With the last minute news that Hampus Lindholm was placed on IR – Josh Mahura was called up to join Simon Benoit who had been already called up directly after the Gulls win over the Condors. Mahura would suit up for the Ducks but Benoit would end up sitting as it is assumed he was slated to get a look alongside Lindholm. Coach Kevin Dineen shuffled his defense accordingly; inserting the recently acquired Ryan Johnston and sitting Jani Hakanpaa in favour of Scott Moldenhauer.
It didn’t take long for the Gulls to continue their recent trend of getting on the board first as Corey Tropp took a pass as he stood by the boards in the neutral zone and immediately fed it to a streaking flock of Gulls players lead by Alex Dostie for a comical looking on three on zip rush. Dostie made no mistake and fired a shot high glove side to make it 1-0 Gulls less than three minutes into action. It should be noted that Kopacka and newcomer Johnston were the other two players on that odd-man rush.
San Diego kept up the pressure and were awarded a Power Play when the Barracuda’s Alexander True boarded Sieloff. Unable to really get set the Gulls largely squandered the man advantage and thanks to Anthony Stolarz making a huge post-to-post save on a two-man break; the score remained 1-0 Gulls.
The Gulls were given another Power Play just as the first occurrence expired and although they managed to get more zone time and a vague resemblance of being set-up; they did not look particularly threatening throughout.
The Barracuda thought they had an equalizer just past the halfway mark of the period but it was waved off as being played by a high stick.
Sprong was assessed a high sticking penalty with less than five minutes remaining. The Barracuda managed to get a good look on a redirection in front but Stolarz made the last minute save as the Gulls were able to kill off the minor.
Heading straight back to the attack – San Diego double their lead thanks again to some quick puck movement as Brendan Guhle carried out of the Gulls zone and fed a cross-ice pass to Corey Tropp as he cut into the San Jose zone, Sam Carrick continued driving on his own to the Barracuda net and Tripp sent a soft pass through that the Captain deftly one-touched over the San Jose net-minder with a minute left in the opening frame.
The De Leo line finished out the remaining time in the San Jose zone as shots were 10-5 for the Gulls after the first twenty.
The Gulls Power Play was given another chance to redeem itself early in the middle period when Hunter Drew took a stick up high courtesy of Ivan Checkhovich. San Diego did look that much more dangerous with the man advantage, staying in the San Jose zone and getting several shots as well as high quality scoring chances on the Barracuda net but were unable to convert.
The Barracuda had a Power Play of their own a few minutes later when Kiefer Sherwood was called for slashing and it would be Anthony Stolarz who bailed them out to maintain the 2-0 lead – once again making a huge stop, this time on Joachim Blichfeld and turning aside all other Barracuda attempts during the two minute disadvantage.
Just as it seemed San Jose were slowly turning momentum thanks in part to their barrage of opportunities during the man-advantage the Gulls came back with another quick fire goal. Broadhurst and Kloos making quick one-touch passes in the San Jose zone to setup Pietila for his second of the season. 3-0 Gulls.
Hunter Drew was sent to the box for roughing with six minutes left and although the Gulls were able to kill the semi-dubious minor; the Barracuda carried momentum and Blichfield beat Stolarz high shoulder from a tough angle after Guhle had done a good job preventing him from getting a good move in on a breakaway. 3-1 Gulls. The period ending with the home-team taking the lead in shots 22 to 19.
San Jose continued their push to start the third but again Anthony Stolarz proved the difference as he stopped another breakaway – this time on Yurtaykin As the home team carried forward momentum Corey Tropp was called for tripping at the five minute mark. San Diego were able to kill the minor thanks to some good work disrupting zone entries.
Play slowed down for the remaining time in the game as the Barracuda tried to push the envelope while the Gulls played a tight defensive formation and answered with their own odd skirmish in the San Jose end.
With just over three minutes left the Barracuda pulled their goaltender after a TV time-out and although the Gulls came close to getting the empty netter after Kiefer Sherwood stripped the puck in the offensive zone and fed Isac Lundestrom, the Swedish rookie heeled his shot. None the less the Gulls skated away 3-1 winners for their fourth straight win.
Post Game Notes:
Stolarz Streak – Anthony Stolarz has most definitely been the hot hand during the Gulls four game win streak and tonight he was a big part – if not possibly the defining factor – in San Diego getting the win. He has an above .900 save percentage in his last three starts and now has a .905 save percentage on the season.
Tropp on a Tear – With his first multi-point night of the season, Tropp is now on a three game point streak. After being a victim of the veteran rule he is making a case for Dineen to keep him in the line-up on a more permanent basis with his play of late.
First look at Johnston – My initial impressions of Johnston is that he is of the smaller-speedier defender mold and he reminded me a lot of Trevor Murphy but perhaps less gritty. He wasn’t used on the Penalty Kill but did see time on the Power Play and joined the rush on more than one occasion. He doesn’t quite qualify as being a veteran under the veteran rule just yet (but he is close) so that indicates Jani Hakanpaa may or may not have just lost his spot.
2023-2024 Game 68: San Diego Gulls at Coachella Valley Firebirds
Dropping a close one in overtime in Ontario the San Diego Gulls headed further east into t…