2021-2022 Game 63: San Diego Gulls vs Abbotsford Canucks

Looking to salvage some dignity from a very one-sided season series the Gulls returned home from Henderson to face Abbotsford having earned a point on the road.

Brayden Tracey was given the night off and made way for Blake McLaughlin to come back into the line-up in his place while Josh Lopina was elevated to the second line spot previously held by Danny O’Regan the night before as Coach Bouchard continued his center auditions for the BO Groulx injury replacement. Olle Eriksson Ek was given the start on the back to back.

First Period:

The Gulls started strong, icing the Lopina-Limoges-Perreault trio and they caused the Canucks concerns right from puck drop. Lopina pressuring and intercepting a pass to feed Limoges who just missed wide and the follow up from Jacob Perreault drew a call as he was tripped attempting to get to the loose puck.

Eriksson Ek meanwhile had a horrendous start, as the Gulls had successfully generated several chances but were able to hold the puck – a Canucks clearance saw him coming out to play the puck only to miscue on it and watch in horror as Abbotsford pounced on the mistake. 1-0 Canucks.

Both teams continued to trade penalties through the first half of the period, with the Gulls looking threatening on their penalty kill and then Blake McLaughlin earned a call with some nice hustle in the Abbotsford zone to give the Gulls their second man advantage of the night.

San Diego enjoyed the majority of the possession and chances for the remainder of the period including another Power Play their third of the night drawn in the final minute of first frame.

It was with that man advantage the Gulls finally struck – able to establish the zone after a face-off win they once again played the patience game – wearing down the Canucks and preventing clearances before finally opening up some lanes and space. With Nik Brouillard handing off the puck and swapping places with Lucas Elvenes before opening himself up at the right half wall for a one timer that he slammed home at the very last second of the period. It took a review to determine whether it had crossed the line before time expired but was eventually deemed legal. 1-1 tie game.

The Gulls making good after a rocky start from their goaltender and heading to the first intermission looking easily the better team. Shots were 12-5 for the Gulls after twenty.

Second Period: San Diego Gulls 1 – Abbotsford Canucks 1

The Gulls picked up right where they left off from the first period, owning possession and pressuring the Canucks net as they rolled through their offense to start the start the second.

Blake McLaughlin would then be rewarded for some strong play with his first professional goal as he drove the net and received a nifty pass from Buddy Robinson, one-timing a quick low wrist shot that fooled the Canucks goaltender Michael DiPietro. 2-1 Gulls.

Right off the re-start the Gulls struck again as a nice pass from Lucas Elvenes found Greg Printz with space down low and the former Providence College Captain showed some great poise, drawing in the Canucks defenders before deftly feeding Greg Pateryn who wasted no time beating DiPietro to make it 3-1.

Abbotsford came back with a push and controlled play for much of the next ten or so minutes before Jacob Perreault brought the crowd onto their feet with his second professional fight, dropping the gloves with Jack Rathbone after he took exception to receiving a cross check in the face from him.

With just under five minutes left in the period Buddy Robinson took a stick up high and the Gulls went to their fourth Power Play of the night.

Struggling to get set as the Canucks set up human barbed wire fence at the blue line it took a rush and nice passing play between Alex Limoges, Danny O’Regan and finally to Lucas Elvenes – this time on the receiving end of the play as he was set-up by the veteran center for the easy tally. 4-1 Gulls.

A penalty to Josh Lopina saw some anxious moments including some very strange decisions from Eriksson Ek as he dived and flailed in the dying seconds of the frame but the Gulls escaped the minor and the final push from the Canucks. San Diego taking a 4-1 lead to the second intermission and more than comfortably ahead in shots 23-12.

Third Period: San Diego Gulls 4 – Abbotsford Canucks 1

Starting the period with the most dangerous lead in hockey the Canucks caught the Gulls sleeping as the former Reign Sheldon Rempal struck on the Power Play just over two minutes into the period after Jacob Larsson was called for interference. 4-2 Gulls.

Then as the Gulls were on a Power Play of their own but looked entirely like they were the team down a man as they lazily and carelessly played hot potato with the puck under the Canucks spirited forecheck. Olle Eriksson Ek looked less than amatuer as a seemingly harmless wrist shot that he would normally have squared up and saved with ease got by him under his stick and through the five-hole to make it 4-3 all of a sudden. Lukas Dostal was then brought in to try and stem the tide.

The McLaughlin-Robinson-Gates line continued to take the play to the Canucks and the other lines followed suit with the Gulls seemingly taking back control for the next ten minutes before Greg Printz drew a call after laying a thunderous hit and then receiving some retaliation behind the play with seven minutes left.

Despite some good looks including a prime chance for Hunter Drew on a two on one break, the Canucks survived the kill and started to play more desperate with just over four minutes remaining. Hunter Drew was found guilty of a delay of game penalty with three minutes and twenty seconds remaining to make things that much more interesting as the Canucks continued to press.

San Diego killed the minor but Abbotsford continued to fight and with their goaltender pulled in the final minute the Canucks tied it up via slap-shot that beat Dostal through traffic when the Gulls failed to clear after momentarily gaining possession down-low.

The cursed three goal lead officially evaporated and off to the extra session.

Starting the three on three session without possession the Gulls managed to get it back but a confusing play by Trevor Carrick to allow his man to skate into space with speed led to him being forced to take a tripping penalty. Lukas Dostal did his best to keep his team from the loss – making well-time dives and breaking up passes himself but in the end the Canucks extra man proved too much as the Gulls could not track down a rebound before it was pounced on. Abbotsford taking the win.

Post Game Notes:

Goaltending? Coaching?

I watched this one delayed and my apologies for missing a lot of action lately – I have been dealing with family matters. Giving up a three goal lead is bad in itself but when I saw the score and that the Gulls had surrendered the lead, I wasn’t massively surprised. Or more perhaps I was numb to it. It has been far too common an occurrence this year. Consistent efforts have been a problem but I wouldn’t place this game in that category. This was on Eriksson Ek. He had an absolute stinker. I feel for the guy because it is tough to play well when you hardly get to play at all and it has become increasingly evident he has lost the trust of his coaches in a vicious Catch-22 situation. He is in the final year of his three year entry deal and has not shown much to warrant an extension nor any kind of raise. The recent acquisition of Calle Clang from the Penguins in the Rakell deal could spell the potential end for Eriksson Ek. Either way I think he needs to go back to Tulsa to get some more consistent playing time and his confidence back.

Oh There You Are Blake

My apologies for any potentially negative words spoken of Mr Blake McLaughlin on twitter recently, I was only attempting to understand why he played his first two professional games but then was subsequently scratched for the next few before finally drawing in for this game in the place of Brayden Tracey. This was my first look at him as a Gull and I liked what I saw. He has some nice hands and vision, once he finds a line that he develops some good chemistry with I am sure he will start to elevate his game to the next level. It is pretty clear he does not want to sit again but that also means some difficult decisions for Bouchard on the left side. You obviously cant scratch the red-hot Limoges, nor the fan-favorite and heavy-playing Printz. The only other option aside from Tracey is dropping Brouillard back to defense. Nathan LaRose has looked OK but could be better, so there is a solution there but at the same time – Simon Benoit will be joining San Diego after the Ducks final game April 30th. While one has to hope Axel Andersson will soon be returning from whatever is ailing him as well as Brendan Guhle. It is going to be very tough to get a spot in the line-up all of a sudden.

Lookout Lopina

Every time I see this kid he has gotten better and seems to get more confident as the game progresses. He is now a permanent fixture on the penalty kill but is also being asked to step into the shoes of the injured BO Groulx as the Gulls number one center in just his ninth professional game. I need to get onto writing the 2021 entry draft update ASAP because it has been a banner year for seemingly all of the Ducks selections with Lopina being the first to have already arrived. He looked great on the line with Limoges and Perreault tonight, forcing turnovers (what he does best) and helping to win battles in the opposing teams zone (what Groulx tend to excel at). If Groulx does finally get a permanent spot with the Ducks next year, I think it is pretty clear who the Gulls next top center is.