2022-2023 Game 16: San Diego Gulls vs Grand Rapids Griffins

After a game of ups and downs that ended in a heart-breaking final few minutes – the San Diego Gulls hoped to bounce back buoyed by the news that Drew Helleson had been returned from the Ducks and Evan Weinger recalled from Tulsa after Justin Kirkland suffered an injury the night before.

Weinger drew straight into the line-up in place of Kirkland, leaving McLaughlin as a healthy scratch while Logan Nijhoff was sent to Tulsa. The T-P (for my bunghole) line remained intact while Drew took Kirklands spot on the top line. Weigner came in on the second line, dropping Lopina back to the fourth line. Helleson was paired with Brouillard rather than his usual Profaca. Dostal got the start.

First Period:

Once again it wasn’t a great start for the Gulls as the Griffins got on the board early – again via the Power Play – as Evan Weinger was in the box for holding. 1-0 Griffins.

San Diego responded with the T-P line and Brent Gates Jr had a huge opportunity in front after a set-up from Jacob Perreault but sent the puck high and wide.

The Gulls were given a Power Play opportunity when Josh Lopina was tripped but could not convert despite some good looks from both units. Just as it seemed only the Tracey-Perreault line would be able to get any scoring going Hunter Drew spotted an open Glen Gawdin and fired a pass up ice to him. The former Stockton Heat veteran going in alone to beat the Griffins net-minder five-hole. 1-1 tie game.

The Gulls kept pressing, coming close on a chance for Osipov as a broken stick in-front of the Griffins net caused the puck to bounce fortuitously toward him, but he missed high and wide.

The tables seemed to be finally turning for the Gulls as a boarding call went their way – when Josh Healey was sent hard face-first into the boards. Starting with the second unit the Gulls took seconds to convert as Jacob Perreault cycled back to Olli Juolevi who then spotted and sent it to Brayden Tracey in space on the left side. The Ducks former first round selection sending a perfect shot high into the top corner of the Grand Rapids net. 2-1 Gulls.

San Diego had to endure another penalty kill as well as a follow-up ferocious push from Grand Rapids to close out the remaining time in the period but were able to get to the first intermission with the 2-1 lead and the 13-10 higher margin in shots.

Second Period: San Diego Gulls 2 – Grand Rapids Griffins 1

It appeared like it might have been another bad start to a period for the Gulls as Taro Hirose found a hole behind the Gulls defense for a partial break but Dostal stood tall to prevent the chance.

Minutes later Glen Gawdin continued his perfect night when he weaved through traffic from the neutral zone and into the Grand Rapids zone before wiring a shot that beat the Griffins goaltender. 3-1 Gulls.

San Diego kept up the attack. Generating chances via both the top line and the T-P line while the fourth and second line made appearances with some physical play to keep momentum going.

Evan Weinger made a good case for staying in the lineup as he drew a call via a nice drive to the net to send the Gulls back to the Power Play.

Once again the second unit started the man advantage and remained on for the entire two minutes as they kept the Griffins hemmed in their zone, but could not take advantage of the bedraggled penalty kill unit.

Time flew by on the period even as both teams continued to exchange further penalties but the score remained 3-1. Axel Andersson made a very nice drive that one would be forgiven for thinking he was Rocco Grimladi as he zipped in and out of traffic then made a nice forehand to backhand move that was stopped. Some good flashes from the talented Swedish defender.

The Gulls took their 3-1 lead and further increased their shot advantage to 23-15 into the second intermission – looking very much like a polished and well-oiled team in control.

Third Period: San Diego Gulls 3 – Grand Rapids Griffins 1

It felt a little like the Gulls made a conservative start to the third and allowed the Griffins to come at them, but thankfully the visitors were content with making mistakes and allowing San Diego to retake the gifted momentum via some nice work from the top line and Rocco Grimaldi.

The physical play picked up but the Gulls kept their cool and time started to seep by on the period.

A brilliant hard working shift from Bryce Kindopp and Brent Gates Jr ended in a well deserved goal as the two fought to win pucks back down low and attempted in-close chances on net before Drew Helleson collected a pass and skated in from the point to take advantage of the fray in front to score his second of the year. 4-1 Gulls.

The consistently bad officiating at the AHL level made its weekly appearance as Nik Brouillard was given an interference call then given a shot to the head by a Griffins player after the whistle but was the only one sent to the box. Then some back-talking from the San Diego bench resulted in an extra minor to make it a full five on three for two minutes.

The Gulls dug deep and killed the two man advantage with Olli Juolevi and Drew Helleson spending the entire two minutes on the ice – including a Griffins time-out. Then as Drew and Brouillard exited the box some more scuffles broke out.

As play returned after the break at four on four, the Griffins also strangely pulled their goaltender for the extra attacker with seven minutes remaining. It didn’t take San Diego long to punish the overly optimistic choice as Rocco Grimaldi intercepted a pass, made his way back up ice and sent a feed to Glen Gawdin slipping behind the defense. Hat-Trick. 5-1 Gulls.

Grand Rapids appeared to give up after that and just as it felt like the scuffles would quickly turn to full fledged fights – one of those players familiar with dropping the gloves made a nice drive down the right side and wired a perfect shot top corner for his first of the season. Dmrity Osipov, that’s why I call you the Russian Hunter Drew. 6-1 Gulls.

Grand Rapids did finally try to make some sort of physical exclamation point in the final few minutes of play with some rough and underhanded play on Jacob Perreault but the young Ducks first rounder appeared to be unharmed as the the Gulls celebrated the deserved dominating victory.

Post Game Notes:

Fix the penalty kill, save the world

As much as it was a lot of terrible play from the Gulls to start in yesterdays match – they really were let down by their usually stingy penalty kill. Tonight they not only managed to stay out of the box (by their own frequent flyer standards) but only allowed the one Power Play goal. The corresponding increased amount of time spent at five on five also did wonders for building momentum and further chemistry across all four lines. There were some moments that were cause for concern, particularly how passive the penalty kill box was in some instances – not at all like the aggressive and effective pressure we have seen from it in the past, but overall much much better.

New blood

I was surprised when Evan Weinger was sent to Tulsa to start the season and even more surprised its taken this long to recall him given how poorly the Gulls have been to start. Sommer seems to be one of those old school coaches that rewards blue-collar play over skill or play-driving ability and despite Weinger being “one of his guys” – opted to go with Nijhoff. Now Nijhoff has been sent to Tulsa in a straight swap and I can’t see Weinger going back. He was much more effective at driving play tonight. What that means for Blake McLaughlin – who has been a healthy scratch for two games now – remains to be seen. The current forward mix is too strong to break into, Osipov demonstrated tonight that he brings a lot more than just his fists to the table and I can see him solidifying a fourth line spot moving forward.

Flash! Aaaaaahhhh Saviour Of Our Offense

Tonight’s scoring outburst from Gawdin is the kind of weapon I had expected the Ducks had acquired by signing him in the off-season but much like the Gulls in general, he has been frustratingly inconsistent. He had five points in three games to start the year then went quiet in-between call-ups, contributing just one point in six games before exploding for three goals tonight. Last year he went through similar ups and downs with Stockton, starting the year hot then going cold for a six game stretch. Here is hoping he stays hot after this effort – if both he and the T-P line can catch fire at the same time….

Healey hurt?

Josh Healey left during action and did not return, which I am presuming was a failed concussion test after he was boarded by Cedric Lacroix. How long he is out for is hard to guess at – it didn’t look like he was physically bent out of shape in the hit but his head did hit the boards/glass pretty hard. Concussions are no joke but it also depends on the severity of it. Either Hilderman comes back in the next game or potentially the Ducks send down Nathan Beaulieu who has been superseded by the stellar play of Austin Strand.