Facing a tough test on the road against the division leading Roadrunners. The Gulls were without Daniel Sprong once again who had been recalled the day before, they were also without Patrick Sieloff – traded the day before for Chris Mueller who did not make it in time to be inserted into the line-up.
Tuscon jumped out right away and carried momentum as they drew a tripping penalty on Brett Pollock. The San Diego penalty kill seemed to initially have issues containing the wider umbrella style that Tuscon employed but were eventually able to kill the minor. The Roadrunners continued to enjoy the run of play and peppered Stolarz with shots while limiting San Diego to just three. Then completely against the run of play, a backhand pass found Blake Pietela in space and the former Binghamton Devil fired a hard wrist shot by Prosvetov to make it 1-0 Gulls.
Tuscon responded just over a minute later thanks to a slap-shot from the point that made its way through traffic and by Stolarz to make it 1-1.
Play was fairly even between the two teams for the next eight minutes until Blake Pietila was called for hooking in the defensive zone to put the Gulls down a man once again. The Tuscon Power Play was initially able to get set and generate some chances on Stolarz through shots from the point as again the San Diego penalty kill seemed to have trouble adjusting to the wider style. Kiefer Sherwood was recognizable as always, creating a turnover and keeping opposing players from getting the puck back, taking on three at once at one point. Then Justin Kloos could have sent Jack Kopacka on a partial breakaway but elected to carry himself, entering the Tuscon zone he suddenly added an additional burst of speed to get into an open space and all in one motion fired a hard wrist shot by Prosvetov to make it 2-1 Gulls on his third shorthanded goal of the season.
The period ended with the Gulls up by one but down in shots 17-9, the shot map indicating that high danger chances were relatively even but the Gulls making theirs count.
Tuscon took back momentum once again as they got on the board first in the middle frame, Blake Speers getting one by Stolarz after a broken play in the San Diego zone. 2-2.
The Gulls fought back and earned a Power Play as Broadhurst was tripped coming into the Tuscon zone. The San Diego man advantage looked a lot more dangerous than it had of late but could not convert. The Gulls carried momentum and got the go-ahead goal once again when Chase De Leo finished off an absolute mammoth shift by winning a puck battle and firing a turn around shot through traffic that surprised Prosvetov. 3-2 Gulls.
The Roadrunners responded once again, with another point shot fired through traffic that Stolarz could not track and it was tied up yet again just over two minutes later. 3-3.
Chris Wideman was called for boarding as he caught Dysin Mayo turning the wrong way with a hit and the Gulls headed back to the penalty kill with six and a half minutes remaining in the second period.
This time the Roadrunners were able to take advantage from the offensive face-off, as a shot from the slot generated a big rebound to the side which was then fired in from a wide angle to give Tuscon their first lead of the night. 4-3.
Tuscon dominated play for the remainder of the period and had the Gulls imprisoned in their own zone for the final two minutes, forcing the Pietila line into multiple icings until they were able to escape the period fortunately down by just the one goal. Shots were 31-20 for the Roadrunners and 14-11 for the home team on the period. The shot map indicating that although there were not as many high danger chances as the first period, the sheer barrage of shots was the main cause for the change in the lead.
San Diego needed to come out with hustle to start the third and did so but Tuscon quickly countered with an odd man rush of their own, their speed clearly too much for some of the Gulls larger defenders.
The teams continued to trade chances, Chris Wideman coming close on a drop pass in the slot and then the Roadrunners responding with a couple of goal-mouth scrambles after some point shots through traffic.
The Gulls had another chance with the man advantage when Saarijarvi was called for hooking. San Diego had some good looks on the Power Play but could not get one by Prosvetov.
Looking to carry the momentum the Roadrunners took advantage of San Diego committing the extra man to the attack as they scored on an out-numbered attack while Mahura was caught behind the play. 5-3 Tuscon.
The Gulls responded via Chase De Leo as the La Mirada native continued his impressive night by accepting a pass on the left wing and firing a hard slap shot that went through Provsetov to make it 5-4.
San Diego fed of the play and had back to back strong shifts in the Tuscon zone but again were put down by two goals as they could not get control of a bouncing puck after the Roadrunners fired several shots on Stolarz. 6-4 Tuscon.
The Gulls had another chance on the Power Play as the Roadrunners were called for delay of game with seven minutes left in the third period but again could not convert.
San Diego desperately searched for additional scoring for the remainder of the period but ultimately fell short. Losing 7-4 after the Roadrunners were able to ice things with an empty net tally.
2023-2024 Game 72: San Diego Gulls at Coachella Valley Firebirds
In the final game of the season after surrendering a three goal lead to go down 5-4 in ove…