Heading home and desperately trying to get back in the win column Coach Sommer made slight changes to the lineup by taking Gates Jr and Profaca out and putting Osipov and Axel Andersson back in.
Lukas Dostal got the start.
First Period:
San Diego had some good jump via the top line to start but the Eagles quickly took a hold of the game by exerting their physical game and keeping the Gulls in their zone. Perreault was called for roughing after four minutes of play and San Diego went to the penalty kill.
After successfully killing the minor the Gulls tried to get back on the attack and drew a penalty of their own as Osipov was hooked coming into the Eagles zone.
It took the Gulls first unit some time to get set in the Colorado zone but once they did a point shot from Brouillard was blocked but bounced right to Grimaldi in the slot who measured and wired a shot by Annunen for the lead. 1-0 Gulls.
Colorado picked up the hitting in response as BO Groulx was dropped by a hit at center ice and Hunter Drew came in to answer but fell over before he could start the tilt. Gaining momentum back in the process – the Eagles drew another call as they maintained possession.
San Diego killed the minor without much anxiety and as they tried to gain momentum back Rocco Grimaldi was tripped coming into the Eagles zone to send the Gulls back to the Power Play.
Again it took the first unit to get properly set but once they did Grimaldi and Brouillard played catch, clearly trying to open up space for the defender and when they finally did – he wound up and dropped a bomb that beat Annunen through traffic in front. 2-0 Gulls.
Things got testy in the final minute of play and Osipov took exception to being knocked down by Keaton Middleton in-front of the Eagles net – eventually convincing him to drop the gloves after an exchange of cross checks for a short but fun fight that brought the Pechanga arena to life.
San Diego taking a 2-0 lead into the first intermission thanks to the Power Play but lagging in shots 11-6.
Second Period: San Diego Gulls 2 – Colorado Eagles 0
San Diego looked great to start the middle frame, opening the ice with crisp passing and speed plays before Austin Strand laid a big hit and was made to answer for it by Andreas Englund – effectively killing the play just as the Gulls had a great chance.
On the resulting San Diego Power Play the Gulls kept possession and the puck in the Colorado zone for the majority of the time as well as for a good few minutes after but the Eagles weathered the storm and went back to the attack.
Play shifted back San Diegos way before an offensive zone holding penalty assessed to Healey gave Colorado an opening to take back control.
The Gulls killed the minor thanks to some great work by Groulx and Helleson but minutes later the Eagles got on the board after a breakdown that left Nijhoff caught in the Colorado end during a counter attack that left a man high and open to receive a drop pass and wire a shot by Dostal through traffic. 2-1 Gulls.
Dostal would be called upon to stop a penalty shot soon afterward when Austin Strand got his stick on Callahan Burke as he got behind the San Diego defense.
The Gulls picked up their act and rode further momentum after enjoying more time with the man advantage but again being unable to convert. The fourth line showed some good speed and transition as they entered and buzzed the Eagles zone.
Against the run of play Colorado tied things up on a pretty between the legs move goal by Jean-Luc Foudy after Juolevi got caught flat footed against the side boards on a zone exit play gone wrong. Moments earlier BO Groulx had legally turned the puck over in a puck battle but somehow did not draw a penalty as he attempted to skate the puck forward with the Eagles player whom he had won the puck battle from draped all over him. 2-2 Tie game.
Things got testy again and after a tussle that took place in front of the Gulls net Nik Brouillard made the silly decision to get an extra punch in on Spencer Smallman (yes real name) after he had already been led away by the Officials. He was given a ten minute misconduct and two minutes for roughing on the play.
The Gulls killed the minor then were given a Power Play of their own and looked close to scoring as they owned the Eagles zone with the first unit – having Juolevi in the place of Brouillard before Jacob Perreault showed a tremendous burst of speed as he received a pass from Tracey and broke through three Eagles players to go one on one with Annunen – getting hooked before he could get his shot away.
San Diego looking better at the end of the period but squandering a two goal lead to go into the second intermission tied and just one shot behind the Eagles 21-20.
Third Period: San Diego Gulls 2 – Colorado Eagles 2
Starting the period with the man advantage the Gulls first unit were clearly missing Nik Brouillard who was still serving a ten minute misconduct.
Killing the minor the Eagles tried to open things up again with their speed but Juolevi made a nice defensive play at the San Diego zone to cause a turnover and then drew a penalty as he was hooked trying to move the puck back up ice.
Again the Gulls could not convert but rode momentum after the kill and a nice turnover by Brayden Tracey in the Eagles zone lead to a O’Regan tip that hit both posts before bouncing out to the vicinity of an incoming Josh Lopina who buried it. 3-2 Gulls.
Colorado hit right back – catching the Gulls on a long shift after some great chances in the Eagles zone as both Bryce Kindopp and Axel Andersson were guilty of holding on to the puck much too long when they should have cleared it. 3-3 Tie game once again.
But Jacob Perreault picked the right time to get his first goal of the season as he collected the puck as it was passed down to him near the goal line in the Eagles zone, where he turned and stared down a potential pass back to the point before wiring a shot from an impossible angle that snuck by the Colorado netminder to give the Gulls back the lead.
Danny O’Regan was called for a weak slashing call with under four minutes remaining but the Gulls survived the final test of adversity and held on for the win. Breaking their three game losing streak and improving to a 2-3-0 record.
Post Game Notes:
Shifting lineup
So it was confirmed that Andersson had been a healthy scratch the past two games and given he was partially responsible for the Eagles third goal in this game I am not sure he has earned the trust of Sommer for a permanent spot either. Where do we go from here? I thought he was on an upward trajectory ever since his arrival in San Diego and if not for injuries could be knocking on the Ducks door by now. It seems he has to start all over again with Sommer now and this feels like an absolute do or die season for him. Meanwhile the Eagles first goal can be partially blamed on Nijhoff who has yet to sit since drawing in after the injury to Kirkland – if anything I would prefer to see Nijhoff sit the next one and Gates Jr come back in. Osipov has been a pleasant surprise and not what I expected at all from the little I could learn of him after the Gulls signed him to a PTO – he deserves more ice time.
Upcoming changes
It’s only a matter of time before Grimaldi is signed to an NHL contract and called up to the Ducks – in which case the Gulls will receive someone back in the shuffle. At this point – Pavol Regenda; who I predicted in the off-season would be with the Gulls – is looking the likely candidate given he was scratched in their most recent game against the Lightning tonight. Underlying metrics would disagree but the only other option is Brett Leason – who would have to be placed on waivers first.
Early season depth test
It is somewhat ironic that the Gulls are already facing a small depth test so early in the season that is not due to injuries to the big club but to their own. I am concerned that once Grimaldi does go up to the Ducks – the Gulls will lose a huge part of their offense and will need De Leo as well as Kirkland back as soon as possible to make up for it. That said – both Jacob Perreault and Brayden Tracey are starting to heat up; perhaps if forced into it – Sommer might finally put them on a line together and let them shine. The feed Tracey gave to a streaking Perreault toward the end of the second period tonight was *chefs kiss*.
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