2021-2022 Game 7: San Diego Gulls vs Colorado Eagles

After the emotional shootout home win over the Condors the Gulls faced yet more adversity as Mason McTavish was called back up to Anaheim with his conditioning stint deemed over. Lukas Dostal was returned and given the start with newly signed PTO Sean Josling getting his debut alongside former Sarnia teammate Jacob Perreault on a line centered by …. Nik Brouillard?

Both Kodie Curran and Alex Limoges continued to be absent, presumably with injury.

First Period:

The Gulls looked very unsure of themselves to start, but were able to draw a call as Jacob Perreault was interfered with behind the play. The 19 year old turned out to be centering the line with Brouillard and Josling – not Brouillard as reported in the team graphic above.

San Diego had one chance on the two minute man advantage right at its conclusion as Axel Andersson came in to jump on a loose puck but his shot sailed high over the net.

The physical play started to pick up and teams traded penalties as hostilities threatened to boil over culminating in Eagles Captain Jacob McDonald giving a two handed slash to the back of Jacob Larssons legs as he went to get on the Gulls player bench behind the play.

Even as the Gulls tried to establish possession and get a cycle going in the Colorado zone, the Eagles would counter with the rush led by their talented youngsters Alex Newhook and Jean-Luc Foudy. With time wining down on the period it looked as though San Diego might escape with a scoreless tie until the Eagles were able to get the puck back to the point and wire a shot that beat Dostal through some light traffic in front. 1-0 Eagles with just under 9 seconds left in the first frame.

Shots were 6-2 for Colorado after the first, with the battle for neutral ice dictating the lack of shots on net.

Second Period: Colorado Eagles 1 – San Diego Gulls 0

The Gulls came out with more shots to start the second but could not really generate any chances before the two most dangerous players on the Eagles finally broke loose.

First Alex Newhook took the puck with speed and squeezed by a check from Jacob Larsson on the side boards before setting up Sikura at the far side to make it 2-0 Eagles.

Then Jean-Louc Foudy pounced on a turnover in the neutral zone and attacked the Gulls zone with speed, zipping a shot by Dostal to make it 3-0.

Coach Bouchard called a time-out to try settle things down but the Eagles came right back on the attack after the stoppage with Dostal forced to stop Newhook on his doorstep once again.

The Eagles continued to run the Gulls zone while swatting aside any attempt at counter attack with ease as time ticked by in the action.

Just at it felt like San Diego had no fight left in them a holding call drawn by Axel Andersson gave them one more shot before the period came to a close. Controlling the Eagles zone and with the Colorado goaltender missing his stick Brayden Tracey tried to take advantage by daring to get close enough to get a shot high but could not find an opening. With the Eagles able to get a clear and retrieve their goaltenders stick the Gulls were able to set up for another chance in the dying seconds of the period. That is when Trevor Carrick found Jacob Perreault at the left side with time to one-time a shot that squeaked by Justus Annunen to get the Gulls on the board. 3-1 Eagles.

San Diego heading to the second intermission down by two but riding momentum from the Power Play tally. Shots were even at 14 a piece with the Gulls finally showing some life by periods end.

Third Period: Colorado Eagles 3 – San Diego Gulls 1

Looking to carry over momentum from their end of period goal the Gulls did just that as the Tracey line caused absolute havoc in the Eagles zone, winning a puck battle down low and overwhelming the Eagles net until Tracey was able to collect and deposit it on a wrap around down low. 3-2 Eagles.

San Diego continued their momentum on the following shift, drawing a call on the Eagles with some equally strong pressure but could not convert on the man advantage.

The Gulls continued to pepper the Eagles net, getting frustratingly close on multiple occasions as time continued to wind down on the period and the game.

With Dostal pulled Jacob Perreault came oh so close to tying it up in the final seconds but the puck wouldn’t go and the Eagles escaped with the 3-2 regulation win.

Post Game Notes:

More Pain

I wonder how Bouchard feels coming over from Montreal now. Anaheim haven’t really given him a lot to work with this season – well they did, but bad injury luck has shot that all to pieces now. Injuries and luck can not be controlled. Depth signings can be. I wish I knew why Chase De Leo and Andrew Poturalski did not wish to stay – because the Gulls could really use their help right now. I said it at the time of the signings but Buddy Robinson is not a replacement for Andrew Poturalski by any sense.

Trending Upwards

Given the firepower the Eagles possessed it really was a foregone conclusion that unless the Gulls could shut down both of their high draft pick weapons it was going to be a tough night. They were doing well up until that span of five minutes to start the second when each of them sprung loose to get one by Dostal. That said. This team is night and day much much better than it was to start the season. The fight and no-quit attitude is all we can ask for right now given the depleted line-up. Once the bodies start coming back, the foundation is there for a good run.

Injury Updates

There has not been an official announcement but its safe to say Alex Limoges and Kodie Curran are out injured. Here is hoping neither injury does not see them out too long. Up in Anaheim the Rakell injury was only initially meant to have him out a week but that date passed with yesterdays game against the Coyotes. Silfverberg remains in COVID protocol until he produces a negative test while Max Jones is essentially done for the season. The only hope for help to come back down is when Rakell and Silfverberg return to the Ducks line-up, which should result in Sam Carrick and Vinni Lettieri coming down. Although…. I would not rule out Max Comtois being assigned to try jump start his game which has been largely absent thus far this season.