Opening the 2022-2023 season on the road – with a new coaching staff and almost completely new line-up; the Gulls hoped to set the tone for a bounce back year.
Returning So-Cal favorite and brand new Gulls Captain – Chase De Leo, was placed on the wing with returning veteran Danny O’Regan and converted defender Hunter Drew. The two new veteran signings were paired up with Jacob Perreault on the second line while Groulx was reunited with Bryce Kindopp on his wing with Tracey taking the left side. Brent Gates Jr centered the fourth line with McLaughlin and Lopina on his wings.
In a change from the previous season the Gulls currently only carry seven defenders – PTO Josh Healey started on the left side with Drew Helleson, Nik Brouillard was paired with the signed veteran Austin Strand while former Vancouver first round selection Olli Juolevi was paired with Axel Andersson.
Lukas Dostal got the start.
First Period:
The Gulls started well and looked like a squad that had been developing chemistry for quite some time already – as all four lines were rolled within the first three minutes. Culminating in the top line opening the scoring on a rush lead by Nik Brouillard; gaining the zone and passing across to Austin Strand who fired a low shot on net. The driving Hunter Drew then collected the rebound to get the Gulls first of the season. 1-0 Gulls.
Nikolas Brouillard drew a slashing call moments later as he rushed the puck up through the neutral zone and the Gulls set to work on their first Power Play of the new season. The first unit featured Perreault, O’Regan, De Leo, Helleson as well as Drew and saw the majority of the the two minute infraction, coming close on a fanned shot from De Leo in front. The second unit failed to gain the zone in the limited amount of time they had.
As the period wound down the Gulls started to get into penalty trouble as they were tasked with killing close to back to back minors to Tracey and then Drew. The first they killed through some hard work and great positional defense and the second with some help from the goal post.
Teams headed to the first intermission with the Gulls up by one and ahead in shots 11-4.
Second Period: San Diego Gulls 1 – Grand Rapids Griffins 0
The Griffins picked up the pace and carried the play and subsequently much of the possession for the first minute and a half of the second period before the Brayden Tracey pounced on a loose puck and lead a rush with BO Groulx. The Ducks 2019 late first round pick sweeping down low and firing a pass out to Groulx from behind the goal line that the center fired on net then collected his own rebound and slid around the Griffins net-minder to make it 2-0 against the run of play.
The Griffins fought right back and drew a call as Brent Gates was found guilty of slashing. During the penalty kill Olli Juolevi was slashed up high with no call made and much on-ice discussion between players while the play was at the other end of the ice. Josh Healy sensing the mood – delivered a thunderous hit in the corner that brought a crowd and earned him a 5 minute major for boarding.
On the resulting five on three the Griffins got back within one via Matt Luff in the slot out-waiting Dostal. 2-1 Gulls.
San Diego killed the remaining four minutes and change of the major to Healy as well as gaining a Power Play of their own after the Officials had clearly had enough of Givani Smith’s additional stick-work after the whistle. Dostal was instrumental in the kill, stopping everything he faced and allowing no rebounds.
Following a similar format to the start of the period the Griffins had their best chance to tie the game denied by a brilliant glove save from Dostal before Chase Delo was sprung up ice by Ollie Juolevi. Getting behind the defence to go one on one on the Griffins net and nonchalantly firing the puck five-hole as he moved the goaltender to the right. 3-1 Gulls.
San Diego then followed that up with some strong play that awarded them back to back penalties and a slightly abbreviated five on three that became even longer when the Griffins took a high-sticking call right off the face-off.
Just Kirkland was setup as the trigger-man on the right side and wasted no time firing a one-timer into the Griffins net to make it 4-1 with still a minute and change of the additional five on three to go.
The Griffins killed the remaining five on three and following five on four time then rode momentum to a goal via a broken play in the Gulls zone as San Diego were caught with a hole in coverage due to Healy losing his stick down low. 4-2 Gulls.
San Diego had yet another minor to kill but at its conclusion came *this* close to getting another at the conclusion of the period as Jacob Perreault pulled up and fed Gawdin but his shot rang off the post as the final horn sounded moments later. The Gulls taking a 4-2 lead into the second intermission with the Griffins taking the 21-18 lead in shots due to their extending time with the man advantage.
Third Period: San Diego Gulls 4 – Grand Rapid Griffins 2
It was largely a battle for the neutral zone to start the third – with the first real high danger chance going the Griffins way off a Gulls turnover and a big stop by Dostal.
Jacob Perreault drew a call charging the Grand Rapids zone moments later and the Gulls went back to the Power Play. Despite making some clean entries the first unit never really got set well enough to generate a clear chance and again the second unit were not really allowed enough time to get going.
With the minor erased the Griffins went right back on the attack – forcing Dostal to make another big stop on a backdoor play to Matt Luff.
Play fell back again into a rhythm of a battle of wills across the neutral zone until an end to end rush by Nik Brouillard resulted in another Gulls man advantage as he was pulled down trying to get to a loose puck.
This time San Diego took advantage, able to set up and feed Jacob Perreault on the left side for a one timer that created a rebound in front and then another rebound at the side that Chase De Leo popped him to make it 5-2 San Diego.
The Gulls then played a stringent defensive game for the remainder of the period. Nik Brouillard putting an exclamation point on the impressive season opening win with a point-shot through traffic that ended things at 6-2 Gulls.
Post Game Notes:
Line Combinations
Some of Sommers line combinations I liked and some I didn’t. On its surface it probably seems like Perreault should be put with a talented play-maker but I like the idea of surrounding him with big body vets in the form of Gawdin and Kirkland. There were a couple of sequences where he pulled off the kind of skill plays he previously would not have had the time or space for. I also like Drew with O’Regan and think those two could develop some very nice chemistry. What I don’t like is seeing Lopina playing the wing, that’s like getting Michael Bay to direct a period drama. Face-offs are Lopina’s strength, put him at center.
Nik, nik, nik, nik, nik
It still baffles me that Nik Brouillard was unable to translate last season into at least an AHL deal. As it is he is currently on an SPC along with Gates Jr, Healey and Osipov. He showed real NHL speed tonight and is so slippery in his own zone, beating checks and able to move the puck out of danger with so much ease. It was also kind of hilarious that he got under Givani Smith’s skin from his very first shift and basically lived in his head rent free for the rest of the game.
That Healey guy
So far. Big fan. I can see how his penalties might become a hindrance but his incredibly abrasive game is something the Gulls haven’t had for a couple of seasons. Overall the squad seems much tougher this season – the AHL is at turning point where it seems skill might be the majority vote right now but its close. The rugged, rough and ready grinding type of player is still a necessity also – Healey is that with a dash of potential to line cross.
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