San Jose, California. After escaping the desert with a split the San Diego Gulls headed north to face a very much improved Barracuda squad that currently sat second in the division. Two Gulls did not make the trip as they were recalled to Anaheim to cover for injuries – Jansen Harkins and Drew Helleson were rewarded with time with the big club, prompting a recall of Andrew Lucas from Tulsa.
With Harkins in Anaheim – Coach McIlvane elevated Josh Lopina to second line center which in turn saw Gaucher promoted to third line center and Jan Mysak moving back into his natural position pivoting the fourth line. Thankfully Carson Meyer returned from his brief one game absence. Andrew Lucas was paired with Tristan Luneau on a potentially very potent second pairing.
Calle Clang was given the start as the current incumbent number one with Oscar Dansk backing up.
Dillon Heatherington was still listed as out with injury while Travis Howe was the lone healthy scratch.
First Period:
The pace was frantic to start but the Gulls kept a very good structure in their zone only allowing the one point blank chance in front through the first seven minutes.
Judd Caulfield drew an interference call as he attempted a chip and chase to himself in the neutral zone but was impeded on the play to give the Gulls the first Power Play of the game. On the offensive zone draw Yegor Sidorov was tripped and a five on three for a minute and forty seconds offered a tantalizing start for the San Diego attack.
Once again the somewhat length two man advantage went begging and as compared to opposing five on three power plays that the Gulls have faced – appeared to lack any real ….. plan. It did quickly see them overtake the lead in shots and as play returned to five on five Pavol Regenda was tripped coming through the neutral zone to give San Diego their third straight Power Play.
Again the Power Play was erased and looked very shaky at first owing to some very aggressive Barracuda penalty killing but once the Gulls were able to settle things down they got set and created some more chances – just not able to thread the needle; shooting when they should have passed and passing when they should have shot.
The Power Play run continued as Nikita Nesterenko was tripped attempting a spinorama in the neutral zone but again the Gulls were denied with the man advantage.
The final horn for the period sounding with San Diego firmly in the drivers seat despite not cracking Yaroslav Askarov as they out-shot the Barracuda 20-7. The shot map skewing the outlook somewhat given the Gulls had four Power Plays on the period.
Second Period: San Diego Gulls 0 – San Jose Barracuda 0
It was the Barracudas turn to see time with the man advantage as Rodwin Dionicio was called for hooking three minutes into the middle frame – but the Gulls penalty kill was on their game, breaking up zone entries and turning play in the other direction when they saw opportunity to.
With play returning to five on five the time began to flow by quickly much like it did in the first as both teams battled to break the scoreless tie.
San Diego were awarded their fifth Power Play of the night when Nikita Nesterenko was high sticked by the Barracuda benches and as the first unit settled in the San Jose zone a selection of chances lead to an open lane across the Barracuda penalty killing box to feed Sam Colangelo for the one-timer on the left side. His shot initially stopped by squeaking by Askarov to make it 1-0 Gulls.
Nico Myatovic drew another call on the very next shift and the Gulls went right back to the Power Play. Keeping the pressure on they continued to press but this time Askarov kept all attempts out. San DIego kept momentum rolling and were relentless on the attack as time approached seven minutes left in the middle period.
San Diegos momentum was halted when Nikita Nesterenko was called for interference on a call that could have gone either way and the Barracuda tied things up after Carson Meyer lost an edge in the San Jose zone then saw the Barracuda fire an expertly placed dump-in elude the Gulls defence. 1-1 tie game.
Sensing blood in the water the baby Sharks pushed the zone and were given another Power Play as Noah Warren was called for tripping on a call that looked like a regulation hit. This time the Gulls were able to kill the minor without issue and finished the period in the San Jose zone and picking up the hitting.
The Gulls heading to the second intermission tied up in a undeserved 1-1 tie after vastly outplaying their opponents to the tune of a total of 36-15 shots through two periods with a 16-8 just through the second frame. The shot map showing proof of their strong play.
Third Period: San Diego Gulls 1 – San Jose Barracuda 1
The make-up calls continued as Sam Colangelo was called for holding within the first minute of the period. The Gulls killed the minor and once again time began to fly by as play returned to five on five.
The Barracuda had most definitely picked up their play following the man advantage as Calle Clang started to see chance after chance that slowly increased in danger level.
Sensing the momentum shift Nikita Nesterenko took it upon himself to take it back as he created his own breakaway off of a face-off win in the Gulls zone. Drawing a call on the play the San Diego man advantage was again stone-walled by Askarov but allowed them to regain some more possession and as play returned to five on five the intensity picked up as you got the sense that the next goal was the winner.
The Gulls thought they had the winner when Rodwin Dionicio was able to fire in a loose puck into a crowded but mostly empty net as the Barracuda players – including Askarov who had left the net as they thought the puck had gone out of play but the whistle had not blown.
On the very next shift a clearly frustrate Nathan Gaucher was given a tripping penalty and because we can never have nice things the Barracuda took the lead on the resulting Power Play. Thomas Bordeleau sending a low point shot that beat Clang five-hole before he could get set. 2-1 Barracuda.
With six minutes left to tie things back up the Barracuda made sure the Gulls had another challenge in doing so as Yegor Sidorov was called for tripping.
Just as it seemed the Barracuda might wind down the period with everything in their favor Rodwin Dionicio made a nice move at the San Jose blue line to go in and create a partial break to feed Carson Meyer at the backdoor. Meyer was stopped but Dionicio drew a call on the rush to create an exciting finish.
The fifty seconds of four on four play did not see a huge chance by either side but as the Gulls pulled their net-minder and had Yegor Sidorov join them from the box they got set in the San Jose zone and tried to get the puck in close on Askarov. Try being the word as the Barracuda set up a wall and time expired before the Gulls could get a decent chance in front. The Gulls going down 2-1 in an incredibly unfair and undeserved result.
Post Game Notes:
Fourth Line Instant Improvement
If you hadn’t seen my last few games post game notes Ill catch you up – essentially I painted the picture to show that Travis Howe isn’t really helping the team right now and the fourth line is a liability whenever they are out there. I won’t say that my words have been conveyed to the powers that be – more likely he was kept out of tonight’s game due to the lack of “tough guys” on the Barracuda (Although Scott Sabourin would disagree) – either way, the fourth line was so much more improved tonight.
Watch For The Tip
The Gulls very clearly need to work on their five on three Power Play as they have had two lengthy two man advantages somewhat easily countered over the last two weeks but I do like what Kris Sparre is doing with the standard five on four. There is one set play that was tried twice in this game and when it finally works – could be a nice go-to easy-money goal. If you watched the game you will know what I am talking about but I won’t say anything more about it here.
It Has Been A While
I can’t actually remember how long it has been or when was the last time I felt so upset after a loss but this feeling is something I remember used to happen a bit in the Gulls first couple of seasons. They thoroughly deserved at least a point tonight and no doubt in my mind they should have won it. The whistle had not blown, the Barracuda should not have quit on the play. Play to the whistle. It is the oldest rule in hockey and one all players know since pee wee. If the game had been played in San Diego I doubt they overturn that call on the Dionicio goal. Home town (and crowd) advantage. Standard AHL officiating.
2024-2025 Game 12: San Diego Gulls at Tucson Roadrunners
Tucson, Arizona. After yet another disappointing last few minute loss the San Diego Gulls …