2024-2025 Game 45: San Diego Gulls at Abbotsford Canucks

Abbotsford, British Columbia. Returning to Abbotsford Centre for their final encounter in Canada this season the San Diego Gulls looked to get the split north of the border after surrendering a goal in the final five minutes of play the night before.

Yegor Sidorov remained out with injury and the recently recalled Bikabutuka was sat in favor of Roman Kinal.

Oscar Dansk was given the start with the recently recalled Buteyets backing up, Bikabutuka was the healthy scratch while Calle Clang, Travis Howe, Jaxsen Wiebe and Yegor Sidorov were the listed players with injuries.

First Period:

San Diego began the first with a clear game plan of attempting to match the Canucks physically as they looked to finish their checks and generated some great chances in the early goings via offensive zone turnovers.

A sure goal for Sasha Pastujov was negated by a tripping call as the Ducks prospect was impeded getting to a rebound in the crease and the Gulls subsequent Power Play was easily erased by the home squad.

A second Power Play awarded minutes later after Carson Meyer was hauled down near the Canucks goal line looked much better as an offensive zone face-off allowed the top unit to immediately get set and Captain Ryan Carpenter played catch with the red hot Sasha Pastujov who opened the scoring with a low blocker side shot. 1-0 Gulls.

Much like the night before the Canucks hit right back as a partial break once again proved too deadly as Abbotsford leading scorer Jonathan Lekkerimaki was set-up in the slot to wire a perfect top shelf shot that Dansk had no chance on. 1-1 tie game.

San Diego picked up their intensity an extra notch and did a better job of holding the Abbotsford zone through multiple shifts – one such foray by the Gaucher line in the final few minutes of the period provided some positive momentum moving forward.

Once again it was a deadlock score heading into the first intermission but this time shots were also relatively even with the Gulls holding the very slight edge 6-5.

Second Period: San Diego Gulls 1 – Abbotsford Canucks 1

With the Canucks coming out strong to start the second, a similar story followed from yesterdays result as Sasha Pastujov flipped the script and got his second of the game on the Gulls first shot of the middle frame. The searing hot San Diego forward finishing a three on one break by potting the puck five hole on the Canucks goaltender. 2-1 Gulls.

Knowing that the secret to success would be avoiding the cat and mouse goal for goal performance of the previous night the Gulls tightened up their defensive structure while calmly turning possession and offense back the other way at any chance they could. Oscar Dansk also looked a lot more accomplished than he did just 24 hours before as he stayed compact and square to all shots sent his way.

Abbotsford swiftly took the definitive lead in shots but all if not most of them were largely taken from the perimeter. What chances did make it through to the slot – Dansk was there to make the desperation save.

The Gulls favorable run with the Officials finally ended as Judd Caulfield was called for slashing as he attempted to turnover a puck at the Canucks blue line and San Diego went to the penalty kill for the first time with five minutes left in the middle frame.

San Diego gave no quarter and stayed strong during the entire two minute sequence, again keeping their structure and much of the Canucks opportunities to the outside through both of their units.

The Gulls holding on and taking the 2-1 lead into the second intermission as they surrendered 18 shots to 3 on the period. The shot map showing San Diego being largely outplayed but keeping everything away from the crease to give Dansk every opportunity to make the stop.

Third Period: San Diego Gulls 2 – Abbotsford Canucks 1

Abbotsford gave San Diego an early fright as a Jonathan Lekkerimaki lead attack saw the Canucks leading scorer get a partial break and chance on Oscar Dansk off the opening face-off but the Swedish netminder turned aside the high danger chance while also getting taken out by a backchecking Judd Caulfield in the process.

The Gulls fought back and drew a call as Nikita Nesterenko was tripped in the offensive zone but San Diego once again looked uninspired with the man advantage, giving up two short handed opportunities on silly back-passes to nobody and under-pressure blue-line feeds.

San Diego followed up the man advantage with some good work in the Canucks zone but could not find a clear shooting lane.

As time wound on the Gulls settled into a rhythm of diffusing Canucks zone entries and sending the puck back the other way. One got the sense with the commitment to the game plan that perhaps the Gulls might be learning how to win these one goal games.

A Nikita Nesterenko break saw the Gulls get another goal against the grain as Judd Caulfield followed up on the play and tipped a rebound in to the yawning Canucks net to make it 3-1 with just over five minutes left in the action.

Soon after the goal the Canucks pulled their goaltender for the extra attacker with four minutes remaining, and held the San Diego zone for a good minute but Dansk stood tall and Nathan Gaucher was able to get to a loose puck with enough time to hit the empty net from within his own blue line to make it 4-1.

As Abbotsford fans hit the exits the Gulls and Canucks played out the remaining two minutes as a matter of formality and San Diego took the much deserved 4-1 win.

Post Game Notes:

Mysak Love

It is a long time coming but I have been meaning to show more love for Jan Mysak. The former Montreal second round selection in 2020 that was acquired in a one for one swap with Jacob Perreault has been coming on in leaps and bounds this season. He is now tied for third in scoring on the team with 27 points in 41 games and has worked his way up the line-up to anchor the second line on a nightly basis. His game has moved from being not just a dependable defensive forward but a play driving pivot as well, his 15 assists are also third on the team and he has been partially responsibly for Sasha Pastujov’s insane hot-streak. Speaking of which…

Sasha So Fierce

You can’t single out Mysak without recognising Sasha Pastujov and all the heads he has turned and ankles broken this last month. Justifiably awarded the AHL player of the Month for January he has been almost unstoppable since rejoining San Diego from Tulsa in late November. He has seven multi point efforts over that span and currently leads the Gulls in scoring with 33 points in 31 games.

Learning To Fly

It is hard to predict how the Gulls will perform on a nightly basis but one did get the sense that after last night and how hard they worked in a loss that could ultimately be pinned on some soft goaltending and lapses in defense, they were due a win tonight.

San Diego is a young team but it seems they are finally learning to win these close one goal games, the players will take a lot from this win in terms of how to win moving forward and it helps that Oscar Dansk played the kind of game that is expected of him.