2022-2023 Game 7: San Diego Gulls at Abbotsford Canucks

Looking to bounce back from a rough loss the San Diego Gulls hoped to finally get a win in Abbotsford on the second night of a back to back.

Sommer threw the forward lines into a blender while also sitting Jacob Perreault in favor of Brent Gates Jr who I can only assume was slightly dinged up from the previous game (see post game notes for further explanation).

Defensive pairings remained the same and although it was stated Eriksson Ek was given the start a last minute change saw Dostal given the start once again.

First Period:

It felt like it might have been history repeating as once again the Canucks landed the first blow and did so early as Lane Pederson was given time and space to wire a shot by Dostal just under four minutes into action. 1-0 Canucks

But Glen Gawdin opted to change history by firing right back – pouncing on a loose puck and firing a shot from the slot that used a Canucks player as a screen. 1-1 tie game.

Josh Healey got the Gulls in trouble again toward the end of the frame as he was given a five minute major for a check to the head as he lined up and hit Phil Di Giuseppe who at the last moment reached downward for the puck. San Diego looked great to start the kill – with Groulx intercepting and attempting a chance on the net and then later linking up with Grimaldi on another play. The Canucks eventually settled and got a few chances on Dostal before the Gulls managed to kill the time left on the period while also trying to shelter Austin Strand who had broken his stick attempting a clear. Teams headed to the first intermission tied at 1-1 and Abbotsford with a large disparity in shots 13-5.

Second Period: San Diego Gulls 1 – Abbotsford Canucks 1

Starting the middle frame on the penalty kill, the Gulls killed the remaining time in the five minute major with relative ease but would be without Healey for the remainder of the game as it was revealed he also received a misconduct for the late first period hit.

They would go down a man again minutes later when Glen Gawdin was given two for cross checking – which again, the Gulls killed without too much effort.

Playing with fire but also being slightly hard done by on the side of the officiating – the Gulls were again given a penalty when Drew Helleson was called for tripping. This time the Canucks were able to get set and give Dostal some trouble but San Diego managed to escape the minor unscathed.

The compounding effect of allowing the Canucks so many shots via the back to back to back Power Plays meant they would eventually break through and that they did off a one-timer from the face-off that beat Dostal high. 2-1 Canucks.

Meanwhile the Officials looked the other way with regard to potential infractions by the Canucks as Hunter Drew was slashed down in front of the Abbotsford net in plain view of the men in stripes with no call. Earlier in the period BO Groulx had his stick slashed out of his hand, again with no call.

San Diego were finally awarded a Power Play when the Canucks were caught with two many men but were unable to convert as time wound down on the period. Heading to the second intermission down by a goal and still being vastly out-shot 25-14 but only due to being down a man so often.

Third Period: Abbotsford Canucks 2 – San Diego Gulls 1

The Officials might have heard me because they gave the Gulls another Power Play to start the period as Axel Andersson was held trying to move the puck up ice. On the ensuring Gulls man advantage neither unit could really get set but it didn’t matter as Rocco Grimaldi received a pass from Danny O’Regan with speed and broke past the Canucks defense to head in on their net alone, shifting the puck wide and around the sprawling Arturs Silovs to tie things up at 2.

Things opened up with five minutes remaining and Grimaldi was almost gifted potentially the game winner as an errant pass found him in the left circle but his shot was denied. Then the Canucks almost retook the lead on the counter rush but the combination of a lucky bounce and some great athleticism from Dostal kept it tied at two.

A terrible and obvious tripping call to Axel Andersson put the Canucks on the Power Play with just over two minutes remaining but the Gulls survived to head into overtime for the first time this season.

Overtime:

I was excited to see who Sommer would deploy to start the three on three extra session and was not surprised to see Groulx, Grimaldi and Brouillard for the opening face-off.

In an edge of your seat overtime session the Gulls had the better of chances and had their best chance to win it on a two on one that saw Josh Lopina hit the post. In the end the thrilling extra five minutes could find a decider and we headed to a shoot out.

Shootout:

Dostal stopped the Canucks first shooter. While Grimaldi appeared to flub on his chance.

Dostal again came up big with the right pad with his next shooter. Gawdin got a better shot away on his chance but was also stopped.

Dostal stopped his third shooter while Groulx was denied on his chance so we headed to the sudden death shootout.

Dostal made his stop – preventing the speeding Lockwood on his chance while Danny O’Regan proved the hero with a perfect shot to beat Silovs to give the Gulls the win.

Post Game Notes:

Perreault?

As per the Gulls twitter – the Perreault scratch was not deemed as an injury but if I had to guess; I would say it had something to do with that hit he took from Jet Woo near the end of yesterdays game.

Oh there you are Rocco

After being completely invisible in the last game, Grimaldi really pulled through and showed the kind of “take over the game” dominance he should be doing game in and game out if he wants to get that NHL contract with the Ducks.

Well at least we have a leader at something?

With the extra 15 mins in penalties tonight Josh Healey moved into a tie for second overall in the league with the Eagles Andreas Englund. Former Gull Scott Sabourin is tops with 36 minutes through seven games. Yeah not exactly a stat to be celebrating but I’m not discrediting his play either – I have already said it in a previous post game report but the Gulls have been missing a sand paper guy like this for a bit now.