2023-2024 Game 71: San Diego Gulls at Coachella Valley Firebirds

NOTE: This recap was written by Jason “JD” Hernandez host of Locked On Anaheim Ducks

After a pair of tough losses in Colorado, the San Diego Gulls returned home for Fan Appreciation Night against the top team in the Pacific Division, the Coachella Valley Firebirds.

With everybody available, and no injuries listed on the scratches, Matt McIlvane had the opportunity to mix up some of the lines. Judd Caulfield returned to action on the top line with Glenn Gawdin and Chase De Leo. Nico Myatovic joined the Nathan Gaucher line with Sasha Pastujov. Meanwhile, Colton White returned from injury and joined Tyson Hinds in the second pairing.

Alex Stalock got the start in what may have been his last game, definitely has final game of the season.

First Period:

The Gulls were buzzing early in this game against a Firebirds team that rested a few of their key players since they had already clinched home ice through the Western Conference Final. San Diego took advantage with an extended offensive zone possession early in the frame. Drew Helleson finally fired a wrist shot towards the net, but a juicy rebound found its way to Trevor Carrick who then passed it behind him to Jan Myšák who potted his first goal as a member of the San Diego Gulls just past the blocker of fellow Czech countryman, Ales Stezka. 1-0 Gulls.

San Diego continued their inspired play largely keeping Coachella Valley out of the high-danger area only allowing one good shot from Jani Nyman. Shots were 5-4 in favor of the Gulls when Stalock gathered control of the puck, gave it to Nick Wolff, and then it was the Sasha Pastujov show. Pasta gained control, and took the puck about 100 feet before picking the top corner just over the shoulder of Stezka. 2-0 Gulls and an assist for Stalock his 8th career AHL assist and 12th professional overall.

Even though there were moments when it seemed like Coachella Valley was about to take control of the period, the defense really clamped down on allowing many quality chances. The high-danger chances were kept at a minimum thanks in large part to Andrew Lucas and Drew Helleson who caused havoc for the visiting Firebirds.

The Gulls took a 2-0 advantage into the locker room after 20 minutes in what was one of
their more impressive periods against a quality opponent. Shots were even at 11 apiece.

Second Period: San Diego Gulls 2 – Coachella Valley Firebirds 0

San Diego came out of the tunnel red hot with Andrew Agozzino breaking a Gulls record…

Just 43 seconds into the second frame, Andrew rifled one in off a nifty feed from Drew Helleson with Trevor Carrick getting the secondary assist. With the goal, Andrew Agozzino picked up point #62, a new single-season record for the AHL Gulls. 3-0 Gulls.

For the next few minutes, both teams traded grade-A opportunities, including an absolute robbery from Ales Stezka on Glenn Gawdin. However, the score remained a 3-0 affair, and that’s when the rough stuff began to take place.

First, it was the Firebirds’ Jimmy Schuldt demolishing Pavol Regenda in the neutral zone, which resulted in an interference penalty and a Gulls PP. Then it was Cameron Hughes who got nailed for slashing. Coachella Valley’s exceptional penalty kill was showcased with multiple blocks, timely deflections, and a couple breakaway chances.
Then it turned into “Fight Night at the Grand Old Arena” as Nathan Gaucher leveled Luke Henman, and they each got five minutes for fighting. Mere seconds later, Nick Wolff engaged in some fisticuffs with the Firebirds’ Ian McKinnon in a heavyweight tilt.
Both gentlemen got some solid hits in, and the result was blood on the ice that needed to be attended to by the ice crew.
The fight seemed to give a mental edge to the Firebirds as they scored seconds after the last fight to make it 3-1 Gulls.

However, less than a minute after the CV goal, the Regenda Agenda answered on a 2-on-1 breakaway. 4-1 Gulls.

Before the end of the second period, Brayden Tracey was seen headed to the San Diego locker room after taking an errant Lleyton Roed shot to the face. He did not return to the game.

The Gulls held a big 4-1 lead after two periods. San Diego kept pace with a very good Firebirds teams and out-shot them, 13-9. Overall shots were 24-20 in favor of the home team.

Third Period: San Diego Gulls 4 – Coachella Valley Firebirds 1

Coachella Valley came out on fire after the second intermission and maintained puck possession for much of the start of the third. Finally, it was Jani Nyman who scored off a weird Jacob Melanson rebound off the right pad of Alex Stalock. The defense just watched Nyman go by, and nobody picked up the young Finnish player. 4-2 Gulls

As the period rolled on, word came down that Brayden Tracey wouldn’t return to the game thanks to the errant shot to the face. Also, Nick Wolff wouldn’t return after drawing blood in the big fight the previous frame.

With the Gulls down a couple skaters, the Firebirds took advantage keeping the puck for the next few minutes. In fact, in the first 14 minutes of the period, Coachella Valley outshot the Gulls 13-2.

Right before the final TV timeout, Trevor Carrick lofted the puck over the glass and looked to the heavens because he knew he had just committed a penalty that didn’t need to happen.
On the ensuing PK, Glenn Gawdin got penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct, which gave the Firebirds’ potent Power Play a 5-on-3 opportunity. Just like clockwork, Coachella Valley struck gold on the 2-man advantage thanks to Shane Wright who had just returned after a successful short stint in Seattle. 4-3 Gulls.

San Diego managed to kill the rest of the penalty, and it came down to the final minute. With the Firebirds pulling their goalie, they put multiple shots on Alex Stalock including a Ryan Winterton tip shot that couldn’t be corralled by Stalock. The resulting rebound ricocheted to the corner and the net-mouth scramble knocked Stalock’s stick away.
Then, with 5.9 seconds left, Shane Wright scored on a bank shot while falling down on the goal line. The greasy goal tied the game at 4, and we headed to overtime.

Overtime

Shane Wright nearly scored a hat trick just 34 seconds into the overtime, but Alex Stalock stood strong in net once again. After the Gulls relinquished possession to the neutral zone, Jimmy Schuldt gained speed and passed it off to Marian Studenic who beat Alex Stalock glove side to complete the Firebirds’ comeback and provide a somewhat disappointing ending to Alex Stalocks likely last game of professional hockey.

Post Game Notes:

A Perfect Forty Minutes

For what it’s worth, the Gulls played one of their best 40-minute segments by out-shooting the Firebirds, and largely keeping them out of the high-danger areas.
Defensively, the Gulls did everything right as far as keeping an active stick, and effectively blocking shots. San Diego had multiple shifts with extended O-zone possession, something that has largely been missing this season. However…

Another One-Goal Loss

A horrific third period ultimately cost the Gulls as they allowed 4 consecutive goals in the final 21-plus minutes. Since February 17, the Gulls are 3-6-4 in one-goal games. To be fair, in most of those losses, it was usually San Diego who had to claw back from a big deficit just to make it close or force overtime.

Andrew Lucas Continues To Impress

John has already written about him twice now in post game notes but here is another fans perspective. In his 6 games with San Diego, Lucas has done all the little things to keep the Gulls in games as much as possible. Of note is his ability to either keep pucks in the zone during an O-zone possession, or to poke the puck away from an opponent’s rushing attempt into the zone. Those little deflections can go a long way, especially against a high-octane offense from Coachella Valley.

Home Is NOT Where The Heart Is

The San Diego Gulls completed their home schedule with a final record of 12-18-6, which is last place in the AHL. They just never found their groove at Pechanga Arena again this season and for the second consecutive year, the Gulls will finish with a better road record than home record. Hopefully, this trend will turn around next season and the San Diego faithful can possibly be rewarded with a 2025 playoff berth.

– Jason “JD” Hernandez host of Locked On Anaheim Ducks reporting on behalf of Defend The Nest