Finally completing a lengthy six game home stand the Gulls headed north of the border to face Abbotsford in a weekend back to back.
Jacob Perreault remained out with a lower body injury and Brendan Guhle was also absent without word as to why – Nathan Larose slotted in to take his place in the line up. Lukas Dostal got the start.
First Period:
The Gulls got into penalty trouble early as Buddy Robinson was called for interference off of a face-off and as the Canucks got set in the San Diego zone their slick passing immediately caused chaos in front of Dostal. Trevor Carrick was called for cross-checking at the end of one such sequence as he tried to minimize the damage. Abbotsford wasted no time converting on the five on three, penetrating the Gulls three man triangle with flawless execution to beat Dostal via a one-timer from right in front. 1-0 Canucks.
Time on the period flew by after the goal, as the Gulls killed the remaining penalty but had to match the Canucks ferocious forecheck with quick thinking and some big stops from Dostal.
San Diego did manage to create some chances off the rush and forcing a couple of mistakes in the Abbotsford zone but ultimately the Canucks defense was too disciplined, offering little to no room to create or shoot.
An unforgivable defensive miscue by the Gulls left a Canuck all alone in front as Abbotsford kept the puck in at the blue line and immediately fed the lone man in front of Dostal. 2-0 Canucks with just over two minutes left in the period.
Some blatant interference from the Canucks allowed an Abbotssford player to skate in unharrassed and use the interfered with player as a screen to fire a shot that Dostal stopped but the rebound landed perfectly for the Canucks to slam home. 3-0 Canucks.
San Diego were finally awarded a Power Play as Brogan Rafferty was hooked coming out of the Gulls zone but time quickly expired on the period before the Gulls could really get set. A shell-shocked Gulls side down by three after the first twenty and looking for answers between periods as well as perhaps some more help from the Officials if they hoped to get back in this one. Shots were 12-8 for the Canucks on the period.
Second Period: Abottsford Canucks 3 – San Diego Gulls 0
Starting the period on the Power Play the Gulls immediately set to getting set in the Abottsford zone, playing the same patient diamond formation I made note of in my previous post game musings. Just as it seemed they might get nothing going Danny O’Regan stepped left from the circles to wire a blazing shot that beat Canucks goaltender Spencer Martin over his shoulder. 3-1 Canucks.
Buddy Robinson got into penalty trouble again as he was called for slashing that on replay showed his poke-checking the Canucks players stick and it spilling loose from his obviously too loose grasp.
Abbottsford set up in the San Diego zone and once again tallied with the man advantage via a shot that beat the new to the game Olle Eriksson Ek through traffic. 4-1 Canucks.
Ill admit I wasn’t actually watching the live action when the Gulls managed to get one back through Nathan Larose’s first AHL goal but I believe it was a very rare passing play down low by two defensemen as he and Trevor Carrick found space in the Abbotsford zone. 4-2 Canucks.
Greg Printz drew another rare call in the Gulls favour when he went down in a heap behind the Canucks net but San Diego could not get set long enough to really threaten the Abbotsford net as the home teams forecheck was far too aggressive to allow a clean entry for San Diego.
The Canucks moved back to a three goal lead when the Gulls again did a poor job defending down low and were unable to clear a loose puck in front of their net. 5-2 Canucks.
Again the Gulls had a Power Play to end the period – coming close right off the bat as Brogan Rafferty chased down and fired a loose puck point blank on Martin but it was stopped. The Gulls hitting the second intermission still down by three as they managed to get on the scoreboard but allowed too many mistakes in their own end. Shots were 24-17 for the Canucks after forty minutes and 12-9 on the period.
Third Period: Abbotsford Canucks 5 – San Diego Gulls 2
Starting the period on the Power Play again, the Gulls once again made good. This time via a very pretty passing play down-low in front of the Canucks net. Taking advantage of the aggressive Abottsford penalty kill to find space down low and put together a nice sequence of passes that generated a shot that was stopped but Alex Limoges was there to put away the rebound. 5-3 Canucks.
After the goal the Gulls were sent right back to the Power Play but this time were outplayed with the man advantage, unable to get set and so sloppy in their own zone that the Canucks took right back their three goal lead via a shorthanded tally. 6-3 Canucks.
Time marched on for the rest of the period with the Gulls feebly trying to get back within striking distance but unable to get clear chances or find space to create.
San Diego had their best chance of the remaining time in the period when they briefly pulled Eriksson Ek during a shortened Power Play sequence but their six on four attack could not convert and he was safely returned before the Canucks could slip in another.
The rest of the time was broken up by one-on-one skirmishes as Brayden Tracey engaged in his first pro fight when he took on former WHL rival Brandon Cutler while Nik Brouillard made sure to end the night on a high note when he more than dominated Noah Juulsen in the final minutes of play.
The Gulls dropping this decision 6-3 and hoping to have a less embarrassing showing tomorrow before returning home.
Post Game Notes:
Anti-Veteran Effect Strikes Again
I don’t know why the Gulls cannot seem to string a consistent group of games together whenever they get their veterans back but it appears to definitely be a thing. Robinson in particular looked completely out of sorts and playing from a completely different playbook. The good news is the Ducks should have an endless supply of young talent from next year onward to ensure the Gulls will be suitably stacked for years to come. Watch out for more on that when I start doing some articles on the new wave coming through.
#McLaughlinWatch
The last of the Ducks College playing prospects had their season end when they unceremoniously bowed out against their in-state rivals Minnesota State in the semi finals of the frozen four yesterday. Blake McLaughlin was playing in his fourth and senior year so the wait is on for him to either sign his ELC with the Ducks or potentially pull a fast one on them and sign with another NHL team via the NCAA free-agent loophole. Hopefully he stays loyal and inks a deal with the Ducks then joins the Gulls on a PTO. Jackson LaCombe could also potentially sign an entry level deal and elect to turn pro – the 21 year old has just completed his Junior year and general consensus is this Golden Gophers roster is ready to receive new blood in the coming season.
Record Setting Limo
Alex Limoges twenty first goal of the season set a new club record for goals scored by a rookie in a season. I guess the only highlight of this piss-poor game. Not much else to say on that other than it isn’t really surprising, the Ducks have a pure sniper in the former Penn State product whom I expect to be signed to an ELC this off-season and in the NHL next year – if at least part time.
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