2024-2025 Game 50: San Diego Gulls at Bakersfield Condors

Bakersfield, California. Back in action against a pivotal opponent and looking to take the total four points from the weekend back to back – the surging San Diego Gulls ventured back into Mechanics Bank Arena to take on the Bakersfield Condors.

Once again given not much choice regarding injuries – Coach McIlvane made no changes to the line-up from the night before. The main question being would he give Oscar Dansk the back to back start and that he did.

Dansk was given his sixth straight start on the back to back with Buteyets backing up while Calle Clang, Travis Howe, Jaxsen Wiebe, Coulson Pitre, Noah Warren and Carson Meyer were the listed players with injuries.

First Period:

Coach McIlvane used the Gaucher line to set the tone early and they almost opened the games scoring right away as they caused a turnover and fed the puck right out in front but were unable to get a clean shot away.

It was much the same tempo and style of play from the night before as both teams exchanged Power Play’s through the first half of the period.

Some good work from the Colangelo trio also created another chance right in front of the Condors net but Olivier Rodrigue looked strong in his crease as he turned aside the chance.

Bakersfield were given another chance on the man advantage as Josh Lopina was called for high sticking in the Bakersfield zone but the Gulls were again successful in killing the infraction.

The Condors took control of momentum for the remainder of the period, pressuring and finding time as well as space in the slot. At one point they believed they had scored as a battle for a loose puck in the Gulls crease saw the net pushed off its moorings and then the puck cross the line soon after. This was of-course waved off due to the net being dislodged before the puck crossed the line.

The ever-mounting pressure eventually saw the Condors take the lead as they were first to a loose puck to the side of the net and snuck it by Dansk from in close. 1-0 Condors.

A potential turning point of the match occurred with less than a few minutes remaining as Judd Caulfield looked to receive a pass at the Condors blue line but was caught by a blindside open ice hit that saw him immediately go down clutching his face. Travis Howe came off the bench and challenged the perpetrator Josh Brown and was given a game misconduct for the illegal change.

The Condors taking a 1-0 lead to the first intermission as well as all of the momentum but the Gulls offered an emotional spark for which to potentially launch a come-back. Shots were ten a piece but the shot map detailing Bakersfield having the slight edge in quality chances.

Second Period: Bakersfield Condors 1 – San Diego Gulls 0

San Diego began the second on the penalty kill owing to the Travis Howe instigator and subsequent misconduct and although they were able to erase the remainder of the time – the added possession for Bakersfield proved too much and they doubled their lead. Condors 2-0.

Just as it felt the Condors might start to run away with things – Justin Bailey found a loose puck in the neutral zone and came in on Rodrigue on a partial break. His speed proving too much as his quick snap shot beat the Condors net-minder five hole to make it 2-1. Condors 2-1.

San Diego quietly continued to find open ice as Sasha Pastujov was set up off of an offensive zone face-off but shot wide. Then moments later joined Nikita Nesterenko on a partial break to make no mistake on his second opportunity. 2-2 tie game.

The party kept going as San Diego was awarded a Power Play minutes later and some great passing in the Condors zone made it look too easy as Sasha Pastujov was given too much time and space to find his Captain at the side of the crease. 3-2 Gulls.

But the Condors hit right back, jumping on a loose puck in the San Diego zone to send a quick one time shot glove side into the top corner. 3-3 tie game.

It was all Condors after the goal and as they continued to generate chances the Gulls seemed to fall more and more on the back foot.

San Diego managed to settle things down and coolly saw out the remaining time in the period to head to the second intermission all tied up at three. Shots were 14-7 Condors on the frame but the shot map showing the Gulls took advantage of their chances.

Third Period: San Diego Gulls 3 – Bakersfield Condors 3

Starting the final frame at four on four after some post curricular activities to finish the second the Gulls again took advantage of the chance given as Nikita Nesterenko used time and space allowed to cruise through the neutral zone, look off his team-mate that had joined him on the rush before firing a shot from the high slot that beat Rodrigue. 4-3 Gulls.

Bakersfield went right to the attack and used their physical cycle game to begin to wear the Gulls further down but San Diego fought valiantly to close shooting lanes and get in the way of pucks – just as it seemed they might be able to defend and perhaps build on their lead the Condors tied it up off of another shot from the near side that beat Dansk before he was aware the shot had been taken. 4-4 tie game.

Time approached the midway point with the Condors in control and San Diego desperately trying to find openings to counter attack.

With under five minutes left the Gulls managed to create two more high danger chances but were still largely under siege in their own zone for the most part and it felt like they potentially recognized the adversity of the situation and were actively playing for the point.

With 14 seconds left a loose puck at the Condors line saw a San Diego player first to reach it with space to potentially go in on a partial break but a diving Jayden Grubbe tripped him and gave the Gulls a brief Power Play that carried over to the overtime session.

Overtime:

With the four on three Power Play to start, the Gulls knew they had to take advantage of the opportunity and just as it seemed they might squander it as Sam Colangelo passed up a pass into the slot to a wide open Tristan Luneau it was again their Captain to the rescue.

In the dying seconds of the man advantage and with three Gulls players playing catch across the Condors blue-line – a wind up and blast from Tristan Luneau sailed wide of the net but bounced right to Ryan Carpenter. The Captain quick enough to turn and deposit it into the back of the net for the game winning goal.

San Diego taking the 5-4 win in overtime and their sixth straight.

Post Game Notes:

More Concern In The Crease

In addition to what I wrote in last night’s post game notes – more potential bad news arose today as John Gibson left the Ducks game with an injury. Here is hoping it was just a precaution and he is able to go for their next encounter in Detroit otherwise we will see a call-up of either Dansk or Buteyets but likely Dansk. Which subsequently means the Gulls will need to sign an unaffiliated ECHL goalie to a PTO, speaking of PTO’s…

More Injuries

Given Caulfield looks like he suffered a concussion in this game it is a good bet we probably won’t be seeing him again for at least a month. The Gulls do not have any more healthy scratches and have just the one forward under contract that they can call up from Tulsa – in Ruslan Gazizov. However the Russian forward hasn’t exactly put up huge numbers at the ECHL level and last time the Gulls were in need of a forward from the E they signed Michal Stinil to a PTO who is well – putting up much much better numbers. Thankfully the forward situation isn’t quite as dire as the goaltending as the Gulls have three players currently day to day and hopefully close to returning.

Standings Update

The win puts the Gulls just four points back of Bakersfield and five points behind Tucson who currently occupy the last playoff spot. They now have a 19-22-5-2 record – just three wins shy of a .500 record. I wouldn’t plan the parade just yet though – they next face the division leading Wranglers and may be without Dansk in net as well as missing the services of the ever dependable Judd Caulfield. It will be a tough ask for San Diego to continue this streak with the injuries that continue to pile up.