Judd Caulfield fights a Barracuda player. Credit San Jose Barracuda.
San Jose California. After dropping six straight the San Diego Gulls were desperate to get back in the win column in an attempt to salvage a season that may already be on the brink of being out of reach as they started the first game of December in San Jose.
Coach McIlvane made not changes to either the forward lines or the defensive pairings from the previous game – opting to possibly finally let the chemistry develop.
Calle Clang got the start – backed up by Oscar Dansk.
All injuries and healthy scratches from the previous game also remained the same – consisting of Dillon Heatherington, Carson Meyer and Travis Howe among the walking wounded and Rodwin Dionicio sitting out his third straight game as a healthy scratch along with Anthony Costantini.
Looking more than a little disjointed to start – it wasn’t quite the opening to December you hope to expect from a Gulls team desperately needing to gain some confidence and create some wins.
As the physical play picked up on both sides a four on four sequence saw the Barracuda strike first as former Gull Andrew Agozzino used the extra space to send the puck into an open area where it was picked up and slipped by a surprised Calle Clang to the side of the net who was not square to the shooter and looked to be expecting a pass across. 1-0 Barracuda.
San Diego’s newfound but still developing defensive awareness saw them tighten up and lay the body on any Barracuda player entering their zone but Tyson Hinds took it one step too far as he was called for holding while impeding the progress of Scott Sabourin along the boards.
Some great work by the penalty killers erased the minor and Sasha Pastujov almost found a game tying goal going back the other way as play returned to five on five – opting to look off the pass and attempted to stick handle Yaroslav Askarov away from the goal line but was stopped.
It was all Gulls for the remainder of the opening frame but it also looked like shades of their recent frustrating showings of all offense no finish.
The Gulls down by one after the first twenty but taking the lead in shots 11-7 thanks to outplaying their opposition for the final half of the period. The shot map portraying an accurate picture of how frustratingly close the Gulls got to producing.
Starting the period on the penalty kill the Gulls again were much improved in denying zone entries then disrupting the Barracuda from getting setup once they did gain their line. As Nathan Gaucher escaped from the box he forced his own breakaway but his shot was stopped.
San Diego continued to dominate play both physically and consequently on the possession side of the puck also but they continued to struggle to find that finishing touch.
As they continued with their hard work they were rewarded with a Power Play after Sasha Pastujov was hit away from the play and without the puck. The first unit did well to hold the Barracuda zone while holding possession on a couple of zone entries but failed to find or create any space to set up a high danger chance. The second unit saw the ice with seconds left in the man advantage and could never really get set.
Just a few minutes after play returned to five on five the Gulls headed right back to the Power Play as Nathan Gaucher drew a hooking call in the neutral zone.
This time the Gulls struck pay dirt as a simple face-off win and get the puck on net play saw them finally in the right position to cash in on a rebound. This time Roland McKeown providing the goods. 1-1 tie game.
An ill-advised penalty to Pavol Regenda that on replay looked like a pretty good dive on the part of the Barracuda’s Thomas Bordelau saw the Gulls go down a man once again but they came away unscathed, with some tense moments towards the end of the final time remaining in the minor.
The physical play continued and a heavy hit by Judd Caulfield near the San Jose bench saw him immediately challenged by Donavan Houle who appeared to have jumped the bench to partake but after the dust settled the Gulls only emerged with the five on four man advantage for the instigator.
San Diego finishing the period on the Power Play but carrying the majority of it over to start the third as they provided the only scoring on the frame while still dominating in both shots and possession. Shots were 14-10 San Diego on the period and 25-17 Gulls overall. The shot map showing the Barracuda still able to see quality looks at Clang but the Gulls finally able to respond on their chances.
It was a conservative start to the third for the Gulls – despite being on the Power Play, they let the Barracuda take the game to them and allowed the home team to kill the remaining time in the minor with ease.
A sense of doom and foreshadowing began to loom as the Gulls continued to allow San Jose to dictate play including chances in their own zone but as time approached and crossed over the midway point they thankfully took momentum back.
With just under six minutes left Tristan Luneau was sent to the box for tripping to create some anxious moments in the final quarter of the period.
The Gulls killed the minor and saw out the remainder of the period with the Barracuda in their own zone but they did escape to overtime and earn the point.
An early slip by Calle Clang almost proved disastrous but the Barracudas quick shot in an attempt to take advantage of his gaff sailed wide. From there the Gulls took control but again could not finish as they quickly ran out of time to find the extra marker and we headed to the shoot out.
In what proved to be an epic that went a total of twelve rounds the Gulls were finally awarded the extra point as Nathan Gaucher proved the hero after Nikita Nesterenko did initially set them up to take it in the initial three rounds but Calle Clang was only just beat by the Barracudas final shooter to force the sudden death rounds. From there it was a confusing list of players chosen to step up as despite being an offensive defensemen – we saw no sign of Tristan Luneau. Here is how it went.
== Extra – Sudden Death Rounds ==
Scoring Drought Up Front
As mentioned on the broadcast – with the call-up of both Sam Colangelo and Jansen Harkins the Gulls have suddenly lost their scoring touch. It is no surprise given Colangelo led them in shots on a game by game basis. In the Gulls last five games since Colangelo’s call-up the Gulls have been outscored 14 to 7 and three of those goals have been from defense-men – two from McKeown. Sasha Pastujov arrived and provided two himself but it is largely apparent that certain forwards need to step up and are not doing so…
MIA Money Men
In recent years whenever you needed a goal or an individual play-driving effort you could generally always count on one Pavol Regenda or Nikita Nesterenko but with the Gulls facing less options for production and the prime opportunity for these proven scorers to step up – they have not. I get Regenda has been out with an illness and likely still getting back in game shape but Nesterenko has no excuse to be far from the game-breaking player he used to be.
Similarly Yegor Sidorov should also be seizing this opportunity to showcase his scoring touch and impress the Ducks development staff.
Down a Coach – Free Dionicio
As mentioned by Derek Lee earlier today – Dave Barr has left the organization in order to take up an assistant coaching role under his friend Guy Boucher in the KHL. Which would explain why player development analyst Bret Hedican was spotted by Gulls fan Danelle Bush behind the Gulls bench in their game before this one. I doubt the organization makes any sort of official announcement of promotion until they weigh up their options but for now I guess Hedican has stepped in to help out.
As noted – Rodwin Dionicio sat out his third straight game as a healthy scratch and you have to wonder if the tough love approach is going on a bit too long. The punishment doesn’t exactly fit the crime in my opinion and I am starting to worry that this kind of treatment could sour a player off the organisation long term.
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