Looking to set a new club record eight game winning streak the Gulls were buoyed by the big news that Trevor Zegras had been returned under the guise of re-learning the Center position at the professional level in a slightly less intense environment. To make room for the Team USA standout Max Golod, Alex Dostie and Matt Lorito were scratched at forward while Nik Brouillard sat out on the back-end. Olle Eriksson Ek was given the start with Lukas Dostal backing up.
It wasn’t the best start for the Gulls as a lack-luster effort in the first two and a half minutes lead to an Ontario Reign opening goal. Boko Imama beating several Gulls to a loose puck in the slot and firing it by Eriksson Ek through traffic. 1-0 Reign.
San Diego appeared to struggle to get any kind of flow or response going as play was disjointed by whistles and play stoppages. When there was extended time between breaks – it was in the Reigns favor as they appeared just one step ahead of the Gulls.
Trevor Zegras showed some dazzling skill as he took on the Reign defense on his own, stick-handling them into such a daze that they got caught up in his skates and dislodged his stick in the process while falling into their own net to call the play dead.
San Diego were awarded a Power Play as Brendan Guhle was held on a rush into the Reign zone and then had a short 40 second five on three as Cole Hults airmailed the puck over the glass during the man advantage.
Everything went through Zegras on the man advantage as he held the puck on a string for a good 60% of the time attempting to create lanes but his team-mates were a little too static in some places and San Diego could not really generate any high danger chances despite the 2019 9th overall picks efforts.
Play got chippy and the Gulls were given another Power Play after some casual how-do-you-do’s in the final few minutes of the period. Again they could not seem to create any threatening looks on the Reign net – while Ontario picked a loose puck and skated the other way to tally shorthanded thanks to a very nice move from the highly regarded Lias Andersson. 2-0 Reign.
The Gulls looking rather perturbed as they headed to the first intermission down by two goals and being thoroughly outplayed despite having a 4-1 advantage in Power Plays. Shots were 10-4 for the Reign after the first twenty.
Josh Mahura took matters into his hands to start the second as he busted down the right wing with speed, moving across into a shooting position and attempting a pass to Bryce Kindopp that ended up being deflected in by a skate to make it 2-1 less than thirty seconds in.
The physical play picked up soon after and the Gulls found themselves down a man as Brendan Guhle was called for slashing soon after the Reign lost Cole Hults to injury from a clean hit by Jack Badini.
Simon Benoit made matters worse as he was found guilty of tripping Quinton Byfield with an errant stick as the Kings first round pick skated through the neutral zone.
The San Diego penalty kill unit looked great on the five on three – BO Groulx doing a stellar job chasing down a clear and killing time as well as allowing a line change to start the five on four. The physical and chippy play continued and you began to get the sense the Officials were starting to possibly lose control of the game as players took liberties in front the Gulls net.
Ontario continued to occupy the San Diego zone and with the shot disparity growing ever larger Trevor Carrick attempted to infuse some energy by chasing down and engaging Boko Imama in a fight that turned into a spirited whirlwind of fists.
Play started to open up after the bout as Olle Eriksson Ek made an amazing post to post pad save on an outnumbered rush – which the Gulls then turned into a counter attack led by Trevor Zegras; but his setup opportunity to Jacob Pereault was stopped.
San Diego rode momentum from that offensive chance to a game tying goal as Trevor Zegras gained the Ontario zone – left the puck for De Leo at the blue line then moved down low, receiving a return pass from the veteran La Mirada native. Then as he received the pass – turned and fired a backhand pass across the slot to the late coming Josh Mahura. 2-2 Tie game. A simply amazing no-look pass from Zegras.
San Diego continued to control the Reign zone as the period ended and teams headed to the second intermission tied at two with Ontario still leading in shots 20-10.
Teams traded Power Play chances to start the third but the score remained tied after each man advantage had completed.
Play opened up and the Gulls seemed to find their neutral zone forecheck that had served them so well on their recent win streak – disrupting the Reign breakout and forcing turnovers that lead to chances.
On one such chance Poturalski was hauled down off of an offensive draw that Trevor Zegras deliberately lost forward to allow him to create the opportunity. San Diego again looked too static with the man advantage and could not create much despite getting set in the Reign zone.
San Diego were given another Power Play minutes later but again could not generate much as everyone but Trevor Zegras looked largely lethargic as they stood and watched the young play-maker attempt to stick handle in space on the right side.
As the penalty expired the Reign made San Diego pay for their overall pedestrian effort as Matt Luff was allowed far too much time and space to collect a drop pass, initially fumble the puck, then regather, measure and fire a shot by Eriksson Ek to give the Reign the lead with eight minutes left in the period and the game. 3-2 Reign.
San Diego continued to sleep-walk through the remainder of the third as Kodie Curran allowed a Reign player to get behind him and was called for holding to prevent a scoring chance with six minutes left in the period.
Josh Mahura proved once again that he was the only Gull who came to play as he joined Kindopp on a shorthanded rush and went dangerously into the Reign net, potentially hitting his neck on the bar as he slid into it but drawing a call in the process.
The Gulls appeared to finally wake up with just over three minutes left; circling the Reign zone and getting open for each-other but the Reign were stingy in closing down tight in front of their goaltender. While also desperately defending their one goal lead.
San Diego found themselves in the rare position of pulling their goaltender and a miscommunication between Eriksson Ek and his skaters ended in the Reign turning the puck over in the neutral zone and finding an easy empty net to ice the affair courtesy of Rasmus Kupari. 4-2 Reign.
Ontario spoiling the party and snapping the Gulls win streak before they could set a new club record.
Post Game Notes:
The Center-Zegras Era Begins
All eyes were on Trevor Zegras making his professional debut at the Center position (including Dallas Eakins as was noted on the broadcast) and although I wouldn’t say he passed the test, he didn’t exactly fail it either. Some might have been frustrated with his turnovers on the Power Play as the result of some failed no-look passes but I am OK with him trying those. The whole reason for him being sent down was to further develop his game – from his native center position; and that includes his unorthodox play-making abilities. Some of those plays aren’t going to work. Some of those might end up in the Gulls net. But more often than not, they are going to become goals or offensive opportunities that lead to goals for the Gulls/Ducks. We saw tonight on the second Mahura goal just exactly the kind of example I am talking about. So be patient, let the kid learn, let him hone his craft and please don’t get down on him when whatever he tries does not work. Because very soon it will.
Mahura The Man
I have decided that although the Morand wounds are still raw. I am going to be just as upset if not more so should Josh Mahura somehow end up on another team. The Ducks will need to protect him in the upcoming expansion draft and if they do not their is a very high risk they lose him for nothing and I don’t know what I would do with myself if they did. Tonight’s game showed once again that he is far too good for the AHL. He is clearly the Gulls number one defencemen right now and tonight their almost de-facto Captain. He led the way and set the example with his effort and work ethic – too bad none of his team-mates followed. Seriously – the Power Play tonight was horrendous. Fucking move. MOVE.
On the note of the back-end – Brendan Guhle has been quietly impressing me. His play has been getting better game by game and he has shown a lot of more of his trademark speed recently as well as a new element to his game – snarl. It may be too little too late but still, its nice to see.
Olle Still Going Strong
Despite the loss, Eriksson Ek played another strong game and you could not fault him for any of the goals against. I am assuming Dostal will get the start on Friday in Tucson with Eriksson Ek getting Saturday. I am so happy to see Olles development this season – he has come leaps and bounds from his play last year. He is a legit AHL goaltender right now, there is no going back to the ECHL.
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