2021-2022 Game 49: San Diego Gulls vs Henderson Silver Knights

Riding high off back to back shutout victories over different division rivals the Gulls welcomed the Silver Knights – a team sitting just above them in the standings to Pechanga arena for the first of a set of four straight games between them.

Tracey stayed on the line with Marleau and Badini that he was assigned to part way through their most recent win over the Reign while Dostal was given the start in net. No other changes were made to the line-up.

First Period:

It took all of forty seconds for the Gulls to get on the board as right off the face-off they set to work in getting possession, gaining the Henderson zone, winning a puck battle between Nik Brouillard and Bryce Kindopp before firing back to Axel Andersson, the Swede delaying then finding Hunter Drew in the very high (like almost at the blue line) slot who looked every bit the former defender as he wound up a powerful wrist shot to beat Jiri Patera through traffic. 1-0 Gulls.

San Diego kept up the same tight defensive and committed forecheck that has them on a recent winning streak – ensuring every Henderson player had a Gull very close by, allowing them no room to outmaneuver. While the Gulls generated two very good chances of their own. First via Jacob Perreault showing some great skill and speed to start a play in the San Diego zone, take the puck forward out of danger, pass off then receive it back in space and make a very nice move around a Henderson defender before passing off to Limoges but the puck was just behind the former Penn State winger. Their second chance was more dangerous as Lucas Elevens was slipped behind the defense but was stopped on his partial break.

Lukas Dostal gave the Silver Knights a sniff when he had a rare brain-fart – passing the puck directly to their waiting winger at the side boards as he went to make a general clearance. Thankfully he was able to make up for his gaff.

With the Gulls skating on their first Power Play of the game, it seemed the Silver Knights might survive the minor when some great passing in the Henderson zone found Brayden Tracey in the slot for a perfect one-timer and the rookie winger did not miss for his tenth of the year on the Gulls fourth shot of the game. 2-0 Gulls.

Moments later, with the Gulls on the penalty kill with Jack Badini serving a holding penalty; Lukas Dostal served up another feature for his highlight reel as he absolutely robbed Reid Duke with the glove point blank.

San Diego killed an additional minor to BO Groulx – and did so with more than relative ease – before heading to the first intermission up by two but needing more shots on net as they fell behind 15-6 on the period with the shot map showing that Dostal was asked to do more than his fair share of the work defensively.

Second Period: San Diego Gulls 2 – Henderson Silver Knights 0

Henderson once again threatened to permanently swing momentum in their direction as they started the third by getting good looks on Dostal but the Gulls once again turned things around and created their own chance via a relentless attack. Jacob Perreault first setting up Alex Limoges in the slot before collecting his rebound and then feeding Trevor Carrick who had sneaked into the left circle. 3-0 Gulls.

Again Dostal had to make some highlight reel save as he dove in desperation to stop follow up rebounds from an odd man rush by the Silver Knights.

Henderson began to settle into a grind style that appeared to be beginning to wear the Gulls down and the Silver Knights shot disparity began to get a tad out of control although the majority of them were easy perimeter stops for Dostal they did manage to break through his working shutout via a point shot through traffic. 3-1 Gulls.

The Silver Knights made another push after the goal but also overcomitted to the attack as they sniffed an opportunity with the Gulls under pressure in their own zone. A loose puck squeaked out to Hunter Drew and he set off up ice with it along with Nik Brouillard on a two on one. Once again the former defenders tandem creating some magic as Drew sent a perfect saucer pass to land perfectly in the wheel house for Brouillard to swat into the Henderson net. 4-1 Gulls.

San Diego again taking a dominant lead into the second intermission but still trailing in shots by a large margin. Dostal facing 30 shots to the Gulls 15.

Third Period: San Diego Gulls 4 – Henderson Silver Knights 1

Hunter Drew just could not stop as his line had the Silver Knights completely turned inside out twenty seconds into the third, the former defender showing yet more skill with the saucer pass as he fed one down low to Bryce Kindopp who was stopped but Hunter Drew collected the rebound behind the goal line and fired it right back into the slot to a waiting Nik Brouillard. The two former blueliners combining once again. 5-1 Gulls.

The remainder of the game settled into what felt like a holding period of just winding the clock down to move onto the next game on the weekend as the Silver Knights clearly realised they had no hope of getting within striking distance of the Gulls lead.

Jack Badini drew a call through some great passing by the fourth line and as the Gulls set to work on the Power Play – Hunter Drew got on the board once again, finishing off a rebound in front for his second of the game and fourth point on the night for a new career high. The play ran through Lucas Elvenes as has been the case since his acquisition.

Play returned its regularly scheduled programming as the Gulls essentially wound down the clock – enjoying possession and the better of chances with another Power Play to close out the game. San Diego taking the victory easily – their third straight while looking like a consistently dominant force.

Post Game Notes:

Consistent Lines

It only took all season but it feels like the Gulls FINALLY have some consistent forward lines and they are working. Limoges-Groulx-Perreault was already ticking from the moment they were put together and although it has taken a little while for Perreault to show signs of the fun player he was at the start of the season, he is most definitely winding into form again now. Brouillard-Kindopp-Drew are the line that I did not expect to be the one to take up my call to be the other line to get hot but they are a combined eight points in their last three games. Kindopp appears to be more of the passenger to the burgeoning chemistry developing between the two converted defenders which means he could sadly potentially be replaced when O’Regan returns. Printz-Gates-Elvenes have not really shown much at five on five, Gates and Elvenes both have points in their last three games but those came with the man advantage. I can see why placing Gates and Elvenes together makes sense but again – Printz is probably replaceable on that line. Finally Badini-Marleau-Tracey, again nothing at five on five – Tracey has the lone goal in the last three games scored tonight on the Power Play. Once everyone is healthy and returned from Anaheim I can see this line consisting of at least Printz and potentially Badini for their use and importance to the penalty kill, but Tracey should be elevated to a line with some skilled finishers to complement his play-making abilities. Speaking of players returning or joining the Gulls..

Incoming!

Anaheim started the trade deadline with a bang earlier this week, dealing veteran Josh Manson to Colorado for defensive prospect Drew Helleson and a second round pick in 2023. Having just completed his Junior year at Boston College, GM Pat Verbeek signed the young defender to his entry level contract within 24 hours of the trade with reports stating that the contract does not start until next season but that all indications point to Helleson joining the Gulls on their stretch run on an amateur tryout deal. Looking at the current Gulls defensive pairings, I would prefer if either Jacob Larsson or Brendan Guhle drew out to make room for him. Larsson has been playing his off-side on a pairing with Kodie Curran and that is the spot I would like to see Heleson put in – playing alongside one of the Gulls best veteran defenders. Either way – the defensive corps are going to get that much more crowded once again….

More Deals To Come?

The Ducks have two more marquee UFAs left to potentially deal in Hampus Lindholm and Rickard Rakell but they also should probably address their current prospect pool. Both Jacob Larsson and Brendan Guhle although still relatively young for defenders at age 24, are also ten minutes to midnight on their status as “prospects”. Both are at the end of their current deals with arbitration rights, at this point I cannot see the Ducks wanting to qualify Larsson but Guhle is on a semi manageable salary and would mean they would only have Brayden Tracey left over from the Brandon Montour deal if he was not qualified and allowed to walk. The Ducks do need to start moving some of their defenders though – there are only so many you can successfully convert into being a forward, on that note…

So Hot Right Now

Hunter Drew – six points in his last two games, now 30 points in 48 games on the year. Second on the team in scoring behind – Nik Brouillard. Let’s just forget about the slightly comical fact that the Gulls are being lead in scoring by two natural defense-men and focus on the career renaissance we are seeing unfold. I don’t like to brag but I was one of the if not the first to start touting how much better he looked at forward and how it suited his game so much better than defense. When the Ducks announced he had been converted to forward – its the most vindicated I have ever felt since I began writing about hockey. Ok I like to brag, a tiny bit.

Nik Brouillard – I will follow that up by saying – even though he is currently leading the team in scoring; I do not feel the same way about Nik Brouillard. I feel that he plays much better and his game is more suited to defense. Five points in his last three games and 33 points in 47 games on the season is the kind of player I knew Brouillard could be after watching him in brief stretches last season. I will be very surprised if the Ducks attempt to convert him to forward permanently though.

Jacob Perreault – five points in his last six games and creeping back up the team in scoring, now tied for fifth with the idle O’Regan. Like I said in my recap above, Perreault has been showing glimpses of the fun player he was at the start of the season and is growing more confidence again with every game he is paired with Groulx and Limoges. It is great to see as when I see Ducks fans continually question why he is not recalled I have to explain that he does not quite deserve it right now. With the way he is playing lately, it won’t be long until he gets another look.