The Bakersfield Condors celebrate a 6-1 victory over the the Gulls. Credit San Diego Gulls.
Riding high from the five game losing game streak snapping overtime win over the division leading Coachella Valley Firebirds the San Diego Gulls headed straight to Bakersfield to take on the Condors.
Lukas Dostal and Olle Eriksson Ek swapped places to allow Eriksson Ek the start in the back to back while no other changes were made to the line-up including the forward lines. Nik Brouillard and Axel Andersson were split up with Brouillard placed with Austin Strand and Andersson with the newcomer Wichers.
The San Diego Gulls started strong – scoring the first goal for just the sixteenth time this season as Nik Brouillard followed up a loose puck, swung in behind the Condors net and sent a nice feed out front to an unmarked Dmitry Osipov. The Russian converted forward blasting a low one-time shot by Olivier Rodrigue. 1-0 Gulls.
The Condors hit right back. Tying things up mere seconds later and punishing the Gulls for some incredibly poor man to man defense as Michael Kesselring was given too much time and space to wire a shot through traffic by Eriksson Ek. 1-1 tie game.
Play continued on interspersed with some physical play and a confrontation between Osipov and McKegg before the Condors sleek and formulated zone cycle attack secured them the lead via a point shot through traffic as a tired BO Groulx and Brayden Tracey flailed desperately. 2-1 Condors.
San Diego seemed to tighten their defense up after the goal although whenever they allowed Bakersfield to begin and maintain their cycle game it always seemed like a 50/50 chance that they would either get a clear or the puck would end up in their net.
Time wound down on the period as a tripping penalty to Austin Strand expired and the Gulls headed to the first intermission down by one and behind in shots 13-6 having killed two penalties on the period.
I tweeted that depending on which team showed up for the rest of the game – the Gulls still had a chance of winning this but as the Condors took advantage of a stick-less Brayden Tracey and failed clear by Axel Andersson within the first two minutes of action, well….
3-1 Condors.
San Diego actually had the better of play for much of the rest of the period by a small margin and were starting to mount some good momentum when a Condors clearance that got behind the Gulls defence left Olle Eriksson Ek in the tough spot of needing to come out to play it with two Bakersfield players bearing down on him. The Swedish netminder gambled on making a pass up ice to his team-mates but lost as his pass was blocked and slid into the empty net by Justin Bailey. 4-1 Condors.
San Diego followed the debilitating goal with some great play in the Bakersfield zone as well as a Power Play that continued through to yet more sustained possession and chances where the Gulls did everything right but score.
However – once again – a partial break by the Condors ended up in their own net as Jame Hamblin went in alone on Eriksson Ek and made a forehand to backhand move to beat him five-hole. 5-1 Condors.
San Diego out-shooting the Condors 12-10 on the period but surrendering three goals on seemingly every break that went against them.
I didnt really watch much of the third given the result was a foregone conclusion but the Gulls gave up another goal on another partial break/defensive breakdown. 6-1 Condors.
San Diego valiantly continued on with previous efforts to add to their lone goal tally but ultimately ended the contest in what looked like a 6-1 drubbing but was actually closer than that in terms of possession and competitive stakes.
Well…
The Gulls actually played a fairly OK game – they just didn’t get the stops they needed whenever the play went against them. This is not me calling out Eriksson Ek – I am just happy he finally got to play a game – but the goals scored against the run of play were the main reason for the loss tonight. They started out so well and that weird sequence on the Condors immediate response shift in which literally nobody picked up a man really did cost them.
De Leo in next game?
One has to think Chase De Leo will finally be back when the Gulls hit the ice next back at Pechanga on Tuesday for a three game home-stand. Here is hoping his additional speed, leadership and veteran presence helps some what – that said, BO Groulx might be missing given he missed the second and third period with what is likely an upper body injury.
Who will be back next year?
As much as I loathe year to year turnover – it is absolutely a given that this time will look completely different next season. How different? Well as opposed to last season when there were multiple players on expiring deals – this time it is due to the huge influx of talent finally finishing their Junior/College careers and starting their professional ones. On expiring RFA deals are:
Back next year are:
Joining them next year will be:
A lot of those players likely make the Ducks out of camp (I am thinking Zellweger and Mintyukov depending on how much room there is on the blue-line next season) but not all of them and it means the Gulls will finally see some play-driving talent and a much needed injection of competition for spots.
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