2021-2022 Game 23: San Diego Gulls vs Stockton Heat

Having not played since December 19th due to being ravaged by COVID19 the Gulls finally took to the ice against the Pacific Division topping Heat. During their time off the Ducks plucked several players and as San Diego took to the ice for this match-up they would do so without several key veterans including Vinni Lettieri, Buddy Robinson and Danny O’Regan. In response to having their roster somewhat gutted – the Gulls brought back Sean Josling on a PTO and signed Brent Gates JR to a shiny new AHL deal.

With the absence of O’Regan, Kindopp was called upon to center the second line alongside Brent Gates Jr making his 2021-2022 debut. Eriksson-Ek was in Anaheim on the Taxi squad.

First Period:

The opening twenty was largely uneventful – Stockton had the better of the chances and Lukas Dostal kept the Gulls in it as San Diego slowly recovered from the large amount of rust they had after being out of game action since before Christmas.

Teams headed to the first intermission with a scoreless tie and shots relatively even at 10-7 for the Heat. The shot map indicating Dostal having to face down one point blank opportunity while the Gulls came close on two high danger chances of their own

Second Period: San Diego Gulls 0 – Stockton Heat 0

Gates JR had a great start to the second, coming oh so close to opening the scoring off a bad turnover from the Heat and then ending his shift with a critical intercept in the Gulls zone.

Hunter Drew then got the Pechanga arena going with a signature blast as he came storming down the right wing off a nice feed from Nik Brouillard. 1-0 Gulls.

Both teams traded some penalties including an almost full two minute four on three before Brayden Tracey gave San Diego some additional scoring support once play returned to five on five. The Ducks 2019 late first round selection took a pass from Bryce Kindopp off of a face-off win, skated back and around the blue-line before faking a pass back to Kindopp then using the extra time and space gained to fire a wrist shot from near the blue-line that beat Werner through traffic 2-0 Gulls.

San Diego again found themselves in penalty trouble as Gate Jr was called for high sticking but San Diego killed the penalty but also allowed Stockton to regain some possession in the process. The Heat got one back with ten seconds to spare when Eetu Tuulola beat Dostal with a redirect on a three on one rush as they caught the Gulls flat footed on a counter attack toward the periods end.

The Gulls taking a one goal lead into the third period and still lagging behind in shots 27-16 while the shot map continued to show Lukas Dostal saw the higher selection of high danger chances.

Third Period: San Diego Gulls 2 – Stockton Heat 1

Stockton kept goading and drawing the Gulls into taking penalties as the third period progressed but Lukas Dostal as well as some key blocks and intercepts from Vincent Marleau and BO Groulx kept the score at 2-1 through the first eight minutes.

BO Groulx was rewarded for his efforts when he slammed home a rebound off of a Jaob Perreault one-timer and the Gulls took a 3-1 lead. The Gulls forward showing sheer emotion in celebration in what has been a tough and down year for him thus far. With the goal coming as just reward for some brilliant play and shades of the kind of dominant performance he had shown last season.

Stockton kept trying to get back into the game but San Diego were clearly the hungrier team and their confidence only grew the closer they got to victory. Brayden Tracey making a beautiful play, making the extra move to clear a lane and unselfishly set up Bryce Kindopp to make it 4-1.

Stockton pulled Werner with four minutes left but the Gulls closed out the statement win over the Pacific Division leaders to send the Pechanga faithful home happy for the first time in almost a month.

Post Game Notes:

Gates V2.0

I mentioned it in my most recent Podcast Ep, but I thought Brent Gates Jr would fit right into this line-up given his style matches up perfectly with the kind of meat-and-potatoes hockey Bouchard has deployed in the bottom six and I was not surprised to see how great he looked in this game. He finished with a secondary assist on the Kindopp goal and was a steadying veteran presence on that line, tidying up any defensive miscues and generally being a “Roy Kent” type guy. You can see why he was given a contract as oppressed to the standard PTO that ECHL players have been getting lately.

Everyone Looked Good

We haven’t seen that kind of performance from the Gulls in a while and it really goes to show that they can beat anyone if they want to. Emphasis on want to. All it takes is a combination of consistent effort, want and need as well as all of the big guns showing up. Tonight all of that happened and it was a joy to see. Nik Brouillard – on a cold streak ever since the Gulls win streak was snapped (coincidence?) had a two point night. Kindopp fresh from his first NHL action clearly had a spring in his step and collected two points while playing Center. Groulx looked like his dominant self of last season. It was a statement win and one that we know the Gulls are capable of. They just need to do it more often.

Tracey So Close

This is an extremely hot take but I am starting to think that Tracey has surpassed Perreault on the depth chart. Don’t get me wrong, I love them both and I particularly love that Perreault is trying and will continue to try that spin-o-rama move off the left wing before falling into a soft area to attempt a shot which will one day work. But Tracey has been quietly coming on and tonight demonstrated with that move on the Kindopp goal that he is turning into the kind of play-making, high hockey-IQ forward that the Ducks saw when they selected him in 2019. His game is just more… polished.