2024-2025 Game 58: San Diego Gulls vs Colorado Eagles

San Diego, California. Having had their win streak broken to start March but still managing to put another three game string together the San Diego Gulls looked to get back in the win column after surrendering a 3-1 loss to these same Colorado Eagles the night before.

With Nikita Nesterenko called up to the Ducks to cover for the injured Sam Colangelo the suddenly depleted San Diego forward depth saw the signing of University Of Wisconsin forward Owen Lindmark, as well as another professional tryout for the Tulsa Oilers Michael Farren to cover for the injured Nathan Gaucher. Carson Meyer was also announced as having had successful ACL surgery and out for the remainder of the season.

Defensive pairings remained the same from most of the previous line-ups – Biakabutuka – who played as the seventh defencemen the night before – was sat in favour of a more balanced line-up.

Oscar Dansk was given the back to back start in net with Buteyets backing up and Ville Husso still in Anaheim.

The injury list saw some having already returned to action in previous games such as Coulson Pitre, while new faces join in – in the aforementioned Nathan Gaucher. Making the list currently Calle Clang, Carson Meyer, Sasha Pastujov, Jaxen Wiebe, Nathan Gaucher and Tomas Suchanek.

First Period:

The first twenty minutes of action saw San Diego seemingly enjoy much of the better of the play and both teams exchanging Power Play sequences.

Colorado slowly and steadily built momentum following their allotment of time with the man advantage and by periods end shots were 12-5 Eagles with the visitors once again firmly in control.

The Gulls needing to box out in front of their net and relieve the pressure down low so as not to keep making the mistakes down low that the Eagles thrive on.

Second Period: San Diego Gulls 0 – Colorado Eagles 0

San Diego came out with some good jump to start the second, largely led by Yegor Sidorov but their short attempt at evening up the shots was short lived and the Eagles took control right back as they worked to tire the Gulls via sustained pressure and man-to-man disruption in their zone via cross-ups and subtle picks.

Again – Sidorov took it upon himself to be a one-man offense production unit but also appeared to have a tad too much tunnel vision in doing so as he looked off team-mates to take the shot.

Colorado created their best chance of the game via an individual effort from Jack Ahcan as he undressed Owen Lindmark at the point and sped in alone on Dansk but the veteran goaltender stood tall to deny him.

It was all Eagles up until the final quarter of the middle frame when a successful Gulls penalty kill saw them gain some life and space in the Colorado zone – frustratingly passing up opportunities to shoot as they unselfishly tried to find an open man on the two opportunists created off the rush.

As the final seconds ticked by and looked as though we might see another scoreless set of twenty a tight angle shot from the Eagles Jacob MacDonald bounced off Tyson Hinds and by Oscar Dansk before he even knew what had happened and a clearly relieved Eagles squad celebrated while the Gulls looked mostly confused and dejected.

The Eagles taking a 1-0 lead into the second intermission and maintaining a 11-4 lead in shots on the period to take their overall total to 23-9. The Gulls accepting their role as David in the lopsided match-up but looking to start the third with nothing to lose.

Third Period: Colorado Eagles 1 – San Diego Gulls 0

San Diego again came out with a push to start the period – albeit with more desperation than they showed in the second but again the Eagles thwarted their chances then turned play in the other direction.

As the Gulls struggled to generate more offense to even the score you got the sense it might just be “one of those games” while the Eagles played the perfect road game to shut down the neutral zone and play defense by offense, keeping the San Diegos best lines in their own zone and unable to get shots on the Eagles net.

An interference call drawn by Judd Caulfield saw some brief hope sent the Gulls way but a shorthanded breakaway that was awarded as a penalty shot to the Eagles veteran Jaycob Megna saw them add to their lead as Dansk was unable to track his speed and five-hole move. 2-0 Eagles.

The pace picked up and chances were back and forth for the next few minutes as time quickly became the Gulls enemy, the fourth line showing consistency as the most successful at creating chances as they had done over the last forty minutes or so.

With just over two minutes left the Gulls elected to pull Oscar Dansk for the extra attacker but a too-confident carry from behind his net saw Tristan Lunea turn the puck over and the Eagles eventually grab the empty net tally despite a desperation stop from Rolan McKeown. 3-0 Eagles.

The Division leading Eagles skating away with the two game double double as they took the 3-0 win against the vastly undermanned Gulls.

Post Game Notes:

Standings Update

The Gulls have 14 games remaining and are currently 23-27-5-3, they are still five points behind Tucson for the final playoff spot and their magic number is currently 38 to make the post season. A magic number is the number of points needed for a team to make the post season, the lower the number the better. AHL.com has also added a handy SOS column to indicate the strength of a teams upcoming opponents – the Gulls sits at .530, slightly better than that of Tucsons (.577) and Bakersfields (.550). In fact – only Coachella has an easier schedule to finish the season (.522) so there is that tiny bit of hope for the Gulls. They do need some help though…

The Cavalry?

I mentioned on Twitter (I refuse to call it by the musk name) that it was announced that right-shot defense-men Ian Moore will be joining the Gulls at the conclusion of his season – the final year of his four year tenure at Harvard. The 6’3″ 194lb defender was selected by the Ducks in the third round in the 2020 entry draft – the same year they selected Jamie Drysdale (Cutter Gauthier), Jacob Perreault (Jan Mysak), Sam Colangelo, Thimo Nickl (Nikita Nesterenko), Artyom Galimov, Albin Sundsvik and Ethan Bowen (retired). As you can see only Colangelo really remains a fixture from that draft so it is a bit of a bitter sweet arrival for Moore but will be very interesting to see how he does, At the time of his draft I noted he seemed like another Jackson LaCombe type project – forward turned defender and with the success LaCombe has found this season, it does give hope that Moore could follow suit.

Carey Terrance is in his final year of Juniors, currently sixth on his team with 39 points in 45 games. He has had some injury trouble of late – needing to stretchered off mid-game and taken to the hospital after a scary collision with the end boards back on February 15th, He is apparently with the team but still rehabbing. His Errie Otters are 5th in the Western Conference of the OHL and have clinched a playoff spot so the closest we can see him (if he is healthy by then) is April 8th if his team gets bounced in the first round.

Ethan Procyszyn is enjoying a breakout post-draft season, the hulking 6’3″192lb right shooting center has 58 points in 64 games for the North Bay Battalion who currently sit in the final playoff position for the Eastern Conference of the OHL but have yet to secure their ticket to the postseason. So we could see him even sooner than Terrance if his team fails to make the post-season but given he is just 18 and the Gulls will be desperately trying to make the post season in do-or-die games, it’s unlikely he see’s any game time.

Alexandre Blais – like Terrance – is also in his final season of Juniors and – like Terrance – has also seen some time on the shelf with an injury. He currently has 70 points in 57 games for Rimouski who sit second in the Eastern Conference of the QMJHL having clinched their division and the playoffs. Unless their is a major upset there – we probably won’t be seeing him until mid to late April.

Beckett Sennecke is a name that could potentially add some much needed fire power, the Ducks first round selection last year has a monster 85 points in 54 games, his Oshawa Generals are fourth in the Eastern Conference of the OHL and have secured their post season spot so again closest we could see him is after April 8th.

Maxim Masse is another 18 year old having a great post-draft year but has also been dogged by injury. He currently has 56 points in 44 games and his Chicoutimi Saqueneens are third in the Eastern Conference, not likely we will see him nor – like Blais – I doubt he gets any game time.

Tarin Smith would be a fun addition but the Ducks youngest selection at last years draft is enjoying the view from the top as his Everett Silvertips are top seed in the Western Conference of the WHL. The smooth skating offensive defender has 57 points in 62 games.

Vojtech Port has had an up and down year, currently with the Lethbridge Hurricanes after being traded mid-season his team are fourth in the Eastern Conference of the WHL and have secured a playoff spot. The right shooting Czech defender 10 points in 38 games since joining the Hurricanes.

Konnor Smith is playing as an over-ager and was sent to the Brampton Steelheads for their upcoming post-season drive. They are currently fifth in the Eastern Conference and on a collission course with Beckett Senneckes’ Osahawa Generals, here is hoping Smith does not injure Sennecke during their potential postseason battle. The rugged stay at home defender has 7 points in 28 games with Brampton.

This list does not even include the currently AWOL Carsen Twarynski who I am assuming his still sorting visa issues after his acquisition from Abbotsford.

Annnnd Sam Colangelo who will eventually join the team once the Ducks are officially eliminated from playoff contention (sorry Ducks fans but I don’t see it happening). The Ducks last game of the regular season is April 16th. The Gulls last regular season game is just a few days later on the 19th, Colangelo could potentially squeeze two games in with the Gulls and hopefully it won’t be too little too late by then.