Dropping a disappointing loss to end their four game point streak the San Diego Gulls headed home to finish their season series with the Canucks with the added adversity of losing their star defensemen and second leading scorer to call-up.
Jaxsen Wiebe and Blake McLaughlin switched places once again as Wiebe drew back in and McLaughlin was sat, joining Travis Howe and Alex Stalock as the healthy scratches. Luca Profaca drew in to attempt to fill the huge void left by Zellweger. Coach McIlvane threw the lines into a blender – throwing Nesterenko on the top line with Agozzino and Regenda while Chase De Leo dropped down to join Gawdin and Caulfield on the second line. The third line unsurprisingly with its existing chemistry – remained intact.
Jacob Perreault still remained out with an injury and Calle Clang was given the start with Tomas Suchanek backing up.
First Period:
The first was a defense heavy frame as both teams dug out the trenches and laid the land mines across the neutral zone while exchanging two penalties a piece. It took the Gulls eight minutes to register their first shot on goal but that did not speak to any indication of them being thoroughly outplayed. Shots were 2-1 for the Canucks at that point.
San Diego did struggle mightily when on the Power Play as they sorely missed Olen Zellweger and his ability to rush the puck up ice and get an easy zone entry with his speed.
Calle Clang was called upon to make a huge stop at the 8:49 mark, as he stretched across to deny the Canucks on a two on one rush.
The Gulls came alive and appeared to have the better of play in the final minutes of the frame as they headed to the first intermission out-shooting the Canucks 9-6 but with scoreless stalemate. The shot map showing that although the Canucks were able to get in close on their chances, the Gulls were more willingly to emphasize shot volume.
Second Period: San Diego Gulls 0 – Abbotsford Canucks 0
Starting the period with some penalty trouble as the Gulls successfully killed the remaining time to an interference call sustained by Glenn Gawdin at the end of the first, they got into more trouble as Colton White was found guilty of clearing the puck out on the full.
Once again erasing the minor on the back of some strong structure in the neutral zone and one big stop from Clang through multiple layers of traffic, the Gulls went back to the attack. Gaining the Abbotsford zone and forcing chances via turnovers and some very hard work as well as sheer determination.
One very poor decision by Tyson Hinds erased all that hard work as he threw the puck from the corner into the middle of the ice where it was gloved down by Danila Klimovich and sent right past a stunned Calle Clang before the Gulls netminder could register the egregious turnover. 1-0 Canucks.
The goal did not deter the Gulls and they fought for a decider. Breaking through via some nice work from Andrew Agozzino as he intercepted an outlet, came down the right side, moved the puck to the inside – drawing three Canucks players to him in the process – before sliding a backhand pass ahead to Pavol Regenda in the low slot, the Slovakian winger burying a shot right away to make it 1-1 tie game.
Abbotsford came back with an immediate push and the defensive structure seen in the first half of the game completely fell away as both sides exchanged rush after rush. Clang playing the best he has all season as he stunned and frustrated the Canucks with last minute diving glove saves as well as the odd calm stop through traffic.
Colton White took his second penalty of the period as he tripped Aatu Raty coming through the neutral zone and the Gulls once again killed the minor to close out the period, Judd Caulfield looking stellar as he stole a puck in the Abbotsford zone then took on three players to almost create a chance on net then using his huge frame to kill more time off the clock in the corner.
An even 1-1 score as San Diego went to the second intermission largely outplayed on the period but hanging tight and needing to revert back to the tight defensive structure that kept chances scarce in the first. The Canucks taking 17-14 lead in shots after a commanding 11-5 drilling on the period.
Third Period: San Diego Gulls 1 – Abbotsford Canucks 1
It was a bit of a combination of both the tight defensive structure seen in the first and the wide open rush play seen in the second as the third settled into a steady rhythm.
Now thoroughly familiar with each-other it was a back and forth affair through the first half of the frame as neither unit would give quarter in the battle for the go ahead goal.
Time expired with neither team able to break the tie and we headed to overtime.
Overtime and Shootout
It seemed fitting that the duel for the games winning goal would not take place in the extra session either despite the usual back and forth near misses that it brings. San Diego began the extra session playing conservative and holding possession for the first minute and a half but once the puck was turned over after their first chance it was all Canucks – including a minute of Power Play time to close out the extra session. To the shootout we went.
The Canucks struck first on a nice move that beat Clang moving left to right.
Ben King evened it up off a slow skate in and hard wrist shot that beat Silos high.
Clang stopped his next shooter while Nesterenko beat Silos with a nice speed move coming across right to left to set up the decider where Clang stopped his final shooter to take the win. Gulls win 2-1.
Post Game Notes:
WU CLANG WU CLANG
As I said above, this was the best game Clang has played all season and it couldn’t have come at a better time. With Zellweger out – seemingly until Mintyukov returns to the Ducks – the Gulls will need more than a select number of players to step up. Clang was excellent in net, seeing everything through traffic and was only beat by a shot that he could not get a read on due to the unexpected turnover beforehand. Even if a shot was deflected or tipped on its way to him – he made the stop by being aggressive at the right time to cut down the angle. Another guy that needed to step up was….
Welcome Back The Agenda
With the lone goal in regulation for the Gulls – Pavol Regenda crept back up to second on the Gulls in goals. Even with all the time has missed he was only recently passed by Gawdin. He hasn’t looked completely himself these last few games since returning but he definitely looked close to one hundred percent today as he led San Diego in shots with four.
Unsung Heroes Praise
I couldn’t leave out Judd Caulfield – the kid is probably the least talked about player by Duck fandom that absolutely should have more attention. He is a one man wrecking ball, with speed and skills to complete the trifecta. All I keep thinking whenever I see him do something like strip the puck and then attempt to take on three opposing players on his way to their net is “if he can do this in the AHL, what is he going to be like in the NHL?”
Which might seem confusing in retrospect but generally the kind of players that shine in the NHL were doing so quietly in the AHL. They put up decent numbers sure but once they get to the big league with its cleaner structures and more skilled line-mates, they either elevate their game or falter. I keep thinking Caulfield could really do some damage if eventually given a chance.
Luca Profaca is another I would like to highlight again – he is really showing a lot of progress with each opportunity that he gets into a game. I would love to see him in over the much slower Nick Wolff once Zellweger comes back.
Ben King is also quietly producing – he is now third on the Gulls in goals with nine on the year and tied for fifth in scoring with 18 points with the injured Jacob Perreault.
2023-2024 Game 72: San Diego Gulls at Coachella Valley Firebirds
In the final game of the season after surrendering a three goal lead to go down 5-4 in ove…