Coming home after a disappointing but deceptively not as one-sided as it looked loss to Bakersfield, the San Diego Gulls gave rookie goaltender Gage Alexander some love on Valentines day by awarding him his first AHL start.
BO Groulx was an obvious and huge omission as he was announced in the pre-game scratches as injured – likely the upper body injury he sustained that caused him to leave the game against Bakersfield. Rocco Grimaldi moved to Center while Hunter Drew was elevated to the top line. Evan Weinger was moved to the third line to take Drew’s spot on a line with Lopina and Cotton while Travis Howe drew back in to take the last spot on the fourth line. On defense – Del Zotto was placed with Helleson while Brouillard was paired with Profaca and the newcomer Wichers was placed with Axel Andersson.
First Period:
From the drop of the puck it was immediately evident that the Gulls were committed to giving their young net-minder the best possible support they could in his first AHL start as they blocked shots, made extra effort to get sticks in lanes and ensured more passes connected than usual as of late.
Rocco Grimaldi getting the games first goal as he deflected a Hunter Drew shot enroute to the net. 1-0 San Diego Gulls.
Just when it seemed the Gulls were potentially going to escape from their undisciplined ways Brayden Tracey was found guilty of tripping less than a minute after the goal.
Alexander was called upon to show his size and extremely long reach as he made one stop then reached across with the left pad to prevent another during one sequence as the Gulls were able to kill the minor.
Tucson contonued to generate more momentum after the sequence and a bad change by the Gulls allowed the Roadrunners to enter the San Diego zone with numbers as Vladislav Kolyachonok beat Alexander off a cross-ice pass. 1-1 tie game.
San Diego were awarded a Power Play of their own just before the midway point of the period as Grimaldi drew a high-sticking penalty but despite looking much more deadly in the later stages of the minor, they could not convert.
The Gulls continued to battle in the Tucson zone and a puck battle won by Bryce Kindopp that he sent back to the point then received immediately back and one-touched to the slot to Glen Gawdin allowed the veteran to lean into a shot that caromed off both posts and in. Gulls 2-1.
The Gulls taking a 2-1 lead into the first intermission despite trailing in shots 16-7.
Second Period: San Diego Gulls 2 – Tucson Roadrunners 1
Expecting a big push from the Roadrunners the Gulls received one and then some as the visitors quickly racked up the shot total while maintaining possession and keeping San Diego on their heels for much of the period.
The Grimaldi line looked the only bright spark as they routinely generated offense on their shift and on one such sequence the Gates Jr line followed that up with a nice turnover and pass across to Drew Helleson who had the most time and space he has probably seen all year to patiently skate in, pick a spot and beat Prosvetov low glove side. 3-1 Gulls.
The Roadrunners drew another call in the final minute of the period but it was instantly erased as Michael Carccone was caught hooking in the corner directly after the face-off.
San Diego taking a 3-1 lead but again trailing in shots 24-13 as they hit the second intermission.
Third Period: San Diego Gulls 3 – Tucson Roadrunners 1
San Diego began the third disciplined and much better than the way they began the second. Despite playing at home they essentially played out the perfect road team strategy of playing conservative with the puck and clearing it from their zone whichever way they could.
As time wound down and the Roadrunners grew increasingly frustrated the Gulls were awarded a Power Play late in third when goaltender Ivan Prosvetov attempted to clear the puck under pressure and sent it sailing high over the glass near center ice.
As the Gulls Power Play continued to plug away and look likely but ultimately seeming to come up short once again San Diego would finally get one with the man advantage. Starting with a great turnover from Tracey as he stripped it from near the blue line and then sent it into the middle of ice to Grimaldi who then neatly sent it behind him to Gawdin. The former Stockton Heat forwards shot was pushed wide but Tracey was there to collect and smartly hold it rather than immediately fire it into the traffic in front – spotting Rocco Grimaldi slipping into a soft area near the goal line as he skated backward toward the slot. Zipping a pass to Grimaldi the veteran orange county native wasted no time one-timing a blast from a sever angle into the Tucson net. 4-1 Gulls.
The Roadrunners pulled their net minder with just over two minutes remaining but Pavol Regenda would have no attempt at a comeback as he bowled in on the forecheck, forced a turnover and all in one motion fired the puck into the empty net. 5-1 Gulls.
San Diego swarming their rookie netminder and shower him with love on Valentines Day and his first AHL win.
Post Game Notes:
Gage Against The Machine
My first real look at Gage Alexander and I do like what I see. He is very very tall. We knew that. But he is also quite sassy. He was not afraid to throw a check at a Roadrunner looking to battle him playing the puck behind the net or come out to challenge a fore-checker attempting to get at one his defenders playing the puck behind his net. He is lanky but fast and powerful on those edges. My only concern is he might be a tad too aggressive right now. There were a few times where he came out too far and could have been beat easily by a loose puck sneaking out to the side or taking an unexpected bounce behind the net. He needs to be more compact in his stance but that’s a touch of raw instinct that most young goaltenders see as they first enter the league. It was noted in the broadcast that while Dostal remains in Anaheim could we see Alexander get more starts? Based on this performance I would say yes.
De Leo in next game? this time?
Surely De Leo must be back in this weekend. The Gulls injury list should be tipping in the other direction hopefully soon.
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