2023-2024 Game 11: San Diego Gulls vs Colorado Eagles

After an embarrassing 8-3 loss to Calgary to run their losing skid to eight, the San Diego Gulls hoped their fortunes would turn on the back to back as they faced the visiting Eagles for Military Appreciation Night – the first time they had seen them since their former coach Greg Cronin took over as Head Coach of the Ducks.

Coach McIlvane sent his first message of the season, scratching Drew Helleson, Tyson Hinds and Jacob Perreault while Brayden Tracey was revealed to have suffered an injury in the previous game.

Calle Clang was given the start in net.

First Period:

Starting the period physical – San Diego instantly got the Pechanga faithful behind them as they punished the Eagles at every opportunity whilst subsequently owning the majority of possession for the first five to six minutes.

Colorado veteran Keaton Middleton sought to halt the Gulls momentum by challenging Travis Howe to drop the gloves and the taller Middleton got the edge in the quick but furious bout.

Feeding off of the battle the Eagles took back possession and controlled the San Diego zone before sending a long wrist shot from the point that beat Clang. 1-0 Eagles.

Moments later a penalty to Pavol Regenda for tripping gave Colorado the first Power Play of the game and as you would expect – they converted, creating space in the San Diego zone before wiring a high and hard wrist shot that beat Clang glove side. 2-0 Eagles.

It took until the final two minutes of play for San Diego to mount any semblance of pressure in the Colorado zone – as the Agozzino line carried on from the Pastujov-Gaucher line gaining an offensive zone face-off.

The first period coming to a close with at least the Gulls showing some sign of life and able to bring the shot total to a better-on-paper 12-11 Eagles advantage. The shot map showing that at least the Gulls had corrected their issues in front of the net – but that now they needed to pressure the point shots also.

Second Period: Colorado Eagles 2 – San Diego Gulls 0

Starting the second as they started the first – in an almost exact mirror image – the Gulls controlled possession and much of the run of play as they once again punished the Eagles physically at any and every opportunity.

Colorado – much like they did last season and the years before – continued to suffocate the Gulls as soon as they entered their zone, frustrating them and boring me endlessly while simultaneously making me question several life choices including why I bother watching their games.

With eight minutes left in the period the Gulls finally broke through as Ben King won a battle down low and quickly sent the puck out front to Nikita Nesterenko who made no mistake. 2-1 Eagles.

Pavol Regenda had his token one-on-one opportunity for the game as he was sent in by a nice area-pass from Judd Caulfield but was denied.

In the dying seconds of the period – the aforementioned Regenda broke up a chance as he separated the puck from Eagles forward Sam Malinkski in the midst of a nice spin-o-rama move then received a stick to the face for his troubles.

The Gulls seeing out the period on a brief fifteen second man advantage that carried over to the third as they headed into the second intermission down by one and even in shots on the frame 9-9. The shot map showing the game starting to open up somewhat given the additional chances in-front for both sides.

Third Period: Colorado Eagles 2 – San Diego Gulls 1

Unable to do much with the man advantage to start the third the Gulls got another chance when Robert Hagg was tripped coming through the neutral zone.

It took the final minute of this second man advantage for the Gulls to finally get some offensive pressure on the Eagles but again shots remained to the perimeter with little high danger chances generated.

Olen Zellweger showed a rare loss of cool as he went after Oskar Olausson for shoving him after the whistle and a scrum ended with four on four hockey.

Just like it felt the Gulls might actually be able to tie things up the Eagles took back the two goal lead as a shot from the wing hit the post then the back off Clangs pad before squeaking across the goal line. 3-1 Eagles.

Nikita Nesterenko once again showed he was not ready to give up as he drew an interference call on his own and this time the Gulls were able to keep the puck in the Eagles zone for almost the entire two minutes before Josh Lopina buried a rebound with less than thirty seconds left on the minor. 3-2 Eagles.

Once again – San Diego teased a potential tie game but the Eagles took it away as a Ben King delayed high sticking call lead the Eagles to send the no-risk soft area pass ahead and the subsequent breakaway turned into a 4-2 lead.

The Gulls pulled Clang after the goal but the Eagles outnumbered them in the neutral zone and made it 5-2.

San Diego taking their ninth straight loss.

Post Game Notes:

Well At Least That Was Better?

If not for that fight – I would have liked to have seen how this game might have turned out. Keeping it at least relatively close and teasing a tie multiple times was at least a positive? I get that McIlvane needed to send the message but I wonder what kind of difference Perreault, Hinds and Helleson might have made. The fourth line didn’t see the ice for what seemed like the second half of the third period – its a conundrum in that the Gulls have too much depth on defense but not enough at forward. Hell maybe just go nuts and try Zellweger at forward for a game? Why not – nothing else is working.

One Week Left Of Luneau

Tristan Luneau is in San Diego on a conditioning loan – he is not eligible to play for the Gulls this season on a permanent basis as he is one year under-age (see my handy article I have linked there to understand why). On a conditioning loan he is only allowed to be assigned for 14 days – so from Nov 4th when he was assigned – he would be due to return on the 18th. So he likely only has one game left – this week against Charlotte before heading back up on Friday.

Go Off King

Ben King has quietly shown a lot of poise and ability – particularly with winning puck battles down low and it was very noticeable in this game as he fed Nesterenko not once but twice for a high danger chance in front. Coach McIlvane has been switching up the lines in his desperate search to snap the losing skid and I believe he should keep these two together – the chemistry is instant and they complement each-other well.