Abbotsford, British Columbia. After suffering three tough but close losses the San Diego Gulls finally got back in the win column with an overtime victory over their oldest rivals in Ontario before heading north to face the Abbotsford Canucks.
Yegor Sidorov – who had returned from injury four games prior was ruled out with a lower body ailment while the recently recalled Jereme Bikabutuka slotted in for his Gulls debut on a pairing with Noah Warren.
Calle Clang was given the start with Oscar Dansk backing up, Travis Howe and Roman Kinal were the healthy scratches while Jaxsen Wiebe and Yegor Sidorov were the listed players with injuries.
First Period:
It was a somewhat rough start for Bikabutuka in his Gulls debut as he was called for holding just over four minutes into the action.
The subsequent Canucks Power Play saw Calle Clang peppered with four shots before a stoppage and a goaltender change due to the Swedish net-minder sustaining an injury in his efforts to keep the game scoreless. Oscar Dansk entered the game and closed out the rest of the penalty
The Gulls were awarded a power play of their own moments later but were able to generate just the one shot as Abbotsford controlled the neutral zone and stifled their ability to gain the zone and get set.
The period ending with the score remaining as it began, shots were 9-5 Abbotsford with San Diego managing to keep most Abbotsford opportunities to the perimeter at the cost of their own offensive chances.
Second Period: Abbotsford Canucks 0 – San Diego Gulls 0
San Diego came out of the intermission with fire, immediately gaining the Abbotsford zone and putting the Canucks defense under pressure. It took them just under two minutes to follow through on their swiftly built momentum as Sam Colangelo finished off a beautiful passing play in front of the Canucks net. The AHL All Star cleaning up a loose puck in the crease as Canucks goaltender Artus Silovs lay floundering.
The Canucks hit right back, gaining the San Diego zone on a rush and getting lucky on a wrap-around chance as Oscar Dansk was not able to get across in time and Noah Warren’s skate provided a perfectly angled spring-board to send the puck into the San Diego net. 1-1 tie game.
Action was back and forth for most of the next few minutes with a sense that the Canucks held the obvious edge in both possession and chances. Sam Colangelo proved his importance to the Gulls chances as he found space on the wing and sent a seemingly harmless snapshot from a severe angle at the Canucks net that fooled Silovs. 2-1 Gulls against the run of play.
Again the lead was short lived as an attack by the Canucks top line saw San Diego players diving to cover passing lanes while star forward Ashdeep Bains expertly cruised by to drag Dansk way out of position and feed Aatu Raty in the crease. 2-2 tie game. Dansk not looking at all like an experienced NHL goaltender on the play.
Abbotsford held possession and much of the momentum for the remainder of the period and teams headed to the second intermission deadlocked at two. Shots were 11-8 Abbotsford with the Gulls offense coming alive but at the cost of net front coverage in their own end.
The Gulls finished the period on the Power Play as Sasha Pastujov drew a hooking call on a partial break.
Third Period: San Diego Gulls 2 – Abbotsford Canucks 2
Staring the third with 35 seconds left on the man advantage, the Gulls were frustrated early by a stringent Canucks penalty kill.
The disappointment was short-lived as Carson Meyer was set up for a glorious chance but his forehand to backhand move was somehow stopped and the follow up from Heatherington was blocked by a diving Canucks defender in front.
Play was back and forth for the next few minutes but the Gulls started to look a lot more accomplished as they threatened with some quick rushes and shots through traffic.
It was the Canucks turn to score one against the grain as they took the lead for the first time with a goal that again saw Oscar Dansk completely out of position and swimming like a rookie. 3-2 Canucks.
With five minutes left in the period the Gulls desperately searched for an equalizer but Abbotsford surrendered just the one very high danger opportunity that saw San Diego shoot wide on a glorious chance and shut down the rest as they took the 3-2 win.
Another narrow one goal loss in a game which the Gulls likely would have either earned the point for keeping it close or taken the full two points had they been supplied with more adequate goaltending.
Post Game Notes:
Injuries Creeping Back
Seeing Calle Clang go down hurts and Yegor Sidorov out once again definitely hurts, I know I had high hopes for this squad to start this season – (as I seemingly do every season, I know) but I firmly believe if Tomas Suchanek was present this year things would be looking a lot different. It gives hope for next season if the majority of this current squad can stay together. Either way Oscar Dansk has had maybe one or two impressive games all season but in the games he has been bad he has been very bad. Today was one of them. I guess we see a Buteyets recall before the next game.
Farewell Dionicio
I missed the last four games but in that time Rodwin Dionicio has been sent to Switzerland on loan as was supposed to originally happen to start the season. This mid-season decision was largely due to a suspension he was given as a result of post whistle activity at the conclusion of the game against Toronto. Whatever transpired did not seem to egregious on camera from what I saw – he was just tussling and verbally sparing with the Marlies as much as any other player but perhaps there was more to it than that.
Either way the suspension was a moot point because by the time it was announced he had already been sent to Switzerland as the Ducks management had likely had enough – following through on a three strikes and you are out policy. I am not sure how playing Switzerland is going to help correct his overt emotions moving forward but the kid is definitely talented enough to play in the AHL, to put it bluntly he essentially just needs to sort his shit.
Started At The Bottom Now We Still Here
Patrick Williams latest power rankings has the Gulls 29th, up one position from his previous grading which I can only assume is due to the Gulls at least keeping games close of late. I agree in that currently my ability to watch has been much reduced but in the games I do see – they are playing a lot better and seem to be progressing in the right direction. Lately they are just being let down by their goal-tending and break-outs as a direct result. Henderson has now surpassed them to send them back to the bottom of the Pacific and with 28 games left it seems very unlikely they will be able to claw back to a playoff spot but at the very least they could surprise some teams down the stretch, particularly after the Trade Deadline. Keep an eye out for my black ace watch which will start commencing very soon.
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