Jacob Perreault maade his return from injury and it was later confirmed in the broadcast that it was an injury sustained from a check against the boards by the Barracuda Viel in a previous match-up (thanks Andy) not against the Reign as I had originally thought. Max Golod also made a return to the line-up as he was a healthy scratch the last few games. Olle Eriksson Ek was given his sixth start.
The Gulls had the best chance just a minute in as Alex Limoges sent a pass to Bryce Kindopp in front but the rookie right winger was stopped.
The next few minutes were spent in a battle for center ice and shot totals stayed low until the Gulls next best chance came off the stick of Agozzino as he was set up by Perreault but again Korenar came up big.
Despite the Gulls enjoying the majority of play in the early goings it would be the Barracuda who struck first as a point shot off of a turnover was blocked by Keegan Lowe right to San Jose, who wasted no time burying the chance. 1-0 Barracuda.
San Diego went right back on the attack and again came close on chances featuring an Andrew Agozzino and Jacob Perreault combination but it would be the veteran Matt Lorito finding the net to tie things up with just under three minutes remaining in the opening period. Hunter Drew completely embracing the role of the Power Forward by delivering a hit in the Barracuda zone to free the puck then following up a broken play to retrieve it from behind the net before quickly firing it back out front to a waiting Lorito. 1-1 tie game.
San Diego continued to push for the final few minutes of the period but could not get another by Korenar in the first twenty minutes. Teams headed to the first intermission tied up at one but the Gulls ahead in shots 14-6.
Play started out relatively tight for much of the second period with little to no major high dangerous chances for either side.
The Gulls were awarded their first Power Play of the game when Max Golod drew a high sticking call in the Barracuda zone seven minutes into the middle frame but it would be the Barracuda who took advantage of the special teams play as a defensive breakdown by the Gulls resulted in Alexander True getting one shorthanded on a two on one rush. 2-1 Barracuda.
San Jose continued to press on the penalty kill and forced Josh Mahura into an even up call as he hauled down a rushing Barracuda player to cut the Power Play short early.
As the San Jose Power Play expired the Barracuda appeared to sneak a puck through Eriksson Ek. After much confusion and anger from the Gulls due to their believing the play had been called dead it was initially called a goal but then called back after the broadcast time-out.
A few minutes later it was Captain Carrick to the rescue as he pounced on a broken play in the San Jose slot with speed and stick handled the puck around Korenar to tie things up at two a piece. 2-2.
Simon Benoit was caught preventing Steffan Noesen from shifting his way on net and the Gulls headed back to the penalty kill with a few minutes remaining in the middle frame. The kill was going fine up until the final 23 seconds when Vinni Lettieri was called on a fairly weak hooking infraction and the Barracuda enjoyed a brief two man advantage. San Diego escaped the five on three and the beginnings of a fresh five on four scenario until all hell broke loose in front of Olle Eriksson Ek. Stefan Noesen had been taking liberties on Josh Mahura’s back and when the puck came to the front of the net and players subequently converged on it the resulting scrum saw Captain Sam getting shots in at two different Barracuda players. By the end of the melee the Gulls came out with the advantage and given a Power Play once time ended on the Litteiri minor.
Sam Carrick found himself in the middle of things once more just moments later as he drew a call in the Barracuda zone to put the Gulls on a brief five on three. San Diego could not convert with the two man advantage but did on the following five on four through some perfect passing across the San Jose box. A beautiful sequence between Poturalski, Lettieri and finally De Leo ending in the Gulls getting their first lead of the night. 3-2 Gulls.
Time expired and San Diego took the lead to the second intermission and ahead in shots 21-16.
San Jose put the Gulls under duress to start the third period, taking over the shot total lead and forcing Olle Eriksson Ek to make some desperation saves.
But the Gulls came back with a great response and padded their lead as Keegan Lowe leaned into a slapshot that Korenar got a piece of but could not stop completely. BO Groulx was instrumental on the play by initially taking the puck through two San Jose defenders and still managing to get to the net before collecting his own rebound and passing it back to Lowe. A phenomenal shift from the rookie. 4-2 Gulls.
The Barracuda retook the shot lead once again and drew a penalty as De Leo was called for slashing coming out of the San Jose zone.
San Diego were able to kill the penalty without much trouble, Eriksson Ek did need to make one great pad save on a short passing play from the Barracuda but after that the Gulls did not allow San Jose to get properly set on their next few entries.
San Diego were given a Power Play of their own moments later and Kodie Curran increased the lead by sliding into an open area in the high slot, receiving a pass off the wall and firing it top shelf all in one motion. 5-2 Gulls.
San Jose continued to give the Gulls Power Play opportunities and the Gulls made them pay. Andrew Agozzino finishing off a nice passing play in front of the net to make it 6-2 Gulls as Jacob Perreault drew a call moments earlier.
Despite the score Olle Eriksson Ek still continued his strong play of late, stopping a partial break from the Barracuda on the very next shift.
Jacob Perreault demonstrated just why he was regarded as having one of the better shots in the most recent draft when he sent a beautiful backhand shot in top shelf off of a bad angle coming from the left boards. 7-2 Gulls.
San Jose got one back as the Gulls eased off the throttle and allowed a Barracuda passing play to occur down low, giving Eriksson Ek no chance on the play. But the Gulls skated away 7-3 victors for their sixth straight win.
Post Game Notes
Lighting It Up Lorito
Matt Lorito has three goals in his last four games and is currently following the “bench him to motivate him” script. Although much like the Troy Terry story in Anaheim this season – he really shouldn’t have been scratched in the first place.
Pacing Poturalski
With another multipoint night Andrew Poturalski moved into first place in league scoring with 25 points in 25 games. Because it is a weird Covid season the scoring race isnt entirely fair – given the Gulls have played five or so more games than most other teams. But hey – not taking anything away from Poturalski, he has had great bounce back year.
BO Getting Shoutouts
BJ MacPherson had a really good take during the broadcast when he compared BO Groulx to Patrice Bergeron. This is an excellent call. I had trouble thinking of a player he reminded me – reverting to a sort of Center version of Marian Hossa or Pavel Datsyuk-lite. But Bergeron is a great comparison. Very similar style, nose for the net, defensive awareness and one-on-one skill. Here is hoping Groulx can become the Ducks very own Bergeron.
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