2023-2024 Game 63: San Diego Gulls vs San Jose Barracuda

After a frustrating weekend split in Tucson the San Diego Gulls headed home to try settle a score with a Barracuda team that they could not solve despite their difference in the standings and buoyed by the news of the signing of Sam Colangelo to a PTO after his College season ended this week.

My wonderings of who would draw out of the top six to allow Colangelo to draw in were not quite on the mark as he did indeed draw into the top six – placed on the second line with Regenda and Agozzino in place of Nesterenko; however it would be Brayden Tracey drawing back out as well as the new comer Jan Mysak from the fourth line. Josh Lopina drew back in with Myatovic and Pastujov joining him while Nesterenko joined the Gaucher line in place of Pastujov.

Alex Stalock was given his first start in months with Calle Clang backing up.

Colton White was the only injured player listed. Brayden Tracey, Jan Mysak, Tomas Suchanek, Anthony Costantini, Travis Howe and the newly signed ATO Andrew Lucas were the healthy scratches.

First Period:

Featured in the starting line-up – Colangelo was immediately introduced to the professional game as his line was put under pressure and he ending his first shift on the ice at Pechanga by gaining the red, dumping and changing.

From there it was all Gulls as the Gaucher line lead the way, going back to simple cycle hockey in the San Jose zone for the next ten minutes as San Diego dictated the shots and possession. It was only fitting that Gaucher himself would break the ice as he got a stick on a Nick Wolff blast to make it 1-0 Gulls.

San Jose once again put the Colangelo line under pressure and the continuing momentum saw Nathan Gaucher forced into taking a tripping penalty to prevent a Scott Sabourin chance. Alex Stalock looked shakey to start the game and even more so with the Gulls down a man as he swam in his crease and was beat by a shot from the high slot that was deflected en-route. 1-1 tie game.

San Diego were given a Power Play of their own shortly after the goal as the Barracuda were called for interference, and although the first unit did not convert – the second unit featuring Sam Colangelo on debut in the place of Brayden Tracey – created enough forward momentum to allow the De Leo line to retake the lead via some beautiful rush passing that was finished by Ben King at the side of the net. 2-1 Gulls.

The back and forth contest continued as the Sharks came with an immediate push, keeping the Gulls in their zone and tiring the fourth line as well as the Profaca and Hinds pairing. With less than ten seconds left in the period another Barracuda cycle opened a lane for a pass to the low right slot and a Scott Sabourin one-timer beat Stalock high glove side. 2-2 tie game.

The visitors taking a 2-2 tie into the first intermission despite being out-shot 16-7 with the shot map displaying a vast disparity in quality of goal-tending.

Second Period: San Diego Gulls 2 – San Jose Barracuda 2

It was not a great start to the middle frame for the Gulls as added Barracuda pressure saw them forced to kill back to back penalties to Andrew Agozzino and then Ben King.

Just as it felt as thought the Barracuda had a complete strangle hold on the period a rare foray from the second line saw back to back chances created by some great cycling by Pavol Regenda and Trevor Carrick on the right side. As the puck found its way to the slot area Sam Colangelo wound up to send a shot that was initially blocked but he turned and saw he still had time and space to attempt another and wired a blast that went top left corner. His first professional goal in his first AHL game. 3-2 Gulls.

Minutes later the Barracuda hit back as Nikita Nesterenko saw his stick slashed out of his hands and the visitors score on the resulting turnover. 3-3 tie game.

The visitors once again tying things up at the end of the frame to set up a deciding final period while the Gulls deserved to have the advantage. Shots were 11-7 San Jose on the frame to make it 23-18 San Diego overall.

Third Period: San Diego Gulls 3 – San Jose Barracuda 3

The back and forth jabs continued with the Gulls threatening on the rush in the San Jose zone while the Barracuda countering with a cycle game the other way.

It would be the visitors to break the deadlock as they took their first lead of the game – keeping the Regenda-Agozzino-Colangelo line hemmed in their zone and executing a cycle game that opened up a shooting option on the left side to beat Stalock low. 4-3 San Jose.

The flood gates opened after that as Trevor Carrick intercepted a play in the neutral zone and then finished a beautiful play and pass from Judd Caulfield to tie things up at 4-4.

But the Barracuda hit right back with an odd man break that saw Tyson Hinds lose his man and San Jose take back the lead off a lead pass that was chipped over Stalock. 5-4 San Jose.

Back to back penalties gave the Gulls momentum and on the second opportunity the second unit carried through what the first unit had started as Sam Colangelo did well to get a last minute keep at the blue line and then get set at the left wall, sending misinformation much like Brayden Tracey and sending a pass across the box to Sasha Pasutjov on a very familiar play. Pastujov however did not wire a blast on net but this time sent a shot-pass that the big and patiently waiting frame of Pavol Regenda tapped in. 5-5 tie game.

The shower of scoring finally came to a close as instead the physicality picked up but by then the Officials had decided to stash the whistles and we headed to the extra session locked at five a piece.

Overtime:

Stalock never more locked in as he did in this three on three session and he almost set up the game winning goal had the player on the receiving end of his sudden unexpected snag, skate and hand off pass happened to be someone more fresh than the tired looking Sam Colangelo. The stand out first game forward easily caught as he labored up ice with the puck. None the less – the overtime session went by with a lot of back and forth chances but no goals as we headed to the shoot out.

Alex Stalock was tasked with making the first save and that he did as he denied the handsy Danil Guschchin on his slow one on one entry. Nikita Nesterenko could not answer at the other end with his speed and usually clinical moves as he saw the puck roll off his stick at the last second. Tristen Robbins swung in from the left and faked a shot before appearing to go top shelf but Stalock made sure of it by flashing the glove up and following through with a two pad stack. Ben King then converted as only he can – coming in with good speed and sending a pin point shot high and into the top corner. It was up to the youngster Filip Bystedt to keep the shoot out going but his similar move to Robbins was stopped by Stalock to earn him his first win of the season in potentially his last professional one.

Post Game Notes:

Colangelo Considerations

It was a pretty explosive debut for Colangelo who was given time in the top six with Andrew Agozzino and Pavol Regenda as well a spot on the second Power Play unit in place of Brayden Tracey. My first impressions are that he is not afraid to shoot but that he can also recognize when the pass is the better option on a play as demonstrated during a rush in the first period where he faked a shot and sent a pass back to a more open Agozzino. His goal was an example of his shoot-first game and it was an absolutely perfect shot. It also showed how he can float into scoring areas to become a dangerous option. On the Power Play he played the part of Brayden Tracey with ease – holding that left side and waiting for the right moment to feed a pass across the box to an open Sasha Patujov.

Defensively the professional game seemed to slightly overwhelm him but that is understandable and not exactly his game. His line was trapped out there for that go ahead San Jose goal and looked very lost on the play as the Barracuda cycled the zone. Overall he did not look out of place playing on a line with NHL caliber players and showed great speed and sense but will need a lot of work on his defensive zone game.

New Signings

In addition to the Colangelo PTO the Gulls announced the ATO signing of 25 year old right shot defencemen Andrew Lucas and the Ducks ELCs for Egor Sidorov and Coulson Pitre.

Pitre was another I had not realised can also join the Gulls next season as he will turn 20 in December. He is another two way forward in the vein of Myatovic but smaller and the Ducks were betting on some potential upside when they selected him third round of the 2023 NHL entry draft. He had 55 points in 55 games this year with Flint in the OHL and currently has two points in three playoff games so far.

Sidorov is a goal scoring machine – leading the WHL in game winning goals, tied for third in Power Play goals and fourth for goals overall. He was the first Saskatoon Blades player to hit 50 goals since 95-96. There really isn’t that much else to say about him except he is going to be a welcome addition to a Gulls team that has sometimes struggled in the offensive department over the past few seasons.

Lucas is an interesting signing. With the NCAA wrapping up and coveted undrafted free agents hitting the market I couldn’t immediately see his name listed on any articles as being among those being targeted. A tad on the old side at 25 – he comes in at 6’0″ and 179 lbs but most importantly is a right shot. Completely based on his numbers he appears to have some offense to his game with a career high 24 points in 35 games last season in his Junior year for the University of Connecticut. It is a very off the radar signing but at the same time – the Ducks have shown that they can find and develop defenders and looking at how far the games of Luca Profaca and Anthony Costantini have come this season with the little opportunity they have been given – I am willing to give them the benefit of the doubt.

Fun Fact

The Gulls and Barracuda have combined for 23 goals through three games this season. The Barracuda have allowed the most goals in the league with 237. I have no idea why the Gulls cannot figure out how to play defense against their cycle system but you could see from their battles this season that these two teams won’t be in the basement for too long.