Looking to continue their winning ways, the San Diego Gulls welcomed the recently slumping Ontario Reign who were themselves looking to get their third straight win after dropping the previous three.
The most surprising change to the line-up was Jacob Perreault sitting in favor of Dmirty Osipov, while Luca Profaca after possibly taking one too many penalties in his brief re-appearance last game, was scratched again for Frank Hora. Axel Andersson was listed as a healthy scratch, meaning he is close to returning from injury.
Lukas Dostal got the start.
First Period:
Trying to avoid another slow start the San Diego Gulls seemed almost too tentative to start and the Reign immediately took advantage, hemming them in their zone and controlling possession for the first six minutes of action interspersed with a brief but fun fight between Travis Howe and Tyrell Goulbourne.
Things continued to go from bad to worse as the momentum increasing intention of the fight went in the complete opposite direction and the Reign piled on the shots and chances. As time passed into the second half of the period the Gulls had just the one shot to the Reigns thirteen.
One great shift by the Regenda-Groulx-Cotton line briefly moved things back in the Gulls favor as the three threw their weight around in the Reign zone.
Hunter Drew and Evan Weinger almost combined for a great chance in front minutes later as San Diego finally saw some extended time in the Ontario zone and finished the period in a somewhat more controlled manner.
In the final minute Weinger saved a sure-goal as he showed great speed on the back check to break up a centering pass that had Dostal already sliding across for the one-timer. The Gulls headed to the first intermission even at 0-0 but out-shot and out-played for the majority of the first frame. The Reign leading in shots 17-3.
Second Period: San Diego Gulls 0 – Ontario Reign 0
Playing slightly better to start the second the Gulls made one successful penalty kill after they were caught with too many men on a bad change.
The Groulx line once again had a great shift and thought they had scored when Regenda redirected the puck into an open Reign net with his skate but it was deemed no goal via the distinctive kicking motion rule.
San Diego got into penalty trouble and were able to kill another minor but could not stop the resulting Ontario momentum as the Reign got one by Dostal while he desperately flailed for a loose puck after making a sliding stop. 1-0 Reign.
The rest of the period was a much of a muchness as the San Diego Gulls continued to struggle to get any sense of coordinated play together with passes bouncing in front of or behind intended targets, while the Reign kept up their own dominating forecheck and forcing the odd chance that Dostal had to be lively and awake to stop.
Looking like they were ready to call it quits the Gulls headed to the second intermission down by one and trailing in shots 26-9.
Third Period: Ontario Reign 1 – San Diego Gulls 0
Right from the first minute of action you could tell the San Diego Gulls got a talking to between period as the Groulx line came right out with an opportunity.
As the game opened up more and play began to go more end to end – Dostal saw yet more action but was his usual steadfast All Star himself.
Brayden Tracey made a great defensive play to slide and break up a pass on a four on two partial break for the Reign before the Gulls got into penalty trouble again moments later but it didn’t matter as Michael Del Zotto put on a show shorthanded as he raced the puck end to end and then executed a perfect wrap around to beat Villalta. 1-1 tie game.
The Reign came back with a response right away with the Gulls still on the penalty kill and out of formation in their own zone, Aidan Dudas firing a point shot was redirected in front which Dostal made the initial stop on but could not get the rebound from Martin Chromiak. 2-1 Ontario.
San Diego slowly but surely increased momentum despite the Reign clogging the neutral zone and playing conservative on the attack and were finally awarded a Power Play after Del Zotto was hauled down in the Ontario zone.
The Gulls held the zone for the majority of the man advantage and were looking for the point shot through a screen but could only create two chances to do so and were unable to convert.
With time running out the Gulls pulled Dostal for the extra attacker but could not regain possession after a dump into the Reign zone and a very nice shot by Moverare from near his own goal line hit the empty net all the way down the other end. 3-1 Reign and the final score in this low scoring mostly uninspiring encounter.
Post Game Notes:
Do we need to worry about Perreault?
Jacob Perreault was a noticeable healthy scratch and the broadcast confirmed it was indeed a healthy scratch, not illness related. Not a good look for one of the Ducks better prospects, has Coach Sommer decided to send him a message? Seems like it. He is tied for seventh in scoring on the team with 14 points in 34 games and is pointless in his last five. This is the second time he has been healthy scratched this season. Do we need to worry about Perreault? I have said it a few times before – over the years I have seen him with the Gulls I have loved certain aspects of his game but not a fan of others. The parts I am not fond of are the tendency to back-chat the Officials and generally appearing like a spoilt brat on occasion. Will this scratch work? Sure maybe. Is it a long term solution? No. No disrespect to Dmitry Osipov but he knows, we know and Perreault knows that he is going to be sitting the very next game and Jacob Perreault will be right back in the line-up. It’s an empty threat. Now when the next wave of prospects arrive at the conclusion of this season, then the current class have reason to be worried because ice time and spots in the line-up are going to be much harder to earn and its going to cause a definite shift in compete among team-mates but for now, there isn’t enough depth or support for this current roster to really show their potential.
Coming back
Axel Andersson was also listed among the healthy scratches – meaning he is returning from injury and was seen taking part in warm-ups, look for him to draw back into the line-up once Beaulieu goes back up to the Ducks after his conditioning stint completes. Little by little the Gulls are finally getting healthy again.
Pick it back up
If the current trend continues – look for the Gulls to come back with a much better and winning effort tomorrow night. They haven’t been playing poorly overall lately they just seem to have off-nights between bursts of inspiration. This was one of them. Does Dostal finally get a rest? He probably should. The Reign will likely counter with Peterson tomorrow night, saying former Kings goalie has had an up and down season is an understatement but he has won his last two starts. It will be interesting to see which Peterson the Gulls see tomorrow.
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