After winning their third straight and looking like a team not quite ready to give up on a long faded playoff dream, the San Diego Gulls settled in for what would likely be a determined and upset Henderson Silver Knights team.
Coach Sommer went with the exact same line-up as the night before – with no changes whatsoever.
Jacob Perreault was still noted as a healthy scratch meaning he was again still close to returning but possibly not quite ready. Once again Wichers and Profaca were the other healthy scratches.
Gage Alexander was given the start – his fourth straight.
First Period:
Looking determined right from puck drop the Gulls took less than four minutes to open the games scoring via a goal from their newest veteran acquisition, Andrej Sustr. The player the Ducks love to acquire and re-acuire collecting a rebound in the slot and shifting a nice backhand high into the top corner. 1-0 Gulls.
Henderson came back with an immediate response but San Diego weathered the barrage and retook momentum as teams exchanged penalties for much of the remainder of the opening frame.
The Gulls looking dominant to open on the back to back and taking a 1-0 lead and a 14-11 edge in shots into the first intermission.
Second Period: San Diego Gulls 1 – Henderson Silver Knights 0
As expected the visitors came out with a huge push to begin the second and this time San Diego was a step behind in responding as Gage Quinney tied things up just over a minute into action. 1-1 tie game.
From there it was all Silver Knights and Gage Alexander once again was called upon to get his overly large frame behind some high danger chances to keep things even.
The Gulls struggled to retake momentum and started a parade to the penalty box as they struggled to retake possession and control of the game.
With Priskie in the box for holding the Silver Knights top Power Play unit made the Gulls pay via a nice passing play between Gage Quiney and Lukas Cormier. The later sending a shot from the high slot that beat Alexander through traffic. 2-1 Henderson.
San Diego had a great response shift via the trio of Groulx, Gawdin and Kirkland but despite some nice pass-shot deflections and long range shots through traffic – the puck stayed out.
After Michael Del Zotto attempted to ignite a spark in his team by laying a huge hit at the player benches and then doing some subtle pest-work by slapping away the stick of the fallen Froese, he was subsequently engaged by Gemel Smith and as play went to four on four a nice move through the neutral zone by Chase De Leo and even nicer pass through bodies to a streaking Chase Priskie lead to a beautiful tying goal and hopefully the first of many Chase to Chase markers for the Gulls. 2-2 tie game.
The Gulls taking a 2-2 tie into the second intermission after allowing Henderson back into the game. Shots a tight 23-20 lead to Henderson.
Third Period: San Diego Gulls 2 – Henderson Silver Knights 2
Starting the third even, the physical and chippy play that crept into the later stages of the second seemed to take center stage as three straight penalties to Regenda, Del Zotto and the Silver Knights Manninen all went for respective slashing and cross-checking calls in a span of a minute.
Moments later Gemel Smith attempted to continue his mission of vengeance on Michael Del Zotto but could not get past BO Groulx who smartly allowed him to rough him up without responding to get the Gulls even in the box and shortly on the Power Play thereafter.
As the abbreviated man advantage was in its dying seconds and with the Gulls controlling the Henderson zone with some deft pass work around the box – a great pass from BO Groulx allowed Justin Kirkland to skate into open space, making a move around a defender and sending a high backhand over Saville’s shoulder to give the Gulls back the lead. 3-2 Gulls.
Henderson turned up their forecheck and had the Gulls on their heels for stretches but they soon turned things around and were able to get back to their speed transition game – generating chances on Saville as they rolled through all four lines.
There was a scary moment when Drew Helleson looked to be in discomfort after blocking a shot but he did not miss a shift and continued on playing.
The ice started to open up which benefited the Gulls new-found speed game and time wound down on the period and the game as San Diego steadfastly defended the one goal lead.
Michael Del Zotto once again got the party started as he cross-checked a Henderson player that fired a shot on Alexander after the whistle and another full line fracas broke out with multiple players throwing punches through Officials attempting to separate them.
As the dust settled the Gulls were given the Power Play as Brayden Pachal was given the extra minor.
Unable to convert with the man advantage the Gulls wisely used the remaining time to keep the puck as far from their zone as possible and some ferocious forechecking by Josiah Slavin in the dying seconds caused the critical turnover to allow him to hit the empty net. 4-2 Gulls with ten seconds left and an exuberant Pechanga Arena echoing with tumultuous acclaim.
The San Diego Gulls taking their fourth straight win in a 4-2 decision and staying hot in the final months of the season.
Post Game Notes:
Incoming!
Boston College lost their quarter final game today and I was able to catch some of it – a scoreless game that was settled in double overtime. This means the recently acquired Nikita Nesterenko will now sign an ATO and join the Gulls – as promised by Ducks GM Pat Verbeek in a recent Ducks Stream podcast – The Beerker. He provides an instant skill and speed injection to the Gulls but it will be interesting to see where he fits in the lineup or – depending on how he fares – if he can stay in the lineup at all. Jacob Perreault is also due to return any game now which means a Right Wing will need to sit also. Looking at tonight’s lineup I would say Osipov is the odd man out on the right. On the left however; to make room for Nesterenko – it gets a bit more tricky. De Leo, Kirkland, Regenda and Tracey. I cannot see any of those sitting unless Nesterenko outplays the hell out of Tracey. Option C might be taking Kindopp out and putting Nesterenko on his off-wing, either way the Gulls sudden depth is a good thing. Without seeing too much of Nesterenko in action I think a good fit for him would be with Lopina and Regenda – the former being a College player himself and defensively minded while the later allowing the youngster to ease into the game by providing space for him with his big frame.
Standings update
This win now puts the Gulls at 39 points with a 19-39-1 record, now ten points behind Henderson and 17 points behind Tucson for the final playoff spot. The Roadrunners lost to Milwaukee tonight which helps because it was not to an in-division opponent while still keeping them stationary in the standings.
The Gulls magic number is 60 but is due to be updated with this win and they have not been mathematically eliminated from the playoffs according to the AHL.coms playoff primer. Like I said after the post game recap for yesterdays game – it is still possible, it is just going to take this win streak to continue and some teams to start falling down the standings.
Can we keep them?
This is a familiar feeling that occurs every year post Trade Deadline. The Ducks acquire some players for the Gulls who actually help the team and in the following year those players are never seen again. I know it is foolish of me to wish it but I just for once would like to see them try to retain and bring back a lot of these players next season. They are quite obviously helping the team and they went out to get them in the first place so why not keep them? I do also realise that it will be a very crowded roster next season with a huge influx of talent coming from Junior and College but there is always a need for veteran players on a team and particularly in the AHL. I am specifically referring to Josiah Slavin and Chase Priskie. In terms of current Gulls who may soon depart I really hope they can keep Nik Brouillard as well. I know it seems like I’m trying to have my cake and eat it too what with how good the Gulls should be next year but I don’t think they should have to completely overhaul the roster once again for the third time in three seasons.
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