-checking.

Despite keeping the Roadrunners from getting setup for the initial minute of the second minor the Gulls and Kevin Boyle could not stopa Kyle Capobianco blast from the right side wall after they were finally able to get set. 3-2 San Diego.

The Gulls pushed back and got some good chances courtesy of the Terry, De Leo and Morand lines but Hill turned everything side and the Roadrunners shifted momentum back their way. With Kevin Boyle making desperation save after desperation save and the Gulls scrambling in defense it appeared that the home team might be edging ever closer to an equalizer but somehow San Diego banded together to keep their bitter rivals from getting the additional goal.

The Terry line appeared to be the only trio to be able to get any kind of offensive intrusion into the Tuscon going as the minutes ticked by and with a minute left Chase De Leo would finish off a rebound generated by a hard wrist shot from Terry that appeared to handcuff Hill and the Gulls got the much needed insurance goal 4-2.

The Gulls getting the win and the deserved two points to move into a tie with Stockton for third in the Pacific but having played two more games than the Calgary affiliate.