Lukas Dostal celebrates earning the win and second star. Credit San Diego Gulls.
Trying to get back in the win column again after a disappointing loss on the back to back suffered the previous weekend the Gulls would do so with an adjusted line-up, Greg Pateryn was recalled to cover for an injury to Josh Manson – allowing for Kodie Curran to be moved back to the blue line, while Jack Badini returned from two games missed due to injury.
The top line from last season was finally re-united while Vinni Lettieri was moved to center alongside Lucas Elvenes and Greg Printz. Brent Gates Jr centered the fourth line with Badini and Drew. Dostal was given the start as the hot-hand. It should be noted that Axel Andersson appeared to be a last-minute scratch with Vincent Marleau drawing in and Nik Brouillard moving back to defense.
Danny O’Regan continued his strong play since being returned from the Ducks as he drove his line to create two straight point blank chances in the first two minutes of play.
However; the Gulls less than great play in their own zone did not seem to have improved from their last few games either as they allowed the Barracuda to find space in their zone, get quality chances on Dostal while also enjoying a Power Play that took more than a few strong stops from their Czech netminder to survive.
After killing the minor San Diego went right to the attach, rolling all four lines and getting consistent zone-entry and shots on the San Jose net before drawing a minor of their own just before the midway point of the period.
Unable to get set and generate chances but for the final 30 seconds or so of the minor the Gulls were lucky to have Dostal more than on top of his game as their leaky defense continued to allow odd-man breaks and good quality scoring chances against him.
The period ending in a scoreless tie and shots even at nine but the shot map showing very clearly that the Barracuda enjoyed the better of the chances on Dostal.
Picking up the physicality to start the second frame it took the Gulls less than three minutes to finally open the scoring as some good work by the Badini, Gates & Hunter Drew line cashed in on a goal. The later picking up a bank-pass made by Badini and slipping it into the net from the right side. A very smart play by Badini to recognise Drew was there and to play the puck off the boards like a pool-shot. 1-0 Gulls.
The Gulls fragile defense streak continued as the Barracuda tied it right back up as Evan Weinger attempted beat Kodie Curran one-on-one on the boards but the veteran defensemen held his man up but also lost track of the puck, as it still made its way to the Gulls net he left-off his hold on the young Sharks winder and he swiftly collected and deposited the puck past a shocked Dostal. 1-1 tie game.
The game quickly turned into a shooting gallery as Lucas Evenes gained the San Jose zone, held up and looked for a pass. Spotting the streaking Guhle jumping down low he fired a pass that would have been a perfect scoring chance but for it being just a tad too far ahead of the former Buffalo prospect. Never the less, Guhle chased the puck behind the Barracuda net where he flicked it to Vinni Letteiri who then fired a pass out to a waiting Brent Gates Jr. 2-1 Gulls.
Another defensive breakdown in the San Diego zone led to a partial break for Halbgewachs as he received a pass that sent him alone behind Nik Brouillard and in on Dostal. His forehand, backhand move too much for the Gulls netminder and tying things up at two a piece. 2-2 tie game.
San Diego instantly responded, gaining the San Jose zone and playing the puck around to try to find a shooting lane. Kodie Curran had a shot from the point blocked but regained the puck before faking a further shot and then sending a slap-pass down low to Brent Gates all in one motion. The former Duck draft pick one-timing the pass like a sniper past the San Jose netminder as he came across the crease. 3-2 Gulls.
Once again the the Gulls defense threatened to give up an equaliser within minutes of their go-ahead goal as Brendan Guhle was schooled one-on-one by Jasper Weatherby but the San Jose centers shot rang off both posts before coming back out.
The remainder of the second consisted of San Jose playing a simple game, getting shots on Dostal from near or far and chasing for rebounds or bounces. The Gulls meanwhile continued to try to make the extra pass on a rush that was ultimately too low percentage and ended in a easy clear back in the other direction for the Barracuda.
Jack Badini had perhaps the Gulls best chance of the later half of the period using speed and brute force to get the puck on net while also causing havoc in front.
San Diego headed to the second intermission up by one but following the same trend of needing to give thanks to their goaltender for keeping them ahead. Shots were 14-7 on the period for the Barracuda and 23-16 overall.
Starting the third by killing a minor assessed to Nik Brouillard near the conclusion of the second, they looked well on their way to killing the minor until Brendan Guhle was found guilty of sending the puck very high and clear over the glass on a clear with ten seconds left.
A crucial and critical face-off win by Bryce Kindopp allowed the Gulls to kill the very brief two man disadvantage but a weak slashing call on Nik Brouillard as he escaped the box saw them go right back to the two man deficit, this time for an almost full two minutes.
The Gulls escaped the extended two man disadvantage but got away with a perhaps deliberately missed call as Brendan Guhle quite obviously tripped a Barracuda player chasing down a puck in the San Diego zone.
Further penalties continued, on both sides but with neither team capitalizing on their man-advantage as time on the period moved on.
Much as he had done all game, Lukas Dostal proved the difference as the Gulls allowed the Barracuda to come at them in constant waves. The Czech netminder turning aside shot after shot after rebound and deflection. Danny O’Regan was finally able to settle things down and keep possession for the Gulls with under two minutes left and in the nick of time as the Gulls were able to take advantage of a San Jose empty net in the final minute. Bryce Kindopp getting to a loose puck and sending it across to Greg Printz for the empty net goal. 4-2 Gulls.
Lukas Dostal’s raised hand at the final buzzer was all Pechanga needed to acknowledge that their very special goaltender had stolen two desperately needed points.
What
What the hell was that? I don’t normally show the shot map for the final period of the game but let me present exhibit three for how bad this Gulls squad was today in front of their net.
What else is there to say? You can tell both Andy and BJ are frustrated with this team too. They had an outburst between breaks that was quickly muted but I would love to know who they were talking about when they said “he is an NHLer ?!” I am guessing Larsson or Guhle.
Who
Who do we blame for the Gulls inconsistent play this year? I was staying well clear of the coaching staff given there are so many factors at play. Injuries to both the Ducks and Gulls, COVID concerns, more injuries, players switching back and forth between forward and defense but at the end of the day – they have an almost full strength squad again now and still not showing any real signs of improvement but for in net because they have an NHL caliber goaltender. We have to start looking at the coaches.
Why
Why are the Gulls failing to out-shoot their opponents on a regular basis? Why are players in a shooting position consistently opting to try force the extra pass? Why are lines that are showing chemistry then intermediately being broken up the very next game? Why is the line-up changed so often so as to ruin any chance of developing any consistent chemistry? Ok that last one isn’t fair, that’s the AHL but I have seen examples where the same players are available across multiple games but are shifted across different lines in the line-up.
Where
Where do we go from here? The Gulls are still currently clinging to that final spot in the Pacific Division play-in playoffs but for how much longer? They barely showed up against the worst team in the league today and face them again on Wednesday. They then face the gauntlet of the top teams in the division starting with the Reign on a back to back then the Silver Knights on another back to back. After this next game against the Barracuda, they won’t be seeing them again for the rest of the season. It will be sink or swim and I was kind of hoping the Gulls would at least be able to tread water until the Black Ace’s arrived but I am starting to lose hope for that. They can’t expect Dostal to steal every game for them.
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