San Diego, California. Entering December at a slow simmer the San Diego Gulls looked to extend their four game point streak as well as possibly starting another win streak as they welcomed the San Jose Barracuda into Pechanaga Arena.
With Sam Colangelo being returned earlier in the week the lines were reshuffled for the first time in four games. The Gulls also welcomed back Carson Meyer from injury which saw both Jaxsen Wiebe and the recently demoted to the fourth line Coulson Pitre as the two forwards left on the bench to make room. Pavol Regenda officially took Pitre’s top on the top line while Colangelo drew in on the second line in Sasha Pastujovs spot. The Gaucher line was kept in tact – leaving Pastujov to shift down to a new look high powered fourth line featuring he, Mysak and Meyer.
All other injuries remained the same; consisting of Dillon Heatherington and Travis Howe among the walking wounded. Rodwin Dionicio sat out his seventh straight game as a healthy scratch along with Jaxen Wiebe and Coulson Pitre.
Calle Clang got the start with Oscar Dansk backing up.
First Period:
Things were somewhat slow to start but quickly ramped up as the lack of love lost between the two still developing squads bled over to multiple post whistle scrums.
The ice started to open up as we neared the halfway point during a four on four sequence after Pavol Regenda and Ethan Cardwell were given matching minors for roughing.
As play returned to five on five you got the sense the Barracuda had turned the tide and although Calle Clang looked sharp, they were doing a great job of drawing him out of position to create scoring opportunities. Only some lucky bounces kept the game scoreless as we approached just over nine minutes remaining in the period.
Sam Colangelo took it upon himself to shift things back in the Gulls favor and as his hard work carried over to the other lines that replaced him, a nice keep and backhand pass along the boards by Jan Mysak saw Yegor Sidorov able to skate off the boards and into the right circle with space, looking off a passing option before wiring a laser into a top corner that Yaroslav Askarov was likely amazed even existed.
San Jose came back with a push and the hitting picked up yet another notch but the Gulls held firm to take the 1-0 lead to the first intermission despite the 12-7 shot advantage to the visitors. The shot map showing the Barracuda owning the possession and high danger chances stakes. With San Diego needing to clean up more in front of their own net.
Second Period: San Diego Gulls 1 – San Jose Barracuda
A tripping call to San Jose’s Ethan Cardwell saw the Gulls man advantage take to the ice for the first time this game and featured both Sam Colangelo and Carson Meyer to great effect as the Gulls held the San Jose zone and put Askarov under the microscope for the next two minutes.
Unable to convert despite some nice looks the Gulls carried over momentum to five on five – sending wave after wave of attack into the Barracuda zone. Yegor Sidorov was clearly feeling himself on one shift as he followed up a nice stick handling move into the slot with a Michigan attempt soon after.
With San Diego continuing to buzz it felt like only a matter of time and that time came when Tristan Luneau collected a loose puck at the blue line, adjusted his shooting angle and wired a shot top corner for his first AHL goal. 2-0 Gulls.
A tripping call to Tristan Luneau had potential to derail the overflowing Gulls momentum but instead saw them create back to back two on one rushes. The second of which was lead by Jan Mysak who must have heard me screaming to look off the pass as he did just that and wired a perfect shot over Askarovs shoulder. 3-0 Gulls shorthanded.
The good times kept rolling as San Diego’s non stop onslaught led to another tally – a Yegor Sidorov shot from the point getting deflected twice on its way past Askarov with Nathan Gaucher getting the final touch in front of the net. 4-0 Gulls.
The Barracuda were finally able to stem the flow as their energy line spent an extended amount of time in the Gulls zone, able to tire out the third line and then place a shot that beat Clang through traffic. 4-1 Gulls.
San Diego taking a 4-1 lead to the second intermission after playing perhaps their best second period all season. Shots were 19-10 Gulls over the middle frame and saw San Diego take the lead in shots overall 26-22. The shot map telling the tale.
Third Period: San Diego Gulls 4 – San Jose Barracuda 1
As expected the visitors made a huge push to start the third, drawing Pavol Regenda into a tripping call just twenty two seconds into the action.
Again the Gulls killed the minor but continued to see an increase in chances in their zone as play returned to five on five, the San Diego defense committed to clearing out traffic in front of Clang to preserve their lead.
San Jose quickly took the lead in shots as they spent the next five minutes holding the Gulls zone and peppering Clang with the puck as time passed the midway point of the period.
Nikita Nesterenko halted the San Jose barrage in the Gulls zone by creating his own breakaway, his breakaway chance stopped but the follow up from his line-mates saw San Diego hold the Barracuda zone for a further two shifts.
Frustrations started to boil over on the part of the visitors as Lucas Carlsson laid the body on Nico Myatovic at the red-line without the Gulls first year forward having possession of the puck. As San Diego put out their new look top unit they had a few dangerous looks but could not create much in close with the Barracuda clearing the front of their crease.
Another concerted effort by the Barracuda in the Gulls zone saw them get another to bring them within two as an Ethan Cardwell shot bounced around the San Diego crease before deflecting by Clang to make it 4-2 Gulls with 2:43 left.
The Barracuda pulled Askarov on the face-off immediately after the goal to set up an exciting finish but the Gulls held their ground and Sam Colangelo was able to seal the win with an empty net goal in the final ten seconds of play.
The Gulls downing the second best team in the division to continue their point streak and climb yet further in the standings.
Post Game Notes:
Here… We… Go
The win gives the San Diego 19 points and moves them above the Condors into 8th place on points – but not points percentage. It also brings them to within four games of .500. They now sit three points below the Roadrunners for the final playoff spot and this hot-streak is perfectly timed as they head to Tucson next for a two game week-day tilt. If they can keep this up the Gulls could emerge from the desert two games below .500 and firmly within the pack of the middle of the division.
Quick Stats Update
Not surprisingly Yegor Sidorov now co-leads the team in scoring with 17 points – tied with the still-absent Jansen Harkins and newly returned Sam Colangelo. Sidorov is quickly climbing to a point per game pace and has collected 9 points in his last four including back to back 3 point efforts.
Colangelo still leads the team in goals with 10 but Sidorov is now threatening with 8. Once Pastujov catches fire again – look out.
Jan Mysak now leads the team in short handed tally’s with two.
Speaking of Mysak – he now has five points through 32 games since coming across from Laval. Jacob Perreault meanwhile had two points 19 games with the Rocket before being dealt to the Oilers/Condors this season. He has one goal through two games with Bakersfield thus far.
Meanwhile In Anaheim P2
San Diego received Sam Colangelo back due to Fabbri returning from injury in Anaheim and with the recent trade of long-time Duck Cam Fowler it appears we won’t be seeing Drew Helleson anytime soon. The Coloardo second round selection will now stay in Anaheim as a spare defender or possibly get rotated in and out with Olen Zellweger who played on his off side the last game. Like I said – that is totally fine as the Gulls aren’t exactly hurting for defensive help right now…
The Tea On Dionicio
The mystery as to whether or not we ever see Rodwin Dionicio back in a game this season has reached its eighth game. His last game was Novemeber the 22nd against the Firebirds.
On that note – I have received word that during that game there was an altercation on the Gulls bench possibly following that “stick dropping” incident that could also be another reason why Dionicio has not been seen since. The question is – are the Ducks now looking to move the promising young defender or will the other player involved in the incident be moved? Only time will tell and it will make the upcoming trade deadline that much more interesting. Watch this space.
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