2023-2024 Game 45: San Diego Gulls vs Henderson Silver Knights

Looking to shake off their extremely disappointing loss to the cellar dwelling Barracuda earlier in the week the San Diego Gulls regrouped to face Henderson in a match-up with potential playoff implications.

Taking to the ice in their specialty commemorative Star Wars night jerseys the Gulls iced perhaps one of their better and full strength line-ups to date. Brayden Tracey and Robert Hagg made their return from injury while Jacob Perreault sat out his second straight game as a healthy scratch.

Tomas Suchanek was given the start with Alex Stalock backing up.

Nick Wolff, Jacob Perreault, Luka Profaca and Calle Clang were announced as the healthy scratches with Jaxsen Wiebe the only injury.

First Period:

It felt as though the Silver Knights arrived with a set game plan and through the first few minutes of play had relative success with it as they forced turnovers in the neutral zone then dumped pucks in to goad the Gulls into making mistakes.

Chase De Leo briefly interrupted that sequence with some inspired effort that culminated in the fourth line almost cashing in after keeping the pressure on once the top line changed up.

But Henderson kept at their dump and chase game, keeping the Gulls turned around and unable to get a clean breakout – something they seem to struggle at immensely when playing at home.

With the Silver Knights continuing to stick to their dump and chase game the Gulls began to get impatient and fell right into the Henderson trap as a turnover in the neutral zone led to a two on one break, Gage Quinney wiring a hard wrist shot that beat Suchanek clean. 1-0 Henderson.

It was mostly all Henderson for the remainder of the period but for the odd chance the Gulls were lucky to create if they managed to break through the embargo set up in the neutral zone. Tyson Hinds provided some good pressure in the final two minutes of the period that lead to a Gulls Power Play as Kaedan Korczak sent the puck out on the full but despite the first unit getting some good looks via Glenn Gawdin in the bumper position – the score remained 1-0 as time expired.

Henderson looking the more composed team as they played their strategy to perfection and kept the Gulls at bay while capitalizing on their mistakes. Shots were 10-7 for San Diego after the first set of twenty. The shot map showing the Gulls with some great chances in front but unable to finish.

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

Henderson continued to stifle and frustrate the Gulls for the first ten minutes of the period while also keeping play running with minimal stoppages.

Andrew Agozzino managed to draw a holding call in the Henderson zone to send the Gulls to their second Power Play of the night. But the Silver Knights once again erased the minor – keeping San Diego mostly to the perimeter with some incredibly tight and stingy defense.

The fourth line once again found some good success – as Josh Lopina drew a holding call, getting mobbed by three different Silver Knights as he attempted to drive the puck into the low slot.

Sadly Sasha Pastujov nullified the minor as his follow through on a turn around puck-keep caught Gage Quinney in the mid section.

Play opened up a lot at four on four as the game saw some back and forth action for the first time but the score remained 1-0 as teams headed to the second intermission.

The Gulls needing to have a big third period or go down against a Pacific Division rival they desperately need to steal points from. Shots were 8-6 for the Silver Knights with the overall an almost even 16-15 for San Diego. The shot map showing chances were a lot more balanced but with the Silver Knights gaining more ground.

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

The Gulls started the period initially having to gain control back from the Silver Knights before drawing a call as Nikita Nesterenko was held trying to puck handle his way to the net. On the delayed call Pavol Regenda went down after a stick caught him up high but after talking thins over the Officials deemed it would just be a the one penalty called.

As the penalty was coming to a close Brayden Tracey was called on an incredibly weak tripping call and as the Silver Knights began their man advantage – veteran winger Sheldon Rempal took the initiative to drive the net and blew past some uninspired defense from both Josh Lopina and Drew Helleson before beating Suchanek high on the backhand. 2-0 Henderson.

The Gulls responded right away. Gaining the Silver Knights zone and winning the puck back to Tyson Hinds who let fly a hard shot that was initially stopped then bounced into the net behind Henderson goaltender Jiri Patera. 2-1 Henderson.

San Diego continued to press but were also frustratingly either a hair slow here or didn’t take the time to make the extra move there on chances that could have been a game changing moments.

With just over a minute remaining the Gulls pulled Suchanek for the extra attacker managing to create chances off of two face-offs in the Henderson zone but despite creating opportunities right in the Silver Knights crease – they could not get the bounce to work and the Silver Knights closed things out by ultimately playing the perfect road game.

The Gulls taking another loss and one they desperately needed to put in the win column against a team that could have helped to shift the balance in their playoff race.

Post Game Notes:

Sign Suchanek. Sign Suchanek. I repeat. Sign Suchanek

Tomas Suchanek has been getting a lot of attention lately. Which is usually a good thing for Ducks prospects but not when its this sort of attention. Both of those articles linked – from the Flyers and Devils fan bases respectively provide some sobering reading. They are both correct – given Suchanek is on an AHL deal – he can sign an NHL deal with anyone at anytime. All a desperate team has to do is put an offer his way and he would be suiting up for the Flyers that same night – I say desperate and Flyers in the same sentence because losing one of your best goal-tending prospects to ummm well you know what I mean probably would have them doing anything to fill that void. The Gulls cannot afford to lose Suchanek – he has been by far and away their best goaltender this season and only seems to be getting better with each game. The Ducks may be waiting until after the Trade Deadline to clear out some contracts given they already have both Clang and Alexander for one more year each as well as Stalock for this year. I just hope Suchanek remains patient.

Perreault Performance Issues?

This marks the second straight game Perreault has been scratched since his return from injury. Did they identify some fitness issues in that first game back? Thinking back he did seem a little … behind the play at times, but his skating seemed fine enough. You have to wonder – what better way to get him back into game shape then in playing actual games. By contrast – Pavol Regenda was thrown straight back into the mix when he returned from injury and it took him at least three games to get back to his old self. Will Perreault be given that opportunity? Or with the Trade Deadline quickly approaching – does this spell the beginning of the end of his time with the Ducks club…

Why So Bad At Home?

I will admit I did not watch the last game (but by all accounts it sounded terrible) but watching this one it was hard to see how this Gulls team was made up of the exact same players as the squads I had seen dominate and confidently pass their way around division leading teams like the Wranglers. Why are they like Jekyll and Hyde on the road and at home? Is it the extra anxiety brought on by playing in front of fans? Is it the ice? Is it a combination of both and the average age of this team being perhaps one of the youngest in the league? Either way it is immensely frustrating.

Standings Update

As mentioned – this loss has the added of sting of allowing a team the Gulls are chasing to move another two points ahead at their own expense. The loss now drops San Diego back to two games under .500 while putting the Silver Knights a game above it. The Gulls now have a date with Bakersfield on Tuesday and Ontario on Saturday before heading to Texas to play the Stars in a mid-week back to back. Ideally the Gulls would love to claw back to .500 while gaining ground on those two division rivals currently occupying playoff sports before heading to the lone star state to face the second in the Central Stars. But the way things are going I wouldn’t be too optimistic about it…