Dropping their last four games while slowly returning players from injury and with the playoffs a very distant and very unattainable goal the San Diego Gulls welcomed in the Condors for their second to last match-up of the season.
Lopina moved back to pivot the fourth line with Mysak moved to the wing and Anthony Costantini was given a rare appearance with Colton White out injured and Nick Wolff assigned a night off.
Calle Clang was given the start as per the usual Wu Tang Wednesday schedule with Tomas Suchanek backing up.
Colton White was the only player being listed as out injured. Nick Wolff, Brayden Tracey, Alex Stalock and Travis Howe were the healthy scratches.
First Period:
San Diego struck early via a Robert Hagg floater just over two minutes into action. The veteran defender notching his third of the year.
Bakersfield took control from there – goading the Gulls into opening the game up by tempting them with space through the neutral zone.
Two back to back odd-man rushes later and the Condors had tied it. Cameron Wright finishing a passing play low in the San Diego zone. 1-1 tie game.
Then with just under three minutes left tough guy Greg McKegg finished off a rebound after Raphael Lavoie was allowed to skate around three different Gulls untouched. 2-1 Condors lead.
Bakersfield taking a 2-1 lead to the first intermission with shots even at nine.
Second Period: Bakersfield Condors 2 – San Diego Gulls 1
San Diego tried to come with a push to start the second – led by some physical play from Pavol Regenda but Bakersfield were able to counter and soon shifted momentum their way.
Some inspired shifts from the Gaucher line and the Lopina line – specifically Jaxsen Wiebe who drew a holding penalty in the Condors zone to give San Diego there first man advantage of the period.
The first unit were able to get set but were uninspiring with their puck control and ability to create chances before being swiftly replaced by the second unit. The second set of five more able to get the puck around the Condors box and after having Sam Gagner break his stick – create yet more space to set up Sasha Pastujov. 2-2 tie game.
Further penalties followed as the bitter dislike between these two teams boiled to the surface and a not so rare anymore four on three Power Play saw the Gulls helpless to stop a Raphael Lavoie one-timer from the left side. 3-2 Condors.
The bad blood continued as Jaxsen Wiebe dropped the gloves with Hoefenmayer in response to the Condors mistreatment of Nikita Nesterenko on a previous post whistle scrum. The spirited tussle saw the Condor attempt a superman punch to start the fight before Wiebe got the upper hand to land successive overhand rights.
The penalties continued – as the Gulls saw out the final two minutes of the period a man short with Nathan Gaucher in the box for hooking.
San Diego once again down by a goal going into the intermission but outshout 9-6 on the frame with shots 18-15 overall.
Third Period: Bakersfield Condors 3 – San Diego Gulls 2
The third went by with sporadic back and forth play, the clock winding by at pace as San Diego soon began to run out of time to find a game tying goal despite owning much of the run of play.
The Gulls best chance coming on a two on zero break that saw Condors goaltender Olivier Rodrigue make the save of the year as he reached across at the last second to deny Trevor Carrick with the paddle of his stick.
San Diego pulled Clang with a minute left but could not generate the necessary equalizer and dropped their fifth straight near the tail end of another dismal season.
Post Game Notes:
Wiebe, Costantini Given A Look
It was somewhat interesting to see the names Brayden Tracey and Nick Wolff among the healthy scratches and even more interesting to hear Anthony Costantinis name called during sequences featuring the second Power Play unit. It does make sense – he has offensive instincts from the blue line and did not look out of place on the unit. While Jaxsen Wiebe was a spark plug with unlimited energy – creating havoc in the offensive zone either by throwing his weight around, or having the audacity to skate the puck through multiple opposing players before handing it off to a team-mate.
I would say both players earned their ice-time and it both gives hope and asks questions for next season. Hope that the next squad will be even more competitive but questions as to whether or not some players from this season are brought back or not.
Standings Update
Ten games left and the Pacific Division playoff spots are all but locked in. 18 points separate San Diego and Abbotsford for the final playoff spot. It’s play for pride now.
Development Positives
Several players stood out in this game as taking significant strides in development. For starters it was great to see Judd Caulfield back to 100% after returning from injury. Of all of the Ducks prospects I would not sleep on this kid. He has deceptive speed and he is not afraid to stick handle is way through anybody or physically lay-out would be puck possessors in his way. He is going to surprise and turn a lot of heads at training camp next year. Anthony Costantini showed some great vision with some of his passing, he was responsible for the head-man pass that lead to the two on zero break that should have been the game tying goal but for Rodrigues amazing save. Tyson Hinds has been so consistently down low in the offensive zone you sometimes have to check if his number isn’t 27, the kid is fearless and doing everything he can while improving everyday – he will be a force next season. Then there is Nesterenko – the guy we got for John Klinberg’s temporary contract at the deadline last season, a guy Minnesota supposedly could not or would not sign. This kid is going places, his puck poise, puck protection and vision is going to look so good when reunited with this old BC line-mate Cutter Gauthier, that is – if the Ducks make room for him on their roster next season.
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