2020-2021 Game 9: San Diego Gulls @ Henderson Silver Knights

In their debut match-up the Gulls iced a line-up minus both their leading scorer (Zegras – called up to Anaheim) and second hottest scorer (Vinni Lettieri also called up to Anaheim). In their absence Matt Lorito drew back in and Hunter Drew was called upon to pad out the forwards on the fourth line which leads me to question whether Jack Badini is out with an injury or not. Lines were as follows:

De Leo – S Carrick – Perreault

Lorito – Agozzino – Poturalski

Dostie – Groulx – Kindopp

Tracey – Morand – Drew

Guhle – Drysdale

T Carrick – Curran

Lowe – Benoit

Dostal

Glass

The opening frame began with the Gulls finding themselves back on their heels as the hosts employed a fast yet simple style in the San Diego zone. It was quickly evident they played a similar game to their parent club Golden Knights with an emphasis on speed and support play.

The Gulls were able to fight back and both teams started to feel each other out for much of the remainder of the period until the Gulls finally broke through in the final two minutes with Bryce Kindopp getting his first AHL goal while speeding in on a three man rush. His measured and hard wrist shot going top shelf over Dansk to make it 1-0 Gulls.

San Diego kept up the momentum to ride out the remaining time in the period on a high and headed to the first intermission up 1-0 but behind in shots 10-8. The shot map indicating Henderson enjoyed the better of the chances to start the game.

With the “feeling out” period over – both teams quite literally went at it as the second period consisted of a frenetic pace of back and forth action for the first ten minutes or so until the Silver Knights started to settle in the San Diego zone.

The hosts wasting no time in capitalizing on a Gulls mistake as Paul Cotter picked off an errant pass and fired a shot by Lukas Dostal to even things up at one a piece. 1-1 tie game.

Henderson followed the goal with a push and supplanted themselves in the Gulls zone for much of the next five minutes, eventually earning a Power Play when Bryce Kindopp was called for boarding.

San Diego were looking good killing the minor, frustrating Henderson with their forecheck and making things difficult in the neutral zone until Sam Carrick was called for Cross-Checking at the nearside boards with thirty seconds left in the first penalty to Kindopp.

Able to kill the first minor thanks in large part to some puck-luck down low as Tomas Jurco had the puck bounce over his stick at the right post, the Gulls were able to surprise the Silver Knights with a shorthanded tally as Agozzino and BO Groulx found space on a two on one. Groulx finishing off a perfect cross-ice pass on the rush to make it 2-1 Gulls.

San Diego followed up the goal by drawing a penalty of their own as Jake Leschyshyn was called for holding.

Henderson were able to kill the penalty with relative ease as the Gulls Power Play was very evidently missing one Trevor Zegras. They never really got set and gave up a couple of short handed chances during the two minutes.

The Silver Knights came with a big push to close out the period and found Matt Lorito guilty of a high sticking call that was deemed a double minor – forcing the Gulls to start the third period down a man for extended time. San Diego carrying a one goal lead again to the intermission but still down in shots 21-13. The shot map telling a completely different story to the score.

The third period appeared to start out well for the Gulls as they once again frustrated the Silver Knights with their forecheck on the penalty kill, Chase De Leo impressing once again with his speed on one particular play. But the Silver Knights were able to find an opening down low and set up Gage Quinney for a shot that he fired top shelf over Dostals glove to tie things up on the Power Play. 2-2 tie game.

The Gulls fought back with a ferocious forecheck of their own and almost gave the Silver Knights a taste of their own medicine but Kodie Curran made one too many moves with the puck as he came in on an odd-man rush and was stripped of the puck before he could make a play.

Minutes later the hosts took the lead when they entered the Gulls zone with speed and fired the puck into a mass of bodies in front, the puck deflecting off of a diving-to-block Jamie Drysdale and by Dostal to make it 3-2.

Hunter Drew was then called for tripping and the Gulls were forced to play catch-up while down a man. San Diego were able to kill the minor but by then the damage had been done as the hosts successfully closed out the remainder of the game by choking up the neutral zone and forcing San Diego to play in their own end whenever they could. San Diego taking their second loss of the season and second straight on the road.

Post Game Notes:

Kindopp the new Kopacka?

Bryce Kindopp has a laser of a shot and we saw it in all its glory tonight. The Ducks signed him as a scorer so it should not come as too much of a surprise but wow, kid can shoot.

Back to back games scoring first.

The Gulls appear to have possibly figured out that whole late start thing. Now they just need to work on staying out of the penalty box….

AHL TV still…. not great

We were treated to Andy Zilch sounding like he was broadcasting down a paper-cup connected by strings for the first half of the game and then bombarded with super loud and smug Silver Knights announcer for the remainder. So if you are still playing my Defend the Nest drinking game (yes I am aware it needs updating), I hope you drained your beverage. AHL TV and technical difficulties, name a better combo.