2023-2024 Game 23: San Diego Gulls vs Henderson Silver Knights

Riding high on a multi game winning streak the Gulls hoped to keep things going against their nearest division rival.

With the recent recall of both Kyle Crnkovic and Luca Profaca from Tulsa – Coach McIlvane opted to insert Crnkovic on the bottom line with Blake McLaughlin announced as week to week with an upper body injury.

While Profaca remained in the press box as a fall back in case any of the defense-men went down with injury due to the Robert Hagg recall.

Thomas Suchanek was given the start in net sporting a brand new Gulls themed mask.

First Period:

Henderson had the majority of the chances on the period as time sped by on the opening frame.

The Gulls looking like a more than slightly rusty outfit unfamiliar with the added pressure in addition to the significant shrinking of time and space from their pacific division foe.

San Diego’s best chances coming in the final minutes of the frame – from who else – but the Gaucher line. Only tempered by a Gaucher penalty in the final three seconds for tripping on a play in which it was clearly shown on the replay that the Quebec native was attempting to play a bouncing puck that by unfortunate coincidence was also bouncing near a back-skating Sheldon Rempal. A fact that even the rival Silver Knights announcer felt was an unfair call.

The Gulls skating to an even scoreless draw through the first twenty minutes but lagging in shots 15-6, the shot map showing complete and utter dominance by the Silver Knights.

Second Period: San Diego Gulls 0 – Henderson Silver Knights 0

Starting the period on the penalty kill the Gulls erased the minor and quickly flipped the script, forcing the Silver Knights into taking back to back penalties on some great play from Judd Caulfield and Kyle Crnkovic respectively.

The Silver Knights were able to kill the minors but some bad luck in the San Diego zone during some four on four play led to the Silver Knights opening the scoring as Jacob Perreault broke his stick on an attempted clear and despite the Gulls still being able to recover from the gaff, some sloppy play behind their net lead to the visitors executing on the play. 1-0 Silver Knights.

The Gulls threw everything they could at the visitors for the remainder of the period as they desperately clawed for not only a game tying goal but the goal that would set of the chain reaction of teddy bears cascading down on upon the Pechanga Arena ice.

Sadly they could not reach that target in time before the period expired and they headed to the second intermission down 1-0 and trailing in shots 23-19. The shot map showing a tale of two cities as the Gulls were the better of the two on the period but were unjustly punished for a bad luck play.

Third Period: Henderson Silver Knights 1 – San Diego Gulls 0

It took just 25 seconds for Brayden Tracey to accomplish what the Pechanga faithful had been waiting for as he finished off a rebound from a turnover caused by Judd Caulfield down low. The former University of North Dakota forward cornering and knocking down Gregori Denisenko then immediately feeding Nathan Gaucher who then quickly one-timed it to Tracey in front. 1-1 tie game and a seemingly never ending shower of fluffy wonder.

San Diego ran both possession and subsequently the majority of chances for the next few minutes but as time approached the midway point the Silver Knights turned the tide and when Olen Zellweger was called for tripping in the neutral zone the visitors put the Gulls on the ropes for the entirety of the two minute infraction, eventually breaking through to retake the lead while earning another Power Play in the process as Denisenko was tripped trying to drive the net earlier in the sequence. 2-1 Silver Knights.

San Diego pressed for the tying goal for the remainder of the period but could not generate a quality chance against the outstanding Isaiah Saville and when they did create remotely within range of his net, he was there to make the stop.

The Gulls pulled Suchanek with a minute and change to spare and managed to hold possession of the puck while trying to force some chances in the Silver Knights zone but a dagger in the coffin came in the final few seconds of the play as the visitors hit the empty net to make it 3-1 and take the win.

Post Game Notes:

Home Agroan

Why can’t the Gulls win at home? Why?? They were looking absolutely unstoppable against all of their central division foes on their most recent mid-west swing. Why has Pechanga suddenly become an accursed arena this season?

Kris Kringle AKA Kyle Crnkovic

Santa arrived just in time to take up his spot on the fourth line – something I feel he should have earned from training camp. With McLaughlin out the Crnkovic recall has given the undrafted free agent signing his chance to prove his worth at the AHL level and I think he looked great in his first action with the Gulls. His forecheck was relentless (drawing a call), his play was stable and mistake-free (all you ask of for a fourth liner) and he showed signs of contributing on offense – something I am sure he will be able to do once given more time and opportunity. It throws an interesting conundrum at Coach McIlvane because even though the Gulls now seem to be beset by injuries, up north the Ducks are soon to be almost back at full strength as both Trevor Zegras and Jamie Drysdale return from long term injuries….

Incoming?

That should mean two if not three players make their way to the Gulls. We know Robert Hagg will be one but who among the forwards could be sent down? The only Ducks on the roster right now that are waiver exempt are Leo Carlsson and Mason McTavish for the forwards – no chance either of them are sent down; and on defense – Jackson LaCombe or Pavel Mintyukov. Things are going to get very interesting for Pat Verbeek in the coming weeks – especially when Isac Lundestrom eventually also returns. I smell some trades on the horizon.