With Max Jones back in Anaheim, Antoine Morand was returned to the top line to play alongside Carrick & Sherwood. Jack Kopacka drew back in at the expense of Deven Sideroff, with Luke Gazdic the other healthy scratch at forward. On defense – the luxury of having both Mahura and Guhle had me cautiously excited for this one while Scott Moldenhauer and Patrick Sieloff sat in order to make room. Stolarz once again; got the start in net.
The Gulls started out right where they left off last weekend – opening the score early with Jack Kopacka getting his 2nd goal of the season off a nice pass out front from Dostie as he stealthily camped to the nearside of the Condors net.
San Diego poured on the pressure, rewarding some sustained zone time with another goal as Chris Wideman stepped into an area-pass from Justin Kloos that found him in the high-slot.
Then an unfortunate bounce/mistake on the part of Brendan Guhle resulted in the Condors getting one back as the former Buffalo defender appeared to step on the puck and fall – leaving his man unchecked and able to put away a cross-ice feed to make it 2-1.
Thirty seconds later the Condors tied it up on a play that looked as though Anthony Stolarz had covered and iced the puck but no whistle was blown. Cameron Hebig forced the puck in – you could not see exactly how from the camera view but the officials deemed it good despite the protests from an understandably upset Stolarz. 2-2.
With a little over five minutes left in the period, Justin Kloos was called for hooking as he tried to retrieve the puck back in the Condors zone after it was stripped from him in a double team hit.
San Diego looked to be on their way to killing the penalty until tragically another unlucky bounce meant a Condors nearside shot found its way passed Stolarz after it bounced off a player in front and then off of his trailing back leg. 3-2 Condors.
The Gulls appeared to be regaining the speed and forecheck that had seen them have success at the start of the game but time wound down and they headed to the first intermission down by one after opening with a two goal lead. Shots were even at twelve a piece after the first twenty minutes with the Gulls seemingly having the better chances – indicating the tied score being more a result of bad puck luck as per the shot map.
Looking to revisit the way they ended the first period – the Gulls were awarded a Power Play when Kiefer Sherwood was interfered with as he tried to get on a two on one partial break.
San Diego were getting some good chances with the second extra-man unit but had it cut short when Corey Tropp was called for “Tripping” as he tried to get to a puck behind the net and fell in the process.
As both teams eventually returned to even strength – the Gulls kept up their unrelenting attack and a goal mouth scramble was eventually converted by Alex Dostie to tie things back up at three.
The teams traded chances for the next few minutes until Corey Tropp took back to back slashing penalties to put the San Diego penalty killing unit under pressure. Josh Mahura and Brendan Guhle combining to provide a huge help in killing off the first infraction and then Kiefer Sherwood springing Captain Sam Carrick on a breakaway during the second iteration. The Ontario native calmly roofing his shot over Skinners left shoulder to give the Gulls the 4-3 lead shorthanded.
The Gulls took the lead to the second intermission leading in shots 22-20 and again – looking more dangerous overall on the shot-map.
The San Diego parade to the penalty box continued as Justin Kloos was assessed a minor for “kneeing” as a result of a center ice collision seventeen seconds into the final period. The Gulls were able to kill the minor and the teams continued to trade chances until it would be San Diego given back to back Power Play opportunities as Lagesson was called for slashing Stolarz during a moshpit in front of his crease and then Esposito for elbowing Corey Tropp a few minutes later. The Gulls struggled to get setup and when they did; only really got one good chance away – a one-timer from the right circle that was sent wide.
Chase De Leo was assessed a two minute minor for roughing but that Power Play was negated when the Condors rookie Evan Bouchard decked Broadhurst in the neutral zone during an attempted Bakersfield zone entry.
As time wound down the Gulls were doing a fairly good job of keeping pucks to the perimeter and allowed the Condors just the one high danger chance in the final two minutes – a Kailer Yamamoto shot that appeared to hit the cross bar during live action. There was a long pause as Officials reviewed the play but it eventually resulted in a no-goal call and play continued for the remaining 1:19 left in the game.
Keifer Sherwood proved himself again to be the most valuable defensive forward for the Gulls as he broke up a Condors setup in the San Diego zone and sent a shot/clearance off of the boards that found the back of the empty Bakersfield net to make it 5-3 with forty seconds left in action.
San Diego skating away with their third straight win and first on the road. Shots were 31-29 for the Condors by the final horn.
Post Game Notes:
Multi Multi-Point Nights: Alex Dostie, Sam Carrick, Jack Kopacka and Kiefer Sherwood all posted two point nights as well contributing four of the five goals.
Retaking the lead: With his two point night, Sherwood retook the team scoring lead from Sprong. He now has 8 points in 9 games.
Guhle still Great: With an assist on Dosties goal, Guhle now has three points in three games. The only player on the team clicking at a point per game pace.
2023-2024 Game 68: San Diego Gulls at Coachella Valley Firebirds
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