2020-2021 Game 23: San Diego Gulls vs Tucson Roadrunners

Riding a high from their three game win streak the Gulls welcomed their old desert rival into Irvine looking to send them to their third straight loss. Coach Dineen made no changes to the line-up from the previous night although that would be altered as the night went on and veteran Matt Lorito was moved up to center the third line with newcomer Alex Limoges and Hunter Drew. Olle Eriksson Ek made his fourth straight start.

The Gulls best chance of the game came just under two minutes in as Andrew Poturalski patiently held the puck and maneuvered his way around the Tucson zone looking for a passing lane – eventually sending a pass to the Captain who was camped out in front of the net, but he was stopped.

The Roadrunners had a point blank opportunity of their own minutes later as the veteran Matt Lorito made a glaring turnover – sending an errant puck into the middle of the Gulls zone where it was picked off by a Tucson forward. Olle Eriksson Ek saving his bacon with a great reaction glove save to keep it scoreless. BJ MacPherson commented on the broadcast that the veteran would likely look to rebound from that poor play in what was some great foreshadowing.

San Diego had their first shot on the man advantage and came very close to opening the scoring when Max Golod made a great play to turn the puck over at the Tucson blue-line and create an odd man rush but he made a pass across to BO Groulx at the side of the net after deeking wide of LaCouvee when he probably should have taken the shot.

Tucson were given a Power Play of their own when Jeremy Roy was called for interference and the Roadrunners made them pay – the former Gull Kevin Roy locating a loose puck in a scrum of players and getting it by Eriksson Ek to open the scoring with just over a minute remaining in the period. 1-0 Roadrunners.

San Diego headed to the first intermission down by one but ahead in shots by 12-11 in a tight first period that saw some opportunities for the Gulls but also some unlucky bounces.

Tucson held the Gulls under pressure for the majority of the first half of the middle frame as they played a game of cat and mouse with the San Diego defense and closed out any space coming through the neutral zone whenever the Gulls did regain possession.

It felt like the period would drag on with an inevitable goal from the Roadrunners to reward their constant attack but it would be San Diego who got even.

Matt Lorito received a hand-off from Alex Limoges as he came through the neutral zone allowing him to easily enter the Tucson zone and draw defenders to him before turning and finding a streaking Hunter Drew in the high slot. The rugged defender-turned-winger sniping a shot top shelf over LaCouvee to tie the score at one a piece.

San Diego attempted to carry momentum forward from the goal but the Roadrunners continued their ferocious forecheck and the Gulls continued to struggle to find space.

Tuscon slowly but surely shifted momentum back in their favour and took the lead in shots as the period wound on. Olle Eriksson Ek was called on to make another big stop as Michael Carcone beat the San Diego defense with speed and swung wide on the Gulls net but the Ducks 2017 fifth round pick stuck with him and got his left pad on the attempt.

Moments later BO Groulx was found guilty of holding as he battled for the puck in the Tucson zone and the Gulls went back to the penalty kill missing perhaps their best penalty killer.

Seconds into the kill Sam Carrick almost gave the Gull the lead, jumping on a clearance and swinging around the Tucson net but the puck sprung loose and wide as he tried to slide it in on a wrap around. The Gulls finishing the period having tied things up and survived the Roadrunners shift in momentum. Shots were even at 19 a piece after forty.

San Diego were clearly the better of the two teams to start the third, giving Tucson a taste of their own medicine and kept pucks in the Roadrunners zone through a physical demanding forecheck.

They rode that momentum to back to back Power Plays and saw some great opportunities featuring Brendan Guhle and Max Golod but could not convert.

Directly after the second Power Play had expired the Limoges-Lorito-Drew line kept the puck in the Tuscon zone as the second Power Play unit left the ice. Alex Limoges won a puck battle at the near board and puck handled through two Roadrunners before making a pass to Matt Lorito near the circles and the veteran snapped a shot that beat LaCouvee near side to give San Diego the lead. 2-1 Gulls.

San Diego found themselves on yet another Power Play as Kevin Roy took his second penalty of the game but again could not convert as time wound down in the period and the game.

With a minute and a half left the Roadrunners pulled LaCouvee for the extra attacker and the Gulls played desperately to prevent a game tying goal. A last moment of drama couldn’t prevent the win as Sam Carrick was called for roughing in the final thirty seconds but BO Groulx killed almost fifteen seconds on his own by chasing down a clearance and harassing the Roadrunners in their own end.

San Diego skating away with the win, their fourth straight. 2-1.

Post Game Notes

Do The Drew

I think its time to accept Hunter Drew officially as a forward and a fairly decent sniper at that. I guess it does make sense that the forward game would fit his style a little better. He was never a great puck rushing defender – a skill set that is increasingly becoming the most important for modern defensemen, but he has always possessed a great shot and release, not to mention a mean physical game. All of those qualities as well as his 6’1″ 191lb frame add up to the prototypical power forward. It has been a strange year and there have been a lot of blue liners being asked to play forward but this is one that I think might stick long term.

Put Limoges On The PP

I realize it was only his second game but it’s fairly clear this is no ordinary rookie. Limoges is so poised and confident with the puck – I am absolutely sure he would make a difference to the Gulls luke-warm Power Play. I say luke-warm because it hasn’t actually been horrible lately, but it just needs that one little thing extra, that one player that can draw defenders to him and create space much like Zegras did at the start of the season.

Lorito Looking Up

I was surprised to hear Kevin Dineen state in his post game that Lorito had been a healthy scratch the recent few games that he was out. So…. that means he would rather play converted forwards than an actual veteran former 56 point scoring center….

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McLaughlin Watch

The Minnesota Golden Gophers were eliminated from the NCAA post season today after winning the Big Ten championship last week. Now all eyes are on Ducks 2018 third round pick Blake McLaughlin. The Grand Rapids native had a career season with 28 points in 31 games in this his Junior year. He is eligible to return for his Senior year but the trend for most NHL draft picks is to turn pro at the conclusion of their third year and although the Golden Gophers did not make the Frozen Four – they did win the Big Ten, a worthy accomplishment for him to go out on. He has progressed year on year and had a relatively good showing for himself at the World Juniors on a stacked Gold Medal winning USA team. Keep an eye out for him to perhaps sign an entry level deal and see some time with the Gulls.