2021-2022 Game 9: San Diego Gulls vs Bakersfield Condors

Riding high from their 6-3 win over the Henderson Silver Knights, the Gulls welcomed the Bakersfield Condors once more into Pechanga arena for a home-and-home weekend match-up.

There were no changes to the lines or pairings from the previous win over Henderson, Eriksson Ek was given the start.

First Period:

We managed to see the first minute or so of action before AHLTV shat the bed so I had to resort to listening to the radio call while wondering if it would ever return.

When we finally got visual back the Condors were up by one – scored on the Power Play and Adam Cracknell had to be helped off the ice as he was involved in a nasty unintentional collision at center ice in the final few minutes of play.

The Gulls headed to the first intermission down by one and trailing in shots 16-5 to a very motivated and desperate Condors team looking to break a four game losing streak.

Second Period: Bakersfield Condors 1 – San Diego Gulls 0

San Diego started the second period back on the penalty kill as Nik Brouillard was called for slashing off the opening face-off.

The Gulls killed the minor but the Condors carried forward momentum and were doing a great job of keeping the Pechanga faithful to a low hum until Hunter Drew laid a thunderous hit on William Lagesson for which the later felt so aggrieved so as to engage in a tustle that brought all of Pechanga to their feet.

Riding the energy from the crowd the Gulls finally started to get some pressure in the Bakersfield zone, Greg Printz creating the best chance of the period with a nice individual play to weave in and out of traffic before shifting the puck to Perreault coming down the slot; but it was one pass too many as the Ducks 2020 late first rounder tried to slip it back to him and was prevented from doing so.

The physical play began to pick up and both teams exchanged Power Plays with neither converting as time started to suddenly fly by on the period.

San Diego spent the majority of the final few minutes in the Condors zone and came close on a final flurry that was started by Max Golod taking the puck from behind the goal-line and driving the Bakersfield net but the puck would not go. The Gulls headed to the second intermission still down by one but clawing back the shot total to a more even 24-16. A final whistle scuffle started again by Golod – this time finishing a check – promised a possibly even more physical third and final period to come.

Third Period: Bakersfield Condors 1 – San Diego Gulls 0

San Diego thought they had the game tying goal minutes into the action of the third period when Buddy Robinson collected the rebound from a Trevor Carrick point shot and potted it in to get the Pechanga crowd on their feet. But the boisterous cheers quickly turned to displeasure as the goal was called off without any official announcement as to why. In the end we were left to assume that goaltender interference had been called on the play.

Bakersfield continued to frustrate the Gulls by clogging up the neutral zone and sending in aggressive fore-checkers to prevent any progress but San Diego were given a slither of hope when Danny O’Regan drew a high-sticking call. coming through the neutral zone.

In a massive anti climax the Gulls put on possibly their worst display with the man advantage this season, registering no shots and minimal time in the Condors zone whatsoever.

Just as it seemed the “goal that apparently wasn’t a goal” might be the sticking point for a ‘what could have been’ kind of game, Max Golod intercepted a Condors pass near the goal line and quickly fired it from a severe angle at the Bakersfield net – catching the goaltender by surprise and scoring his first of the season. 1-1 tie game.

San Diego were given another chance on the Power Play and looked much better with the man advantage this time but again could not get the puck to go for them.

As the game headed to overtime San Diego looked largely in control if not as fast as I would have liked as they tried to get the winner holding the majority of possession in the Condors zone.

Unfortunately a bad pass from Trevor Carrick hit Bryce Kindopp in the shin and as the Gulls defender scrambled to prevent a drive he took out his own goaltender in the process, leaving the puck and a wide open net for Cooper Marody to follow up on the play and pot the game winner as a serenade of boos filled Pechanga Arena.

It did look like the Gulls net had been knocked off at the very moment Carrick flew into Eriksson Ek – so before the follow up shot was taken, but the officials did not seem to care. 2-1 Condors controversial win.

Post Game Notes:

A Game Of Ice and Fire

San Diego and Bakersfield could not be any more different in style. Where the Gulls love a speed and transition game with some emphasis on a heavy forecheck if zone entries are made difficult. The Condors love to slow everything down coming through the neutral zone, crowd the crease and wire shots from the point to create chaos in front. It worked in the first encounter when San Diego were able to play their game and overrun the Condors in their zone with a heavy physical forecheck but in tonight’s game the Condors were able to exert their neutral zone trap to prevent San Diego from getting any kind of speed coming across center ice. It wasn’t all about the Officials tonight though, San Diego didn’t do themselves any favors by allowing Bakersfield to enjoy the majority of possession. That said…

When Goals Arent Goals

I went back and checked the Buddy Robinson goal again and again and I honestly cannot see how they call that goaltender interference. He was in front of Konovalov yes, but not impeding his movement nor bumping him. I didn’t need to revisit the OT goal, the net was very obviously off (albeit briefly and then more completely after the puck was in the net). By official rules the play should be called back or play called dead whenever a net is off its moorings. So to lose a game where a 50/50 call on an important goal goes against you not once but twice is more than a little perturbing. But this is the AHL so there probably won’t be anything more to come on the matter.

Lettieri Going Up Again?

Isac Lundestrom suffered what appears to be a head injury when he was on the receiving end of a rising shoulder then elbow hit along the boards in Seattle yesterday. We have to assume he is held out for precautionary reasons while they check for any head trauma and the Ducks call up someone for additional cover. I would bet that is Vinni Lettieri even though he does not play Center. The Ducks have plenty of Centers on their roster and although Perreault has looked great so far, I think he needs a little longer before being thrown onto the big stage.