2020-2021 Game 28: San Diego Gulls @ Tucson Roadrunners

After a poor showing in their loss to the rival Reign the Gulls hit the road to Tucson where they hoped to get some vengeance upon a team that had hit a bit of a rough patch of recent times. They would be looking to do so with a much changed line-up as newcomers Axel Andersson and Greg Printz made their AHL debuts while veteran Matt Lorito and defender-coverted-to-forward Nik Brouillard came back into the line-up. Kodie Curran, Jamie Devane and Jack Badini joined Alex Dostie and Max Golod in the press box. Lukas Dostal got the start in net.

The Gulls got the start they wanted when Trevor Zegras drew a call – juggling a puck in midair and getting slashed in the process. San Diego took less then twenty seconds to score with the subsequent man advantage as they won a face-off in the Tucson zone, set to passing around the passive Roadrunners box and quickly found a lane to get a pass and shot in the slot from Andrew Agozzino. 1-0 Gulls.

Tucson immediately responded and tied things up on a play that the Gulls looked to have and rightly probably should have had in hand but a combination of some weak defensive play from Trevor Carrick and complete lack of back-check from Trevor Zegras ended with the puck behind Lukas Dostal. 1-1 tie game.

Play was largely disjointed for the next few minutes until Jacob Pereault made a nice play to gain the Tucson zone, pull up and send a pass across to Brendan Guhle streaking into the zone. The former Sabre prospect puck handling with speed and firing a wrist shot by LaCouvee to make it 2-1 Gulls.

Matt Lorito was found guilty of hooking directly after the goal and the Gulls headed to their first penalty kill of the night. Despite Tucson getting set and able to execute some high danger chances – including a point blank one timer from the slot, the Gulls escaped the minor and sent play up ice just as Lorito excited the box. BO Groulx made a nice move to allow the play to develop and looked off both Mahura and Lorito on the rush to fire a shot on LaCouvee. The rebound went straight to Lorito on the left side and he collected the easy put-in to make it 3-1.

LaCouvee was chased after the goal and San Diego went right back to the penalty kill as Brendan Guhle was called for tripping. This time the Roadrunners made San Diego pay as a seemingly broken play lead to their second goal of the night when Trevor Carrick had trouble separating his man from the puck and Trevo Zegras lackadaisically skated behind the play within reach of the trailer but for some reason did not attempt to back-check or prevent the final shot that lead to the goal. 3-2 Gulls.

San Diego followed that with a great shift in the Tucson zone but Alex Limoges was tagged for tripping even though it looked like his man simply fell over. None the less the Gulls went back to the penalty kill once again. The Roadrunners again were able to execute some high danger chances on Dostal – attempting to get him moving and caught out of position but the rookie was equal to the task and prevented any and all chances. Just as the penalty expired Vinni Lettieri rushed the puck up the right side and found Zegras at the backdoor – the Ducks 2019 first round pick sliding it in to make it 4-2 Gulls.

But the scoring didn’t stop there, a minute later Nik Brouillard rushed the puck up ice – finding space on the left side and firing a nice shot-pass across the slot that the rushing Brendan Guhle deftly deflected by the Tuscon goaltender to make it 5-2.

Teams finally headed to the first intermission after a seven goal parade and the Roadrunners ahead in shots 16-13 but San Diego holding the 5-2 advantage.

San Diego began the second in their now more familiar setting of the penalty kill and it took the Roadrunners just over a minute to find space and fire a bomb from the point that Dostal could not track. 5-3 Gulls.

LaCouvee had been returned to the Tucson net but it didn’t seem to matter as the Gulls found themselves on a three on one rush lead by Jacob Pereault, the 2020 late first round pick timing a wicked wrist shot at just the right time to generate a rebound that spilled right to Andrew Agozzino. The veteran winger having the presence of mind to stick with the play as his initial shot was stopped but he was able to regather the puck and roof it over the prone LaCouvee. 6-3 Gulls.

Tucson were able to spend much of the next five or so minutes in the San Diego zone until the Zegras line shifted momentum with a nice passing play around the Roadrunners zone that came inches from resulting in another Gulls goal.

Jacob Pereault continued his stellar play-making night by keeping the puck on a string as he maneuvered around the Tucson slot – getting a beautiful pass to Vinni Lettieri who then attempted to get a pass through to Andrew Agozzino at the far side to complete his hat-trick but the puck deflected into the Roadrunners net before he could so so. 7-3 Gulls. Lettieris goal and Pereaults third assist on the night thus far.

It was all Gulls for the rest of the period as Tucson appeared unable to match San Diego’s speed, drawing back to back to back penalties as they attempted to respond with physical play. On one such five on three Power Play opportunity for the Gulls – Trevor Zegras decided to make a play on his own, backing in to the Tucson defence and then attempting a spin-o-rama that almost worked but he lost the puck before he could complete the move and the Roadrunners were able to clear the zone. I could not fault or criticize him for attempting the move – the rest of the unit were just standing around motionless and essentially gave him no other creative option.

The Gulls ended the period on the man-advantage as the Roadrunners took their second straight cross-checking penalty much to the displeasure of the local faithful. San Diego still leading comfortably after forty minutes but behind in shots 27-31.

San Diego started the third with a carry-over Power Play but did not convert this time as the physical play started to pick up.

Nik Brouillard and Jan Jenik settled differences with a fiery bout near the Gulls net – the converted defenceman giving up a height disadvantage but holding his own in the scuffle.

Matt Lorito got his second of the night moments later on a Gulls rush, collecting a rebound from a Brendan Guhle shot and firing it through a screen to make it 8-3 Gulls.

Tuscon got one back on an unfortunate bounce as a Roadrunners dump in took a weird hop off the glass to land right in front of a surprised Dostal. The Czech native attempted to cover it with his glove but the Roadrunners Michael Carcone got their first to complete a hat-trick. 8-4 Gulls.

Vinni Lettieri was whistled for hooking at the midway mark of the third to send San Diego back to the penalty kill. The Gulls were able to kill the minor but the Roadrunners took the sniff of added possession to ride some momentum to another goal as Greg Printz failed to get an easy clear – sending a no-look backhand pass to the point that was easily picked off. 8-5 Gulls.

Tucson continued to fight on – clawing their way back and things got very testy as the physical play threatened to get out of hand – culminating in Jacob Perault getting a five minute major for cross-checking Jan Jenik in the mouth.

San Diego spent the remaining five minutes of the game on the penalty kill thanks to the Pereault major and things got anxious as the Roadrunners got another back – once again through Carcone – to make it 8-6 with two minutes remaining. Tucson pulled LaCouvee for the extra attacker and the Gulls set to work defending their once insurmountable but quickly dwindling lead. The effort made even more difficult as Vinni Lettieri flipped the puck over the glass on a clearance attempt to set up a six on three disadvantage for the final forty seconds.

Lukas Dostal proved the hero as he tracked and stopped any puck that came near while his defense made two clearances to kill the remaining time. San Diego coming away with the 8-6 win in a wild finish.

Post Game Notes:

Pereault the Playmaker

I have said it before but tonight it could not be ignored. Pereault has vastly underrated playmaking ability. Jacob Pereault created three goals tonight. Not just token secondary assists either. He was the reason – the creator – of all three plays that lead to those goals. The Ducks really did get a steal when they selected him with the 27th pick in last years draft. It will be very very interesting to see if he makes the Ducks next year or gets stuck back in Junior -if I am the Ducks, I make room for him now.

The New Guys

I was surprised to see Andersson and Printz make their debut tonight – but I guess it does make sense given the Roadrunners are probably the weakest team in the division right now (thanks to call ups and injuries to the Coyotes).

• Axel Andersson: Started out rough. He got outmuscled behind his own net on pretty much every shift in the first period and also made one very bad clearance that went right to the Roadrunners. He seemed to get better throughout the game and did make a couple of nice outlet passes including one on his backhand in the second. Didnt get much of a chance to show his offensive ability – I saw a few shots from the point, one that made it on net through traffic and the other a deliberate shot-pass to Lettieri down low. Overall – I saw slight signs of what he can do but he is going to need more time and the Ducks arent going to like how easily he was muscled off the puck at times, particularly in his own zone. In an ordinary year I’d say he would be down in Tulsa but given this season is feeling more and more purely developmental I can see him continue to be deployed to further see what he can do.
• Greg Printz: When I checked his stats after the Gulls announced the signing of his PTO I admit wasnt impressed. They aren’t bad numbers but they’re not Limoges or McLaughlin numbers either. He looked lost out there and towards the end of the game – was responsible for at least one of the final two Tucson goals. I couldnt really see much in his game that stood out to me or enough to really get an understanding of what his style is or who he reminds me of. I think he might have played himself out of the line-up after tonights game though – development or not; he needs to start with Tulsa and earns his stripes like the others.

Zegras Zoned Out

I made note of it in the recap and on twitter but Zegras went full “disconnected controller” on the backcheck for the second Tucscon goal. I’m not sure if he thought Carrick had it in hand or what but he was within reach of preventing the shot and just didnt. He looked great on offense and I love that he is trying things – like I said in the recap for the last game – this is the time to do it; but that complete lack of giving an F on the backcheck looks bad and makes me wonder if he is not taking the demotion so well.

Herreeess Guhle

Guhle had a great night. Two goals, one assist and on the ice for five of the eight Gulls goals. He looked like a forward the way he was jumping up on the play to setup or finish goals but always timed it perfectly so as not to put his team at a disadvantage should he get caught. His play has been steadily getting better lately and tonight I would say he was the Gulls best defender, a mantle held by Mahura for his entire current tenure.