Brayden Tracey made his much awaited return and Axel Andersson also came back into the line-up after a last minute scratch in the previous game due to an unrelated-to-covid illness.
The top line remained intact while Tracey joined Lettieri and Elvenes on a potent third line. Badini drew back out as the Gulls forward lines suddenly became very crowded. Brouillard moved back to forward to make room for Andersson. Lukas Dostal was given his second straight start.
First Period:
Despite the Barracuda getting some brief chances in the San Diego zone within the first minute and a half, the Gulls quickly turned the tide and had San Jose guessing with some great passing and poise with the puck. Back to back shifts holding the zone and eventually taking the lead off a very nice cross-ice feed from Brayden Tracey to Brent Gates. The youngster picking right up where he left off with his great on-ice vision and the former Ducks late round pick staying hot with his third goal in two games. 1-0 Gulls.
In what would be a common theme throughout the night, the Barracuda responded to the goal by increasing their physical play. Kodie Curran on the receiving end of a jarring hit along the boards that left him slow to get up but awarding the Gulls a Power Play in the process as Gallant was called for boarding.
San Jose killed the minor and play returned to five on five, remaining as such for most of the rest of the period until Kindopp was given a double minor for high-sticking with just over seven minutes remaining.
It took the Barracuda into the later half of the extended minor to capitalize but that they did via a two-man screen set in front of Dostal and a point shot from Joachim Blichfeld. 1-1 tie game.
San Diego drew a couple of minors themselves in the final three minutes of action to get a short twenty second five on three two man advantage but could not convert.
Teams heading to the first intermission tied at one a piece with the Gulls needing to kill an almost full two minute minor assessed to Hunter Drew for slashing in the final ten seconds of action. Shots were 8-7 for the Gulls. The shot map showing that despite San Diego seeming to enjoy the better of the play – they did not get the better of the chances on net.
Second Period: San Diego Gulls 1 – San Jose Barracuda 1
Starting the period on the penalty kill the Gulls were lucky to escape the first few minutes of action without giving up a goal, largely in part to the play of Lukas Dostal. After erasing the minor they headed right to the attack, again able to cycle lines while holding the San Jose zone. Lucas Elvenes getting the ultimate revenge as he found himself all alone in front soon after picking himself back up from the ice having sustained an elbow up high moments before. Vinni Lettieri spotted the newest Gull alone in front and fed him a pass, which the Swede wasted no time in maneuvering around the hapless San Jose net-minder. 2-1 Gulls.
It was all Gulls for the next few minutes as they seemingly only momentarily left the San Jose zone every so often. On one such occasion Hunter Drew found time and space to bust up the right wing with Axel Andersson matching him stride for stride on the left side. The converted defender sending a pass across to the Swedish blue-liner who one-timed it on net creating a short rebound that Drew was able to collect and slide into the right side. 3-1 Gulls.
The physical play picked up as the Barracuda tried to respond with some borderline play but the Gulls kept to their existing game-plan and generated some further good looks using some good patience with the puck and finding seams.
A fracas that broke out behind the San Jose net involving Kodie Curran, Brayden Tracey and Trevor Carrick resulted in a Gulls Power Play as the Barracuda net-minder Melnichuk was given an extra for unsportsmanlike conduct by joining the pile-on and going after Curran.
The Gulls had some very good looks with the man advantage but could not solve Melnichuk, however a nice zone entry and drive to the net by Lucas Elvenes at the end of his shift saw the puck shift back to Nik Brouillard with space and the Gulls leading scoring defender fired a shot that was deftly tipped by Greg Printz past Melnichuk to make it 4-1 Gulls.
San Jose once again responded with physicality as Barracuda tough guy Montana Onyebuchi laid a big open ice hit on Printz soon after center ice puck drop. Both Jacob Larsson and Axel Andersson jumped on the Barracuda instigator right after with Andersson bravely holding on for all he could in a quick tussle.
The fight appeared to energize the Barracuda and they spent the remainder of the period in the Gulls zone as San Diego found themselves taking back to back to back penalties, including a minute and a half of five on three and ending in Hunter Drew bring assessed a ten minute misconduct as teams headed to their dressing rooms for the second intermission.
The Gulls up 4-1 after forty and ahead in shots 21-18.
Third Period: San Diego Gulls 4 – San Jose Barracuda 1
San Jose came out with a push to start the third but the Gulls again kept to the game-plan, swiftly turning action back the other way and adding to their lead just over three minutes into the third frame. Lucas Elevenes adding to his point total on the night with a shot that appeared to hit a San Jose player before getting by Melnichuk with Tracey in front alone able to tip or tidy up in front if it did not. 5-1 Gulls.
The Barracuda appeared to have no other response but to continue to goon it up as Kodie Curran appeared to have finally had enough, uncharacteristically dropping the gloves with Zachary Gallant.
Time ticked by with both teams continuing to find new ways to dislike each-other but as it got closer to games end it felt like the Barracuda were really just trying to get to the final horn.
The Gulls taking the final game in the season series in convincing fashion and winning their second in a row.
Post Game Notes:
No post game notes tonight, will do something more next game, apologies.
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