2023-2024 Game 52: San Diego Gulls vs Bakersfield Condors

Starting a mammoth six game home stand after dropping their last seven straight games the Gulls hoped to turn around their misfortunes at Pechanga and put an end to their losing slide.

With Colton White announced as joining the quickly growing list of injuries on the blue line – Anthony Costantini was recalled and drew in, paired with Nick Wolff. Luca Profaca played his second game since recall on a pairing with Trevor Carrick. Blake McLaughlin drew in after being recalled from Tulsa.

Tomas Suchanek was given the start with Calle Clang backing up.

Colton White, Drew Helleson and Judd Caulfield remained with Jaxsen Wiebe on the injury list. Travis Howe was the only healthy scratch with Alex Stalock on emergency recall to the Ducks.

First Period:

Contrary to previous home starts the Gulls came out strong and played a clinical, clean and crisp passing game. Holding possession while only having the odd slight wobble in their own zone.

Ben King started the scoring when he was able to get a stick on Robert Haggs already partially deflected one-timer. 1-0 Gulls.

Bakersfield attempted a response and had the Gulls close to breaking but Suchanek stayed strong between the pipes to keep things at 1-0 until a Power Play awarded to San Diego allowed Glenn Gawdin to make it 2-0 as he too got a stick to a point shot – this time from Trevor Carrick. 2-0 Gulls.

Once again Bakersfield attempted a response and this time made it count as danger man Raphael Lavoie was allowed too much time and space on a partial break to wire a shot that beat Suchanek clean. Tyson Hinds had been caught behind the play as he pinched on an offensive chance. 2-1 Gulls.

Scoring on the period wasn’t done though as Trevor Carrick chased down a loose puck and all-in-one-motion collected and fired it on net from near the goal line. The severe angle chance fooling Bakersfield goaltender Olivier Rodrigue in the dying seconds of the period. 3-1 Gulls.

San Diego heading to the first intermission up by 3-1 while simultaneously leading in shots 13-11.

Second Period: San Diego Gulls 3 – Bakersfield Condors 1

Knowing that the visitors would come with a push to start the middle frame the Gulls were still unprepared as their possession game was quickly put in tatters by a ferocious Condors forecheck.

Tomas Suchanek did all that he could but goals to Drake Caggiula in the first six minutes of the frame and a buzzer beater from Seth Griffith saw Bakersfield tie things up to send both teams to the final period with a clean slate. 3-3 tie game.

Bakersfield outshooting San Diego 13-9 on the period to take the overall shot-total to 24-22.

Third Period: San Diego Gulls 3 – Bakersfield Condors 3

It was a matter of win the period, win the game and you could sense that the Gulls were more focused to begin the final frame.

Playing a more open rush style – they appeared to be turning the tide of the game by beating the Condors wide with their speed.

Sasha Pastujov – elevated to the second line in recognition of this strong play stood out as his speed both with and without the puck caused the Condors headaches in their own zone.

But it would be Ben King who proved the hero as he beat a defender wide, squeezing by him on the wall before cruising in toward the net, swinging around the net and tucking in the puck on the far side for the perfect wrap around play. 4-3 Gulls.

Bakersfield pulled their goaltender with just under two minutes remaining but the effort proved fruitless as Pavol Regenda and Josh Lopina combined to disrupt the Condors attack before sending the puck on net to ice this one. 5-3 Gulls.

Post Game Notes:

King Don’t Miss

Ben King’s second goal was a pure goal scorers goal and a perfect example of why the Ducks drafted him as an overage in the fourth round of the 2022 draft. His elevation in the line-up might be just the thing he needs to realise his potential.

Sasha’s Time

Sasha Pastujov was promoted to the second line mid game due to some very strong play and it was much deserved. He played one of the best games I have seen in his young pro career. His defensive game has come ahead leaps and bounds and it feels like this was the turning point for the Ducks to pull the trigger on dealing Perreault. Pastujov is in the exact same mold as Perreault in terms of being a pure sniper but it appears the Ducks have also been to mold him into the kind of two-way player that they tried but could not get Perreault to be.