2021-2022 Game 53: San Diego Gulls vs Tucson Roadrunners

Playing a rare mid week back-to-back due to a rescheduled game that had been postponed earlier in the season due to Covid, the Gulls would be without recently recalled Brendan Guhle and Lukas Dostal but also welcomed Danny O’Regan coming back the other direction.

Larose drew back in to take Guhles spot while Olle Eriksson Ek was given the start with Jeff Glass backing him up. O’Regan centered the third line but all other lines stayed the same while Jack Badini was taken back out of the line-up to make room.

First Period:

Tuscon lead with a heavy forecheck, allowing the Gulls no time or space to get set or work themselves into a rhythm as the Road Runners forced them to give up possession with tight gap control and by constantly finishing their checks.

It took the Gulls first line to break through and generate some scoring chances in the Tucson zone, Jacob Perreault getting things started with some shifty moves to find space in the slot and firing a shot on his backhand that was stopped. BO Groulx recovered the puck behind the net and sent it back to Larsson who fired a shot through traffic that was also stopped but Alex Limoges was there to deposit the rebound. 1-0 Gulls.

Tucson went right back to their heavy forecheck – gradually wearing the Gulls down and getting a game-tying goal via an uncharacteristic turnover from the top line in their zone. Erikkson Ek had no chance on a perfect top-of-net low angle wrist shot after the puck squirted free in the slot. 1-1 tie game.

The Roadrunners had the better of play for the rest of the period despite a successful Gulls penalty kill during that span and San Diego headed to the first intermission tied up at one but behind in shots 11-7 and needing to find a response to the Tucson physical game.

Second Period: San Diego Gulls 1 – Tucson Roadrunners 1

The Gulls must have received a tongue lashing in between periods because they came out a different team to start the second. Generating chances with much more ease and forcing the Roadrunners back on their heels as the ice started to open up.

After killing a penalty drawn by Jacob Perreault as he showed yet more talent and skill in the Tucson zone, the Roadrunners went right back to their physical play but this time the Gulls responded in kind. Alex Limoges drew the ire of the Tucson bench as he leveled a player in front of it and somehow was given the lone penalty despite getting mobbed after the play.

On the penalty kill the Gulls had back to back shorthanded breaks but were caught being too greedy trying to finish on the second of them and a Tucson odd man break that resulted ended in a goal by Hudson Fasching. 2-1 Roadrunners.

Alex Limoges stood up for himself when challenged at center ice moments later and held his own against Cameron Crotty for his first professional fight.

The Gulls responded with some great passing as a nice breakout by Brogan Rafferty and then headman-pass to Brent Gates saw the resurgent forward pull up and find not only a huge seam but a streaking Brayden Tracey on the far wing. His pass allowing the winger to receive in stride, move inside a defender and fire a backhand shot all in one motion to tie things up at two. 2-2 tie game.

Again the physicality picked up and the teams exchanged both pleasantries and penalties, the Gulls coming close to taking the lead during the closing moments of theirs but unable to get the puck to go.

Some bad mistakes in their own zone combined with a goal that Eriksson Ek would probably like to have back meant a wide open Cole Hults was able to fire a shot five-hole to retake the lead 3-2.

The Gulls responded instantly with their top line and the absolutely on-fire Alex Limoges as a hard Tucson shot rimmed itself around the San Diego zone and out to a waiting Jacob Perreault camped out by the red line, spotting the in-stride Limoges he lightly tapped it to him and the scoring winger found himself on a two on one with BO Groulx. Looking off the pass and easily beating Prosvetov high left corner with a deadly shot. 3-3 tie game.

Again the physicality picked up to close out the remaining time in the period, both teams heading to the second intermission tied once again. Shots were even at 21 a piece while the Gulls out shot the Roadrunners on the period 14-10.

Third Period: San Diego Gulls 3 – Tucson Roadrunners 3

It was a sluggish, stop-start beginning to the period and it felt like forever to reach the fifteen minute mark. Again the top line broke through the stalemate to create a chance and in their second consecutive game the Gulls had a goal disallowed which should have counted were the Officials able to review the call after the fact as it was deemed Alix Limoges interfered with the goaltender but on replay showed it was actually the Tucson defender who made contact.

San Diego were awarded a Power Play minutes later as Drew Helleson was dumped into his own net then subsequently saved a goal in the process. This time the Gulls were able to take the lead on a goal that counted as Alex Limoges collected his first professional hat-trick on a nice deflection from a set passing play around and through the Tuscon perimeter.

Tucson pulled their goaltender with just over a minute left to play and although the Gulls had several chances they could not hit the empty net. One last offensive zone face-off for the Roadrunners caused a heart in mouth moment as the puck bounced around Eriksson-Eks crease as he desperately tried to track it but it eventually bounced harmlessly wide just as the final horn sounded. San Diego taking the win 4-3 on the back of Alex Limoges first professional hat-trick.

Post Game Notes:

New A’s

I didn’t notice until this game but with the departure of Kodie Curran it meant a new Assistant Captain had to be assigned. That appears to be Jacob Larsson despite the presence of Danny O’Regan in the line-up. Watch this space.

Perreault On Pace

Perreault is back baby. Riding a five point streak with seven in that span and quickly rising to second on the team in scoring with 32 points in 46 games. He is looking like his old self again and flashing the kind of speed and skill that will be deadly in the NHL. I will hesitate in saying he is ready for the NHL, I don’t believe he is quite ready yet. The biggest issue in his game right now is for want of a better word, immaturity. He still plays up to the Officials (which BJ has no hesitation on calling out on the broadcast) and is at his best when he just focuses on playing his game. He can draw penalties with ease if he just keeps his feet moving and stays on his feet, he needs to learn that he doesn’t need to over emphasize to better his case for a call. Size might be an issue there too I suppose, but he is only 19, playing in the AHL two years ahead of his normal entry age.

Welcome Back Mr March Limoges

Compare this current torrid scoring pace (13 points in his last 9 games – March 5th through March 23) to that of when he first joined the Gulls last season at the conclusion of his final year at Penn State (15 points in 12 games – April 20 through May 15) and you can see an uncanny similarity. Granted it did take him a 11 or so games to get hot, the comparison in late season surges is undeniable. Limoges loves the stretch run.