After going down 3-2 for their fourth straight loss in a game they thoroughly deserved to get at least one point in, the Gulls picked themselves back up to face the Wild once again.
The Gulls stuck with the same line-up as the night before, save for giving Marotte the start on the back to back.
First Period:
I will admit I didn’t see the first period but having joined the action late I might be thankful that I did not.
The Gulls spotted the Wild four goals across the first twenty minutes coming in the form of two Power Play goals and two even even strength tallies through the first ten shots on net. Marotte was chased after his first seven shots faced after allowing the first three.
Gulls heading to the first intermission down 4-0 after a relatively low shot differential of 10-8 in favor of Iowa.
Second Period: Iowa Wild 4 – San Diego Gulls 0
Looking to erase the forgettable first period the Gulls came out with what looked like a better resolve to start the second. However – as they found the previous night, getting time and space to create quality chances against the very tight defensive Wild was easier said than done.
It took one such space-opening opportunity for Nik Brouillard skating in on a rare two on one break to get the Gulls on the board. The Quebec native making a deft move to slip inside his defender before looking off the pass and wiring a shot high glove side to make it 4-1.
San Diego kept up the pressure and were given two Power Plays – coming close on one as they wore down the Wild defense but Wild goaltender Zane McIntyre kept the Gulls from getting another one back.
Hunter Drew clearly wanted a piece of Wild Captain Cody McLeod as the second intermission concluded and again the teams exchanged a healthy debate of niceties before heading to their respective tunnels. Olle Eriksson Ek seeming to indicate he would be ready to go with any Wild player willing to also.
The Gulls needing a huge third period to claw themselves back from a three goal deficit as they hit the second intermission down 4-1 but out-shooting the Wild 9-4 over the second set of twenty.
Third Period: Iowa Wild 4 – San Diego Gulls 1
You could be mistaken for thinking you were watching a replay of last nights third period with events following much the exact same script.
Try as they might, the Gulls simply could not get anything going against a Wild defense that stuck to San Diego like a virus. Forcing San Diego to try for dump-ins rather than zone entries and when they would dump it in, prevent any further attempt to regain the puck with subtle picks and interference plays.
The Wild got another one on the PP after San Diego were able to survive a 20 second five on three disadvantage but Marco Rossi once again found some space on the right side to slam home a pass in the second half of the five on four penalty kill. 5-1 Wild.
San Diego played some of their more inspiring hockey as time quickly ran out, finally finding ways to open up the Wild defense but again were let down by the officials as Iowa clutched, grabbed and bodily prevented any forward motion wherever they could. As Kodie Curran was one of the more recent victims of this, the Wild caught an odd man rush as he lay prone on the ice. 6-1 Wild.
Post Game Notes:
Help?
It is frustrating to see that the Gulls proved that they can hang with and beat the top teams in the Pacific with a shadow of their full squad but then drop five straight as soon as they start getting some help back. It doesn’t make a heck of a lot of sense. Meanwhile Vinni Lettieri and Buddy Robinson are making very good use of their time in Anaheim, so much so that questions might start being asked of who should be sent south to San Diego once the Ducks eventually return to an almost full strength line-up.
Standings Update
The Gulls are somehow still clinging to the final “playoff” spot, sitting in seventh in the Pacific with a 13-18-2 record. It will only take one more win from the eighth place Tuscon for them to draw even though. Needless to say San Diego needs to stop this slide and start getting back toward a .500 record so with that said…
Looking Ahead
Thankfully the Gulls play five out of their nine games in February at home including a four game home-stand starting Wednesday against Colorado followed by a weekend back to back against the floundering Roadrunners and then finishing with a visit from the dead-last Barracuda.
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