2022-2023 Game 69: San Diego Gulls vs Calgary Wranglers

Playing their fourth to last game of the season and looking to rebound from a disappointing loss earlier in the week the San Diego Gulls welcomed in the league leading Calgary Wranglers.

Playing in just his second professional game Judd Caulfield – whose rights were acquired from Pittsburgh for Thimo Nickl last week – was placed on a heavy line with Glen Gawdin and Justin Kirkland while the top trio of Chase De Leo, BO Groulx and Dylan Sikura were kept intact. Josiah Slavin found himself on the fourth line with the youngster Hvidston and Osipov. Despite Axel Andersson appearing in the “pick a scorer” competition he was not listed in the line-up. Calle Clang was given his second AHL start.

First Period:

Starting the game off with their second line it didn’t take long for the Wranglers to generate a grade A scoring changes off a two on one passing play at the back door but Clang was equal to the task.

The Gulls responded with their top line and looked to be doing well keeping up pressure in the offensive zone when AHL TV went down.

Listening in on audio for the next five minutes it seemed the Gulls held the better of momentum and possession with the Pechanga arena urging them on. Jacob Perreault intercepted the puck in the Calgary zone and attempted to create a play but drew a penalty in the process – sending the Gulls to their first Power Play of the night.

As AHL TV returned to is rightful function of providing both visual and audio medium for the action. The Gulls Power Play remained scorching hot as a Chase De Leo collected a loose puck down low after a fanned Chase Priskie one-timer and skated behind the net. Jinking and jiving to lose his defender he swung the puck out in front as he fell and Glen Gawdin banged it home for the early 1-0 lead. Gulls up 1-0.

Teams exchanged Power Plays for the next few minutes as the momentum shifted back and forth with minimal to no stoppages.

The Gulls second unit looking very good with Jacob Perreualt in particular making some stand out plays – but frustratingly not looking to shoot when he perhaps should have

San Diego had one more Power Play to close out the period but brief appearances by both units could not convert and the Gulls headed to the first intermission up by one over the league leaders and almost even in shots 12-11.

Second Period: San Diego Gulls 1 – Calgary Wranglers 0

As expected the Wranglers came out of the gate with urgency, piling on four shots within the first minute and half of play.

A weird unsportsmanlike call against Calgary briefly halted their seemingly unstoppable momentum until a shorthanded breakaway after Dylan Sikura could not control a puck near the boards lead to a Ben Jones game tying goal as he beat Calle Clang high to the glove side. 1-1 tie game

The visitors were able to kill the rest of the minor while still generating further shorthanded chances but San Diego came back with their top line and had Calgary on their heels for their entire shift, utilising some good give and go area passes but unable to have the puck settle at the right moment for a clear chance.

Teams exchanged penalties once again with some questionable calls going both ways but this time it would be the Gulls that would take advantage of the larger ice surface – executing on the back of a perfect counter attack while skating at four on four. With Dylan Sikura leading the rush into the zone he slowed up and passed back to Helleson who one-touched it to Del Zotto on the left side who then held to draw in defenders then fired it across to Sikura for the easy slam into the Calgary net. 2-1 Gulls.

The Gulls retook momentum after the goal and created rush after rush – sometimes seemingly out of nowhere as on one such opportunity a quick breakout pass found a streaking Josh Lopina and Pavol Regenda. Lopina making a beautiful pass to set up Regenda who could not settle the puck in time to get the shot away.

As would be the case and as is the Gulls lot this season – despite their great play the Wranglers would tie it back up against the grain as a seemingly harmless point shot beat Clang with minimal traffic in front. A goal he would probably like back. 2-2 tie game with a minute and change left in the frame.

Calgary made a final push for the last minute but the Gulls withstood the pressure as Calle Clang calmly deflected or gloved any and all of their chances. San Diego taking a 2-2 tie in an inspired effort to the second intermission while trailing in shots 25-20.

Third Period: San Diego Gulls 2 – Calgary Wranglers 2

A scary moment shook the Pechanga faithful to start the period as Pavol Regenda emerged from a Calgary double team at center ice and immediately slumped forward unresponsive. It was shown on replay that the force of the hit from the player coming from the right side violently slammed his head into the left-side players shoulder. Regenda was eventually able to get up and off the ice under his own strength but that is likely a definite concussion.

Jacob Perreault jumped to his defense and dropped the gloves in a brave effort and valiant display of team toughness but drew an instigator to send the Gulls to the PK. San Diego killed the minor with ease but saw more penalty trouble minutes later as Chase Priskie got caught puck watching instead of taking the body on a Calgary rush forcing Judd Caulfield to take a slashing call on the back-check to prevent a scoring chance.

The Gulls once again killed the minor without issue and as time flew by on the period the intensity picked up another few notches until play started to resemble the controlled chaos of late 80s hockey.

With San Diego again looking mostly in control a weak defensive play by Niklas Brouillard saw Matthew Phillips strip the puck from him and all in one motion fire it on net and beat a surprised Calle Clang for the 3-2 Calgary lead with just over three minutes remaining.

The Gulls pulled Clang and continued to press while the Wranglers sent back to back shots from their own zone at the empty net – missing wide each time.

BO Groulx had perhaps the best chance to tie it but his shot sailed high over the cage off of a brilliant set up from Chase De Leo and the Gulls skated to a 4-2 loss as the Wranglers finally iced it in the final seconds.

Another loss but a somewhat good one – given the bottom of the league Gulls looked every bit the better team for much of the game against the top tier Wranglers.

Post Game Notes:

The kids are alright

My first look at Judd Caulfield and I am impressed. Well, he is much better than I expected he would be. For one he seems to have slotted right in and seemingly suits exactly the kind of game the Gulls are trying to emulate going forward. For the other he is a heck of a lot faster than I expected from what I read of reports of his foot speed. He appears to love driving the lane and on more than one opportunity found himself receiving the pass with purpose as he bowled down the center lane, drawing a call on one of those instances.

Connor Hvidston also quietly showed some more flashes – with one standout moment late in the second period as he split the Wranglers defense at their blue line to create a chance on a rush. The kid has some spunk and if he is trying stuff like that at only 18 – I can’t wait to see what he is like when he is ready to arrive full time (which won’t be until the 2024-2025 season).

Perrault is back baby… kind of

Jacob Perreault looked great tonight. He looked the best that he has all season playing on a line with Pavol Regenda and Josh Lopina but he also…. needs to be more selfish. Yes I said that. I am sure I have had this gripe with him already this season but he needs to shoot the puck more. There were two glaring examples of it tonight. I missed the first because AHL TV was down – but through radio it did sound like he missed a prime opportunity to shoot. On the other – he didn’t make the wrong play in the end – rather he patiently circled the net and looked for an open team-mate, but in the moment at the beginning of that sequence, when he had more time and space than he has had all season and was perfectly position in the high slot with speed and traffic in front – fucking shoot the puck Jacob.

Regenda concussion concerns

That was a scary moment to start the third. I don’t think I have ever seen anything like that before – as Regenda dropped his stick and slumped motionless to lay face-down at the Calgary blue line. It seemed like a double team body sandwich – upper body injury not unlike something Trevor Zegras has been experiencing a lot of lately with the Ducks but upon replay you could definitely see Regendas head experience sudden force that caused it to slam into the other Calgary players shoulder during the collision. I would not be surprised if it is announced (or not at all given how injury news is reported in the AHL) that he is out for the remaining games left. Here is hoping it is not a major concussion but it was definitely a head injury of that I have no doubt.