2024-2025 Game 64: San Diego Gulls vs Calgary Wranglers

San Diego, California. After a huge win over the Tucson Roadrunners the night before the San Diego Gulls went right back to work against another Pacific Division team that was faltering in the standings.

Once again Coach McIlvane stuck with the tried and true that had been getting the wins lately despite the lack of balance to the forward lines.

Ville Husso got the start in net with Oscar Dansk backing up.

The injury list remained the same with still no further players returning from the emergency ward as it was announced earlier in the week that Nathan Gaucher would be out for the season after successfully under going surgery on a labral tear.

First Period:

It was a tight checking opening frame and tensions threatened to boil over on multiple occasions. Teams skated at four on four as time neared the midway point of the period after the Wranglers Sam Moran and Gulls Nico Myatovic were given two each for unsportsmanlike conduct after each tried to drop the gloves near the San Diego net but Myatovic was tied up by an Official before the main event could occur.

Calgary had perhaps the best chance during the four on four sequence as one-too many passes by the Gulls led to a breakaway but Ville Husso calmly stared down and denied the Wranglers.

Teams exchanged further Power Plays as we approached the final quarter of the frame, a hooking call to the Wranglers Parker Bell saw the Gulls come up short despite some great looks and sustained pressure in their zone. An ill-advised high sticking call that drew blood and a double minor was given to Carsen Twaynski and cut short the remainder of the Gulls man advantage.

Despite keeping it scoreless through the first two minutes of the double minor the extended length proved too much as the Wranglers finally solved Husso to take the early lead. Jeremie Poirier given too much time and space to skate down from the point and wire a shot that beat the Gulls goaltender. 1-0 Wranglers.

The Gulls attempted a response and things got extra spicy as the Wranglers Jeremei Poirer was given a ten minute misconduct after yet another net front scuffle, it wasn’t immediately obvious as to why but I am assuming it was for something he said to the Officials.

San Diego headed to the first intermission down by one but leading in shots 11-8 with the shot map showing the Gulls doing a good job creating chances but not enough in close.

Second Period: Calgary Wranglers 1 – San Diego Gulls 0

Despite needing to come out with a push the Gulls were on the back-foot early and had to be bailed out by Ville Husso who made back to back stops in close on Sam Morton as the Calgary forward found himself down low in the San Diego zone with time and space to go in on alone on the Gulls net.

Husso continued to be called upon as the Wranglers set upon the Gulls net with extra fervor, sensing they might be able to double their lead.

A slewfoot that was called as a trip saw the Gulls head to the Power Play but they were unable to get set in the Calgary zone as an overly aggressive Wranglers penalty kill saw them struggle to keep possession let alone get a clean zone entry for the entire two minute sequence.

Calgary rode momentum following the kill and just as it felt the Gulls would never get another sniff of offense again a seemingly broken play turned into a game-tying score as Justin Bailey chased down a dump-in, intercepted a hand-off from the Wranglers net-minder behind their net and immediately fed Nico Myatovic in front. 1-1 tie game.

He ties it up!

¡Empata el marcador!#VamosGulls | #CGYvsSD pic.twitter.com/sySE4sALto

— San Diego Gulls (@SDGullsAHL) March 30, 2025

With renewed life the Gulls kept up the attack after the goal and the action was back and forth for the next few minutes with Ville Husso again needing to make some big stops while San Diego came close to taking the lead at the other end with some great work by the Mysak-Sidorov-Pitre trio.

Time ticked off the remainder of the second with the Wranglers threatening once again but San Diego banded together to desperately keep the puck out. The Gulls taking a 1-1 tie into the second intermission with the shot map showing a massive shot disparity over the middle frame.

Third Period: San Diego Gulls 1 – Calgary Wranglers 1

The pace was frantic to start the final period and Jan Mysak almost gave the Gulls the lead on a hard snapshot from near the blue line but hit the cross bar on the attempt and was unable to get to the rebound before the Wranglers goaltender found the puck.

San Diego continued to press while the Wranglers counter-rushed with Ville Husso standing tall to deny any chances sent his way.

The Gulls definitely held the edge in possession and their slowly growing momentum was rewarded as Stian Solberg scored his first AHL goal. The young Norwegian defender skating into a soft area to receive a pass and wire a shot top shelf after some great work by the forwards cycling the Calgary zone. 2-1 Gulls.

Congratulations on your first career @TheAHL goal, Stian! pic.twitter.com/MkHvpXLIg5

— San Diego Gulls (@SDGullsAHL) March 30, 2025

Calgary tried to respond and succeeded in holding the Gulls zone for a significant amount of time but San Diego never looked in doubt as they came together to protect their net and the Wranglers momentum was halted by a slashing call drawn by Rolan McKeown as he was felled trying to skate the puck from behind the net.

Winning the Face-off in the Calgary zone the first unit set to cycling and trying to open up shooting lanes. It did not take them long and as Rolan McKeown suddenly found time and space coming down the right side he looked to attempt a shot-pass that took a lucky bounce and deflected into the Calgary net. 3-1 Gulls.

Another one!

¡Otro más!#VamosGulls | #CGYvsSD pic.twitter.com/95zMVYqc7h

— San Diego Gulls (@SDGullsAHL) March 30, 2025

The Wranglers tried to push back again and despite it appearing as though the Gulls might be going back to the Power Play it was Carsen Twarynski who was sent to the penalty box for tripping. Calgary won the face-off and initially held the Gulls zone but some great work by the penalty killing unit to ignore switch-ups and stick with their man saw them clear the zone and kill enough time to only allow the Wranglers less than a minute of time with the additional attacker as they pulled their goaltender with just over a minute left.

The Gulls held their ground and although they tried for the empty net on a few chances – including one short attempt by Ville Husso – they kept the score a 3-1 victory as they won their third straight to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Post Game Notes:

Believe????

With three straight wins – including one over one of the teams they are trying to catch – the Gulls have now climbed to within four points of the final playoff spot now currently occupied by the Bakersfield Condors who beat the Roadrunners in regulation tonight to leapfrog them.

They are just two games below .500 with eight games remaining on the season.

Their magic number currently sits at 25 with the Condors and Roadrunners just ahead at 20 each – though I am sure that will change tomorrow once the playoff primer page is updated. The Condors have one more game in hand and face a favorable schedule in April with two against the Roadrunners and three against Henderson so the Gulls are going to need some help from some of those teams if they hope to catch them. Tucson on the other hand have a back to back against these now very pissed off Wranglers, and a four game stretch that features two against Rockford and their final two games at home against the now seemingly unstoppable Colorado Eagles.

San Diego can only try to control their own destiny by keeping this steak going in April – they next face Abbotsford at home before heading to Iowa and close out the season with matches against Coachella, Henderson and Ontario. Buckle up!

Against All Odds

Just as I am ready to give up hope – the Gulls find a way to re-instate it. I honestly thought this 11-7 system would be short lived no matter how weak the San Diego forward depth currently is. But Coach McIlvane and his staff have proven that it can and does work whilst almost seamlessly integrating four new players into the line-up and getting them up to speed with the system in a matter of two weeks. If the Gulls do manage to make the playoffs this year the Gulls coaching staff deserves a shit ton of recognition for it.

I also hope the Ducks management has learned from previous mistakes and actually TRIES TO BRING BACK some of the difference makers that were acquired to help bring about the turn-around. Namely Justin Bailey and even Carsen Twarynski – both of whom fit right into the mold of hard hitting hockey that Pat Verbeek appears to be attempting to instill in San Diego.

Bailey has 21 points in 27 games since his acquisition while Twarynski has 5 points in 6 games after his arrival.

Future Is Bright

Stian Solberg is unsurprisingly settling in and developing at an accelerated rate. He now has three points in five games but offense – although a noted part of his arsenal – is not his main calling card. He showed tonight a glimpse of why he was selected by the Ducks in the first round last year with the pick they acquired from Toronto after dealing two picks on the day of the draft. Midway through the third period he perfectly stood up his man and completely shutdown the offensive rush – effortlessly diffusing the play and sending it back on offense. The booming open ice hits have not made an appearance yet but I am sure it will only be a matter of time.

Ian Moore has also stepped right in and earned three points himself in five games. I already mentioned the Ducks might have another Jackson LaCombe like late blooming talent in Moore and I still believe that to be the case as I watch his games. The kid is incredibly smart with the puck while slowing things down and finding the open man. The Ducks defensive prospect factory is as healthy as ever.