Hoping to pick themselves back up after another disappointing loss the San Diego Gulls welcomed the near-bottom of the league Grand Rapids Griffins to Pechanga.
Brent Gates Jr drew back in while Logan Nijhoff sat to make room. Olle Erikkson Ek was given the rare start. Defensive pairings remained the same while Gates Jr centered Tracey and Perreault on what would turn out to be the Gulls most effective line on the night.
First Period:
Play was physical to start and the visitors were a little too overzealous with their ultra violence as they were called for boarding just over two minutes into action.
San Diego never really got set with the man advantage and were given a minor of their own when Justin Kirkland was called for slashing half-way through the Power Play then Brayden Tracey attempted to cause a turnover in the Griffins zone but was called for hooking. It took the Griffins less than twenty seconds to capitalize, blasting a point shot by Eriksson-Ek to make it 1-0. 1-0 Griffins.
Things went quickly from bad to worse as the remaining time at four on four allowed the Griffins too much space and they put on a clinic in the San Diego Gulls zone. Eriksson-Ek was forced into making two stops before flailing about on his back and allowing the second goal of the game as he dived helplessly to his right. 2-0 Griffins.
A suspicious infraction went against the Gulls as Bryce Kindopp and a Griffins player collided at mid-ice but only Kindopp was sent to the box. Once again the Griffins took advantage – winning a battle for a loose puck in the slot and sending it by Olle Eriksson Ek to make it 3-0.
San Diego finally woke up and made some concerted pushes in the Grand Rapids zone before breaking through on a nice goal from Jacob Perreault, set up by Brayden Tracey off a beautiful behind the back pass from behind the net. It’s as if those two should be on the same line all the time???? 3-1 Griffins.
The Gulls had to kill yet another penalty before escaping to the first intermission but this time looked the better of the two teams as Rocco Grimaldi and Bryce Kindopp combined for some magic that almost ended in Kindopp scoring off a rush. This was possibly the best sequence I have seen the Gulls put together all season.
Olle Eriksson Ek was forced to make a big stop just as time expired and the San Diego Gulls headed to the dressing room in the all too familiar position of being down 3-1 and behind in shots 9-6.
Second Period: Grand Rapids Griffins 3 – San Diego Gulls 1
Having yet another minor still to kill the Gulls started out the second period relatively well but then saw another puck hit the net behind Erikkson Ek as the Griffins found space and a seam on the left side. 4-1 Griffins.
Once again the Gulls hit right back – again courtesy of Jacob Perreault as he finished off a bouncing puck that was smartly fired on net by Nik Brouillard who had spotted the Ducks first round selection was alone in front. 4-2 Griffins.
San Diego continued to have the better of play as well as the majority of possession with time running down on the middle frame.
The constant pressure paid off as Danny O’Regan received a pass off the boards from BO Groulx after Josh Lopina won a battle down low to free the puck up – his hard wrist shot finding the back of the Griffins net to bring San Diego within one. 4-3 Griffins.
Nik Brouillard and his lack of care for conformity or rules made its weekly appearance as a very weak cross-checking call made against him drew his immediate ire – giving the prone Griffins player a few more shots after the play to earn himself another ten minute misconduct.
Just as everything seemed to be going the Gulls way the Griffins got one back on a shot that Erikkson Ek should have stopped with under twenty seconds left in the frame. 5-3 Griffins.
San Diego heading to the second intermission deflated after playing a period that saw them close the gap only to fall behind at the literal last twenty seconds moment.
Shots were 20-13 for the Griffins.
Third Period: Grand Rapids Griffins 5 – San Diego Gulls 3
The Griffins came out with a big push to start the third – generating a high danger chance within the first twenty seconds but Oll Eriksson Ek pushed across to make a huge stop – injuring himself in the process as his left leg got stuck underneath him.
Lukas Dostal came in to relief as the Swedish netminder was helped off the ice – not a great sign for how long he would be out for.
Jacob Perreault almost broke in for a chance on his own but was hauled down as he tried to split the Griffins defense – drawing a call on the play.
It took Rocco Grimaldi just a face-off win and a few strides to find the back of the net as he received a pass from Juolevi at the point and found space on the right side to measure and wire a shot that beat the Griffins goaltender with BO Groulx positioned in front. 5-4 Griffins.
Once again as it felt like the Gulls were building toward another goal via some unstoppable momentum before an ill-advised penalty temporarily halted that drive as they were whistled for too many men.
Surviving the minor thanks to some help from the post on one sequence the Gulls went right on the attack – once again with Brayden Tracey and Jacob Perreault factoring in a goal via some great work down low. The Griffins goaltender leaving the puck for his defender who was already at the far corner, so Tracey swooped in and fired it back to the point to a waiting Perreault – the Ducks first rounder then wiring a shot that Tracey tipped enroute to tie things up at five. 5-5 tie game.
Grand Rapids attempted a push back and the physicality instantly moved up a notch – the Officials managed to keep things under control however by dishing out matching minors.
Things got tighter as time wound down to the final few minutes of play and a determined drive by Taro Hirose broke Gulls and Gulls fans hearts everywhere on a low shot that beat Dostal off the rush. 6-5 Griffins with 1:25 left.
The Gulls pulled Dostal in the remaining time left but could not convert – going down 6-5 as the early Griffins lead proved too much to overcome.
Post Game Notes:
Fix one hole, spring another leak
The Gulls offense finally came to life tonight but this time the defense let things down – you cant put all of that loss on Olle. Sure two of those goals were likely an easy stop from Dostal but he also came up with some huge stops also. The defense let the Gulls down tonight – at least to start the game. Not enough man to man, not enough urgency and not enough physical bodying up.
When the smoke cleared…
Bodies went down all over the ice tonight and now it looks like San Diego will be without Olle Eriksson Ek for a lengthy period of time and Justin Kirkland who cannot seem to stay healthy. Eriksson Ek’s leg injury looked like a hyper-extension so that means he is probably gone until the end of January. Where is Chase De Leo? When will Helleson come back? Will the Ducks even use him? Either way you can expect a call-up from Tulsa of Daniel Mannella and possibly Evan Weinger. Weinger leads the Oilers in scoring with 11 points in 9 games. Max Golod has 8 points in 8 games.
Need more T – P for my bunghole
T – P, Tracey and Perreault.
How many fucking times have I said it.
KEEP THEM ON A LINE TOGETHER THEY HAVE OBVIOUS CHEMISTRY.
They were the only two Gulls to have three point nights and looked dangerous whenever they were together.
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