2024-2025 Game 24: San Diego Gulls at Tucson Roadrunners

Tucson, Arizona. Now officially on a hot-streak and riding a five game points streak the San Diego Gulls headed to the desert to take on the team in sole possession of the final playoff spot.

After taking a nasty hit at the opposing teams bench against the Barracuda in his return to action in the game prior, Carson Meyer was ruled out of today’s game with an unspecified injury. Coulson Pitre drew back in and took his spot on the fourth line. All other lines remained the same as did the defensive pairings – meaning Rodwin Dionicio was still AWOL. (See post game notes for more on that)

Carson Meyer rejoined the injury list; which now consisted of himself, Dillon Heatherington and Travis Howe. Rodwin Dionicio sat out his eigth straight game as a healthy scratch along with Jaxen Wiebe and Coulson Pitre.

Oscar Dansk got the start with Calle Clang backing up.

First Period:

Despite a relatively good start the Gulls allowed the ice to open up a tad too soon and lost the trade in odd-man rush chances exchanged early on as Aatu Raty finished a two on one break. 1-0 Roadrunners.

San Diego made some head roads via the third line but every Roadrunners foray into the Gulls zone was an anxious sequence with how Dansk appeared to be adventuring from the crease in the early goings.

Tucson controlled play for the majority of the period but the Gulls also settled down in their own zone, providing a much better man to man system as time progressed while collapsing in front of Dansk.

A brief Gulls Power Play to close out the period shifted momentum slightly but they could not find an equalizer as they entered the first intermission down by a goal. Shots were 11-7 Roadrunners.

Second Period: Tucson Roadrunners 1 – San Diego Gulls 0

The first half of the middle frame flew by with minimal to no stoppages – a two many men penalty to the Gulls was erased then saw them go right to the attack and create their best two chances of the night thus far. Nico Myatovic sprung on a break-away but unable to finish and the follow up pressure in the Tucson zone lead to a Gulls Power Play as Sasha Pastujov was pasted by a hit from behind.

The Gulls threatened with the man advantage but the very steady Mathew Villalta turned every chance aside to kill the minor and as play returned to five on five the physical play began to pick up.

It became increasingly evident who was the more experienced and veteran-laden team as no matter how hard the Gulls tried – they could not find any free space to create with once they muscled the puck into the Roadrunners zone.

Tucson shut everything down and diffused any would-be scoring chances before they could even eventuate. You got the sense the Gulls were beginning to grow frustrated – particularly with the frequent in-tight clutching and grabbing.

Time expired on the period with the Gulls again attempting to mount something in the Tucson zone but having to resort to a last second point shot as the horn sounded. Shots were an all time low 5-3 to Tucson on the period and 16-10 Roadrunners overall. The shot map showing the Roadrunners having the better of the scoring chances on the frame with Nico Myatovic having the Gulls lone opportunity.

Third Period: Tucson Roadrunners 1 – San Diego Gulls 0

A terrible start to the third saw the Roadrunners add to their lead as a Tuscon dump in made the Gulls look lazy as they stood and watched Kailer Yamamoto retrieve the puck and immediately feed his Captain Austin Poganski – Pavol Regenda looking particularly uncommitted as he vaguely waved at the Roadrunners scorer that was his man to check. 2-0 Roadrunners.

The Gulls tried to respond but the Roadrunners continued to slow them down while providing not an inch more space than they had in the game thus far. A high sticking call drawn by Pavol Regenda saw them head to their second Power Play of the game but the deadly San Diego units we had seen in recent past were no where to be found as they were largely embarrassed and in danger of surrendering a third goal during much of the two minute sequence.

Desperate for some spark Coach McIlvane moved Sidorov to join Colangelo on the Lopina line and he did help to generate some zone time against the Roadrunners stringent defense but the two snipers could not quite connect on a play.

The bounces started to go the Gulls way with just over four minutes remaining – sequences featuring both Judd Caulfield and Nikita Nesterenko saw them come close to getting on the board but the puck still remained on the wrong side of the goal-line.

Sensing a push and taking the gamble – Coach McIlvane pulled Dansk with just over three minutes left but despite the outnumbered opportunity in the Tucson zone – the Gulls plan of attack was all too predictable as they strained to set up either Yegor Sidorov or Sam Colangelo for a one timer on opposite wings but when they did their chances were harmlessly blocked by the Roadrunner defense.

The Gulls faithful received a small moral victory when Kailer Yamamotos sure thing empty net shot hit the post in the final ten seconds of play but overall it was a weak effort from a Gulls team that had recently looked so strong and ready to challenge for that final playoff spot.

Post Game Notes:

More On That Dionicio Tea

I received a lot of “whats the stick dropping incident” responses when I updated last week on the ongoing #FreeDionicio mystery so I tried to go back and find the exact sequence in the exact game that it happened in. Here is the tweet I made when it occurred and it appears to be in the game against the Wranglers on the 20th November. I didn’t finish my recap for that one so there isn’t one to be found on my site but my inside man is adamant that the bench altercation he saw was in the last game we saw Dionicio in – which was November 22nd against the Firebirds in Coachella Valley. Watching that game back – Dionicio was part of the play that saw the Firebirds get one back in the second period. The Firebirds got another in the third but it was on the Power Play so Dionicio was not on the ice.

With seven minutes left in the third and in a tied game one particular shift stood out as straight up “odd”. A Gulls face-off in the offensive zone was sent back to Dionicio but he fumbled and immediately lost the puck under pressure, his back-check was very weak and half-hearted. Further on in the sequence he trailed the play – letting Nesterenko cover for him on the back check and picked up another man but then lost that man and forced Clang to make a huge save in close. Then he one-handed/golf-wing swotted at a puck in the Gulls zone in a very poor attempt at a clear. As he changed off you could see on the Gulls bench someone reached across and grabs someone and looks like they briefly have them in a headlock.

You can see footage of it below – apologies for the recording of a recording.

He did not appear to take another shift after this – with Hinds taking his spot on the paring with McKeown. Hinds also took his spot on the second Power Play unit which saw time in the final two minutes of play when Josh Lopina drew a tripping penalty.

So the mystery continues. Now that the Gulls have lost in regulation and their point streak ended – does McIlvane look to change things up and try put him back in? If he did; this next game in Tucson would be the best opportunity to do so – particularly given Heatherington is due back any day now. If he does not – then I am not sure we see him again this season.

Sidorov Player Of The Week

Yegor Sidorov was named the AHL Player of the Week with his recent 6 points in 2 games effort – the first Gulls player to be recognized by the AHL honor this season. He and Colangelo are now locked in a battle to lead the team in scoring as first year professionals.

A Look At The Leadership

It was clear that the Roadrunners were by far the hungrier team today but when the Gulls are desperate for a spark they should always be able to look to their leaders. Their Captain has 13 points in 23 games – good for fifth on the team in scoring but hardly the near point-per-game numbers he has put up in previous seasons while also spending time in the NHL. If I had to look at any one player that is consistently trying to provide a spark – whether it be a hit, a play or just inhuman hustle – it would be Nathan Gaucher. Is it time to bring him into the fold and give the kid an A?