Hoping to finally get back in the win column and create some momentum heading toward the playoffs the Gulls welcomed in the lowly Tucson Roadrunners to Pechanga.
It was announced before the game that Alex Limoges would be of action with a non-covid related illness – while Morgan Adams-Moisan was out for the rest of the season due an upper body injury. Allowing both Brayden Tracey and Blake McLaughlin to draw into the line-up at the same time. No other changes were made while Lukas Dostal got the start.
First Period:
The Lopina line put some early pressure on the Tucson net but were denied while the Roadrunners almost kept the Gulls napping at the other end as some very pedestrian defense almost cost San Diego.
Taking possession back and playing smarter with the puck the Gulls quickly drove the shot total up – leading 5-1 at the 13 minute mark.
The Roadrunners fought back and caused San Diego some headaches in their own zone through some basic meat-and-potatoes style hockey, dumping the puck in then pressuring the outlet to cause turnovers.
Tucson slowly but surely swung momentum and by the final five minutes of the period they had quietly overtaken the lead in shots while forcing Dostal to make back to back breakaway saves.
By periods end it was slightly horrifying but also not surprising to see that San Diego had not had a shot on goal since the five minute mark of the period, heading to the first intermission scoreless but lucky to still be even thanks to Lukas Dostal. Shots were 9-5 for Tucson.
Second Period: San Diego Gulls 0 – Tucson Roadrunners 0
Potentially expecting a turn-around from the Gulls we were met with yet more flat uninspired play and the Roadrunners soon took the lead on a two on one break after a bad bounce caught Drew Helleson flat footed. Dostal unable to stop the shot as it was sent across to the open man on the break. 1-0 Roadrunners.
The Gulls seemed to wake up after that and Bouchard also appeared to juggle the lines to return to some familiar combinations as McLaughlin and Robinson were seen together as well as Drew and Brouillard.
Just after the midway point of the period the Gulls were awarded the first Power Play of the game as Drew Helleson was tripped coming up the left side boards. San Diego did manage to get some shots on net with the man advantage but could not find a position in close nor provide enough traffic in front and the penalty expired with Jacob Perreault unsuccessfully trying to draw a call going down a tad too easily with a stick in his midsection.
Danny O’Regan had the Gulls best chance of the period and the game when he created himself some space to knife into the slot with the puck but his wrist shot was stopped.
The Gulls heading to the second intermission down by one and looking like a team uninterested in rewarding Pechanga arena with a win on fan appreciation night. Shots were 18-15 for the Roadrunners with the Gulls out-shooting them 10-9 on the period.
Third Period: Tucson Roadrunners 1 – San Diego Gulls 0
Buddy Robinson was called for holding mere seconds into the third as he attempted to force a turnover in the Roadrunners zone but at least it was a sign of life from the Gulls forecheck.
As San Diego killed the minor they attempted to push play back in the Tucson direction and for the first time in the game things started to open up.
The broadcast seemed to think that would be a bad thing for the Gulls but given how bad they looked trying to prevent Tucson from playing that style in the first place it seemed worth a shot to change it up and they did immediately look better. Josh Lopina looked like he had tied the game on a wide-open chance from the high slot but his shot hit iron.
Play calmed down and became a slog once again – with Dostal again being called upon to make discreet big time saves before a rush and zone entry from Brayden Tracey then pass to Hunter Drew ended in a Brent Gates rebound goal to finally tie things up and bring the Pechanga arena alive. 1-1 tie game with four minutes left.
With the Pechanga still rocking Jacob Perreault gave the Gulls the lead just over a minute later when Kindopp forced a turnover in-front of the Tucson net and the puck bounced right into his wheel-house, the Ducks up and coming star sniper showing off his inhuman release as he sniped a shot top corner. 2-1 Gulls.
From there the Gulls came to life and finished off the Roadrunners with ease. Buddy Robinson and Greg Printz combining to ice it into the empty net, with the veteran dishing to the hard working Providence stalwart for his tenth of the year. 3-1 Gulls.
San Diego taking the win by showing up in the final four minutes of the game on fan appreciation night.
Post Game Notes:
The Good News
Lukas Dostal is on form and although not entirely in god-mode just yet, he appears to be trending toward it.
The Bad News
Dostal has demonstrated he will do all that he can to steal a game but when the rest of your team is playing at less than half their potential – it isn’t enough.
The Outlook
I don’t mean to be a debbie downer – the Gulls won tonight but they didnt play with a shred of motivation or desperation until the final five minutes. They barely beat the lowly Roadrunners – if they play like this against the Reign – their confirmed first round opponent – it’s going to be a very short and embarrassing series. The Gulls now have one last test against Stockton before a back to back in Tucson before they open the best of three series in Ontario.
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