2024-2025 Game 72: San Diego Gulls vs Coachella Valley Firebirds

San Diego, California. After dropping their second to last game of the season 2-1 in Ontario the night before, the San Diego Gulls came home to close out the 2024-2025 season with a visit from their second most hated rival – the Coachella Valley Firebirds.

The mystery surrounding whether Stian Solberg was injured was somewhat cleared up as he sat out his third straight game whilst Noah Warren was also absent on defense having left the game yesterday after laying a huge open ice hit on the Reigns Angus Booth. Sasha Pastujov was given the night off – having already exacted his revenge against the Firebirds in the previous week’s win. Ryan Lautenbach was awarded one final look on his professional try-out while Owen Lindmark held down the fourth line center spot over the incumbent Josh Lopina.

Calle Clang deservedly got the final start of the season at home.

Sasha Pastujov, Carsen Twarynski and Josh Lopina were the healthy scratches. I am assuming Stian Solberg and Noah Warren joined the injury list to close the season.

First Period:

Coachella Valley took advantage of a somewhat sleepy start by the Gulls and jumped out to a 1-0 lead early as former team-mate of Yegor Sidorov – Andrei Loshko connected for his first AHL goal in his first AHL game. 1-0 Firebirds.

San Diego fought back and as play was back and forth for the next few minutes as time passed over the midway point of the period you could sense momentum was shifting in the Gulls favor. As they had threatened to do for much of their first few shifts the Mysak-Colangelo duo finally converted as Mysak got in on the forecheck to get body position down low and force a turnover which he immediately squeaked out front. Some quick stick work between he and Colangelo resulting in a game tying goal for the Gulls. 1-1 tie game.

21 goals for number 25#LetsGoGulls | #CVvsSD pic.twitter.com/G5JFO1qAL5

— San Diego Gulls (@SDGullsAHL) April 20, 2025

Play was back and forth for the rest of the period but the Gulls did a good job of holding the neutral zone so that the Firebirds could not enter their zone with speed or any form of partial break. Heading to the first intermission tied up at one a piece but leading in shots 13-9.

Second Period: San Diego Gulls 1 – Coachella Valley Firebirds 1

Carrying over from the first period, play largely followed the same pace and physical tempo as the close rivals continued to battle for possession and chances.

After the Gulls killed a minor to Dillon Heatherington they set to work working the neutral zone with speed, slowly building up their ability to gain the Coachella Valley zone with speed and after back to back chances – one featuring a two on one break that saw Nikita Nesterenko look off fellow speedster Justin Bailey but have his shot denied the Gulls broke through thanks to their star defender.

Tristan Luneau took a puck in the neutral zone with speed, saw space on the left side and immediately flew by two defenders before sending a severe angle shot on net that was deflected but saw the talented defender follow up with great hand eye co-ordination and bat it in to the top corner as he cruised by the net. 2-1 Gulls.

Now batting for the San Diego Gulls: Defenseman, Number 6, Tristan Luneau 😱#LetsGoGulls | #CVvsSD | #SCTop10 pic.twitter.com/mFNIhD0rsC

— San Diego Gulls (@SDGullsAHL) April 20, 2025

Coachella Valley responded right away, catching the Gulls running around in their own zone and allowing debutant Andrei Loshko to skate from the point into the high slot before wiring a shot that beat Clang through traffic clean. 2-2 tie game.

Determined to send their crowd out on a high the Gulls went right back to the attack and a great entry by Mysak line lead by the man in question saw the Czech center weave in and out of traffic before firing a shot on net that Nico Myatovic finished after its rebound fell near his feet, taking punishment from Firebirds defenders in the process. 3-2 Gulls.

🌮🌮🌮#LetsGoGulls | #CVvsSD pic.twitter.com/0gZV3DjAwa

— San Diego Gulls (@SDGullsAHL) April 20, 2025

The Firebirds tried to respond and came close to capitalizing on a tired Gulls fourth line on a shift immediately following a beautiful one man breakout then zone entry then chance created by Nikita Nesterenko but Clang held onto the shot and waited for the face-off.

Chances were taken in close quarters as the physical play picked up for the remainder of the period and as the horn sounded to signal the end of the second set of twenty players could be seen having words before heading to their respective tunnels – notably Justin Bailey and Travis Howe.

San Diego taking a 3-2 lead into the second intermission but surrendering 12 shots to their 8 on the frame to make it an even 21 split overall. The shot map showing the Gulls having the better of the high danger opportunities but that possession was largely in the Firebirds favor.

Third Period: San Diego Gulls 3 – Coachella Valley Firebirds 2

Coachella Valley came out with a push to start the third and the Gulls weathered the initial storm but were found guilty of cross checking on a partial break as time approached the midway point of the period.

San Diego initially did a good job killing the minor but a rebound and outnumbered attack down low saw the FIrebirds tie things back up with the man advantage. 3-3 tie game.

Justin Bailey took a stick up high and drew a call on the very next shift to give San Digeo a Power Play and the boys in blue set to getting the lead back.

A Ryan Carpenter face-off win in the Firebirds zone allowed Tristan Luneau plenty of time to wind up and send a shot to the net that pin-balled through multiple players before finding the back of goal. 4-3 Gulls.

Power play precision 🤓#LetsGoGulls | #CVvsSD pic.twitter.com/1mOUvffT4L

— San Diego Gulls (@SDGullsAHL) April 20, 2025

The Firebirds again tried to mount a response, keeping the Carpenter line hemmed in their zone and avoiding calls on a clear tripping call on Bailey as well as a chicken wing tackle on Carpenter but Clang snagged a loose puck and held it to get the time-out.

It was too much pressure once again for the Gulls as the Firebirds won a face-off in the San Diego zone then again outnumbered them on the attack – beating Clang from a rebound that bounced to the mid slot. 4-4 tie game.

The pace was exhausting as both teams made end to end rushes with the Firebirds clearly carrying the momentum after tying the game up but the Gulls did manage to grab possession and hold the Cochella Valley zone in the final minute of regulation as they looked for a buzzer beater.

It was only fitting that these two teams went to the extra session for the umpteeth time this season as time sounded on the third period with the score locked at four a piece.

Overtime:

Starting with Jan Mysak, Sam Colangelo and Tristan Luneau the Gulls initially lost the faceoff but got back possession after the Firebirds first attempt in their zone by former Gull Nik Brouillard was blocker-ed aside by Clang. Jan Mysak got the puck to Colangelo in the neutral zone after drawing in two Firebirds attackers allowing Colangelo time and space to wind up and wire a shot from the top of the circles that was initially blocked. However the standout scorer regained the puck, calmly skated down the left side and ripped a hard and quick snap shot that hit the top corner of the Coachella Valley net. Gulls 5-4.

Post Game Notes:

Maybe Next Year?

As the sun sets on another playoff-less Gulls season it does in a way – much like the Ducks did this year – feel like they are on the upwards trajectory despite the results and lack of postseason dance.

They finished the season with 66 points and a 28-35-5-3 record good for second to last in the division, fourth to last in the conference and fifth to last in the league.

Last season they finished with 63 points and a 26-35-10-1 record, second to last in the division, fourth to last in the conference and fifth to last in the league.

On paper it does not look like they improved much and the Ducks have to be looking at the drastic improvement of the Barracuda and wondering where they went wrong but at the same time – and I know I say this every year – but if they can bring back the veterans they had this year as well as those they acquired, I can see them making massive improvements next season. Given what happens every off-season that is a big if and if they don’t bring back those veterans well then you can pretty much guarantee the same result next year…

Bye Bye Bye…..

As mentioned in a previous post-game note – Josh Lopina’s time in the organization is likely over. He finishes his entry level deal with just 13 points in 62 games and lost his spot to Owen Lindmark for the final month and a half of the season. He becomes a Restricted Free Agent but I doubt the Ducks make a qualifying offer given his downward trajectory of production and development this season.

Stay (I Missed You)

On the flip-side – the aforementioned veterans that I would love to come back but the Ducks never seem to bring back consist of:

Justin Bailey – UFA – 800,000

and potentially Carson Meyer – UFA – 775,000

As per puckpedia (where is my shout out on your twitter follows page huh fellas?)

Ryan Carpenter and Roland McKeown were signed to AHL only deals that see them through until the end of next season.

Dillon Heatherington was only signed to a one year AHL only deal so he will need a new contract which the Gulls would be foolish not to give him.

But of all of those players – Justin Bailey is an absolute MUST have. His speed, his grit, his somewhat inconsistent but clutch scoring was a very welcome and needed addition during that brief run to a playoff spot. Whether the Ducks actually do something about improving their affiliate this off-season is something we have all learned not to hold our breath on…

Where Did You Go?

Among all the shuffle of late season college and black-ace signings and tryouts I kept wondering what happened to Andrew Lucas? Last seasons standout end of year addition only saw twenty games with the Gulls this year – contributing three assists. The Oilers enjoyed his services for much of the season and he finished with 29 points in 39 games, tenth on the squad in scoring and second by defensemen. Has Biakabutuka surpassed him on the depth chart? Quite likely – the former Blue acquired in the Cam Fowler trade finished with 28 points in 32 games.

Look Out

The Gulls season may be over but I will continue to put out content so look out for the annual end of year player grades (that will be a long one given how many players we saw suit up this season), off-season player movements and contract status as well as the very delayed Hottest NHL Coaches update.