2024-2025 Game 70: San Diego Gulls vs Henderson Silver Knights

San Diego, California. Coming home for their third to last game of the season the San Diego Gulls looked to finish strong in yet another season which they finished below .500 and out of reach of the post season.

With excess personnel all trying to get ice time before the seasons end – Coach McIlvane made an interesting choice among the forwards. Counting Yegor Sidorov among his scratches to make room for Josh Lopina and Travis Howe to come back in to the line-up. Meanwhile on defence Stian Solberg was scratched to make room for the newly signed Konnor Smith to make his season debut.

Oscar Dansk got the start with Calle Clang backing up.

Yegor Sidorov, Ryan Lautenbach and Stian Solberg were the healthy scratches.

The injury list remained the same.

First Period:

Henderson had the Gulls under fire early, looking the hungrier team as they ferociously chased down loose pucks and put the Gulls under pressure early.

San Diego slowly turned things around and set up chances off back to back rushes before looking to be building some solid momentum that was instantly haulted by some poor defensive play as three Gulls coughed up the puck against two Henderson Silver Knights. The visitors opening the scoring after Will Francis sent a clearance right up the middle to an opposition player who quickly sent a backhand shot over Dansk’s shoulder before he could react. 1-0 Silver Knights.

The Gulls attempted a response but play was largely sloppy for the next few minutes with the neutral zone becoming a crowded swamp of sticks and errant passes.

With time quickly approaching the final few minutes of the frame the Gulls came close again off some great chances created by the top line but it was one pass too many on back to back chances as San Diego shot themselves in the foot trying to get too cute on a play that left a scoring opportunity begging.

The Gulls heading to the first intermission in the all too familiar position of being down after twenty minutes of play. Henderson held a commanding a 14-8 lead in shots and the shot map backed that up.

Second Period: Henderson Silver Knights 1 – San Diego Gulls 0

San Diego did well to start the second – rolling across the top three lines and generating chances in the Silver Knights zone but as the fourth line took their shift the visitors took advantage, hemmed in the trio of Travis Howe, Josh Lopina and Jan Mysak and eventually made it 2-0 as the beleaguered set of players were slowly reduced to standing still. 2-0 Henderson.

Again the Gulls attempted a response, again with the top line leading the way and coming very close only to be stopped at the last moment by a save in close or a puck bouncing over a stick. Will Francis looking the best he has so far in a Gulls jersey as he crept in to the bottom of the right circle only to have a Pastujov pass bounce over his stick.

The Gulls continued to ramp it up and Justin Bailey was awarded a penalty shot as he squeezed between two Silver Knights but was slashed and hooked on his way to the net. He hit the center ice solo skate to the net with speed but despite moving the Silver Knights goaltender enough to get an opening, hit the post with his attempt.

With three and a half minutes left in the period Justin Bailey was called for high sticking as he chased down a puck in the Henderson zone. Carsen Twarynski had perhaps the best play of the penalty kill as he – without a stick – used his right skate to intercept a pass at the blue line and get a brief clearance before the Silver Knights came back in. Sadly Henderson converted on that re-entry with a second left on the penalty kill after they got set and beat Dansk with traffic in front. 3-0 Henderson.

San Diego playing a better period but now down by three as they went to the second intermission. Shots were 11-9 Gulls on the period but still 23-19 Henderson overall. The shot map showing that they did indeed to a much better job at creating offense and chances in front but were burned by one of the two high danger chances Henderson were allowed.

Third Period: Henderson Silver Knights 3 – San Diego Gulls 0

The Gulls started the period playing like a team on a mission, drawing a call early and then holding possession for another minute before the whistle finally blew when the net was dislodged.

The resulting Gulls Power Play was much like their play for the game thus far – hectic and largely unpolished with Sasha Pastujov getting the only chances on net during the sequence that also featured almost giving up a shorthanded breakaway via a bad drop pass.

Teams exchanged more Power Play chances as time approached the midway point of the period and as the Gulls finished their brief shot at the man advantage with yet another shot in close denied, you got the sense that this one was probably going to be another failure to launch.

Henderson slammed the dagger in as Raphael Lavoie was able to find a loose puck at his own blue line and skate in on the San Diego net alone to beat Dansk high glove side. 4-0 Henderson.

San Diego did fight until the very end but could not solve the Silver Knights goaltender as they were shutout for the second time in three games to go down 4-0 in front of their fans.

Post Game Notes:

New Players? Coaching?

The Gulls recent terrible play to end the season cannot all be placed on the shoulders of “wetting the feet” of the new signings, they were playing pretty badly before that but adding “brand new to the AHL and your system” players probably didn’t help.

The turning point was most definitely the injury to Pastujov back in Coachella in February as the Gulls offense never really recovered after that. This is a young team that struggles to generate offense when they are down and it is that much harder when all of your best weapons are either hurt or with the Ducks.

Lately though – I also feel the spotlight has been shone on the coaching, with the team seemingly not ready to play from the outset.

In the last five games they were out-shot 17-11, 17-17, 22-16, 11-20 and 23-19 through the first 40 minutes of play. That is 90-83 overall. I am not saying a coaching change is required – at least with McIlvane we have seen some improvement over the last two years but his staff, particularly the forwards coach – shouldn’t feel too comfortable with his job security.

Secondary Scoring Options?

That said – where should one be looking for secondary scoring? After Pastujov and Sidorov there are no real pure sniper options. As I watched Coulson Pitre and Nico Myatovic work together to turnover puck after puck in the neutral zone to lead counter rush chances, I could see their exact draft profiles coming to fruition in front of my very eyes but neither could finish on the opportunities created by the turnovers because they don’t quite have the stick work or speed to match. They need a shooter to feed.

More Snipers Less Forecheckers Plz

So at the forefront of the Ducks shopping list for the upcoming entry draft should be pure snipers. I mean, it should have been for the past six plus seasons but at this point I vote quantity over quality, just so we can have at least some in San Diego. They have grabbed at least one in the last couple of drafts but amongst that they also selected a smattering of high-energy forecheckers, a defensive defender with size and an offensive defenceman. Let’s just throw all the darts at kids that can shoot please?

Release The Solberg

With nothing to play for and not much too look forward to given how badly the Gulls have been playing, I would like to provide at least a little hype for the remaining two games. Facing perhaps their two most hated rivals in the Reign first in Ontario – then the Firebirds again at home could at least provide some entertainment in the form of unrequited violence because if the team is feeling as frustrated as I am about this season, I would dearly love to see them take it out on those teams. We have yet to see a huge open ice hit from Stian Solberg – oh he has tried to line up a few but found himself coming up slightly shots – there is no better chance than against the Gulls most bitter of rivals. Konnor Smith is also known for his physical play and huge hits. McIlvane if you are reading this – please play these two in the final two games and play them a lot.