Taking another win at home the San Diego Gulls looked to keep the roll going as they came back to Pechanga Arena for the second of a back to back against the Central Division leading Admirals.
Despite my misgivings regarding placing newcomer Jan Mysak on the fourth line – Coach McIlvane stuck with the same lines and pairings from the previous game.
Tomas Suchanek was given the start on the back to back with Alex Stalock backing up.
Drew Helleson and Judd Caulfield remained with Jaxsen Wiebe on the injury list. Calle Clang was given the night off and joined Kyle Crnkovic as well as Eddie Matsushima and Anthony Costantini as healthy scratches.
First Period:
It took just a minute into the action for the Gulls to get a Power Play as Nikita Nesterenko was caught up high by a stick during a battle in the neutral zone.
The first unit took even less time to strike on the man advantage, seemingly finding it way too easy to set up chances from the right side and breaking through as Andrew Agozzino finished a rebound in front. 1-0 Gulls.
The Admirals responded right away as McIlvane put the fourth line following the goal and they found themselves immediately under pressure and unable to get a clear. Suchanek beat by a rebound in front. 1-1 tie game.
Play flowed on from that point – with each team exchanging penalties and Power Plays in a much more tightly contested match-up than the previous night. You got the sense the Admirals had been advised between games to keep it simple.
A final flurry of action in the final minute almost saw Brayden Tracey set up a Gulls go ahead goal before the Admirals almost got another by Suchanek but the score remained at 1-1 as the horn sounded for the end of the period. Shots were 13-8 for Milwaukee with the shot map indicating the Gulls needed to do a much better job of limiting chances in front.
Second Period: San Diego Gulls 1 – Milwaukee Admirals 1
The Gulls inability to come out fresh for a second period continued as Tomas Suchanek was called upon to make his best stop of the night, stretching out to make a pad to pad save on a chance in front after the Admirals kept the Gulls guessing with some quick passing work in their zone.
The Gulls calmed down somewhat after that initial sequence and time flew by on the period with the halfway point quickly approaching when Andrew Agozzino halted any slight momentum the Gulls may have had with an offensive zone penalty.
Nathan Gaucher showed some of his best work yet as he single-handedly killed twenty seconds off the minor by taking on three Admirals players then pinning the puck up against the boards in their zone before freeing it to Gawdin and getting open for a chance in front.
Killing the rest of the minor the Gulls went to the attack with some added confidence and Sasha Pastujov found himself on a partial break coming into the Milwaukee zone. The Ducks highly touted sniper prospect cutting across the zone and attempting to use the defense as a screen to send a shot on net that was blocked back to him which he then hammered on net once again to find the back of it. 2-1 Gulls.
The Admirals attempted another instant response as they did after the first Gulls goal but this time the Gaucher line were equal to the task and even forced possession into the Admirals zone, drawing a call in the process.
As the Gulls first unit set to work they came oh so close to another but Chase De Leo was denied by a brilliant lunging save from veteran Troy Grosenick and play eventually returned to five on five.
Things got physical and chippy with the Admirals visibly growing frustrated with the lack of calls going their way and when the dust settled after a fracas by the player benches the Admirals saw the better end of a five on four. Killing the minor thanks in no small part to two huge saves from Suchanek the Gulls managed a few more chances at the other end in the final few seconds of play before heading to the second intermission up by one
2-1 Gulls after forty minutes with San Diego playing a much better period after an initial poor first few seconds. Shots were 13-9 for the Gulls on the period bringing it to 22-21 Admirals overall. The shot map showing San Diego allowing less in front of their own net while generating in the low slot at the other end.
Third Period: San Diego Gulls 2 – Milwaukee Admirals 1
Another poor start to a period finally cost the Gulls as Joakim Kemmel was left alone in the high slot to accept and one-time a shot past Suchanek after San Diego were found guilty of being too slow to shore up their man to man defense. 2-2 tie game.
San Diego thought they had retaken the lead on an immediate response from the Pastujov line but the Florida native’s tip on Nikita Nesterenkos fade away shot was deemed a high stick. One replay from a bad angle looked good while the other replay from a better angle did not catch the tip. The score remained tied.
Things went from bad to worse as the Admirals took the lead when Tye Felhaber was given too much time and space coming into the Gulls zone to wind up a wrist shot that beat Suchanek through traffic. 3-2 Admirals.
Playing with desperation the Gulls were given a Power Play when the Admirals cleared the puck out on the full with just over four minutes left.
Setting up the top unit it was a case of straight up robbery as Andrew Agozzino saw his one time shot from the low slot gloved point blank by Troy Grosenick.
The Gulls pulled Suchanek with two minutes left and spent much of it in the Milwaukee zone with a lot of icing whistles disjointing the play but it was a case of a mental lapse to start the third costing them as San Diego went down 3-2.
Post Game Notes:
No Zellweger No Problem
I may have written this tidbit a tad too soon – with the Gulls up 2-1 after the second period but I still stand by it despite the loss. They played well enough to get the win but were eventually done in by one mental lapse and then got goalie’d. I will admit – I had assumed our playoff hopes were doomed after the trade deadline saw the Ducks deal away a regular on their blue line and thus facilitate a permanent call-up for Zellweger but the Gulls have not only been holding their own. They have continued to win (just not today). No single one player has stood out during this stretch either. It has been a real combined team effort. Everybody has bought in and everyone is bringing a consistent effort night in and night out. Tonight Ben King made a very nice strong play – on a give and go with Glenn Gawdin while Brayden Tracey showed some more of that poise and patience he has been showing of late with a nice carry and set up in the Admirals zone. Nathan Gaucher stood out with that mammoth effort on the penalty kill that saw him kill twenty seconds on his own against three Admirals players and ending the sequence with a chance in front.
Standings Update
The good news is – the Gulls magic number is shrinking. The bad news is – everyone else’s is also. San Diego now has 16 games left and sit 14 points back from the last playoff spot. It aint over till its over but letting the extra two points slip today doesn’t help – wait I’m sure I said that like two weeks ago. Oh well there is always next year – the Ducks should hopefully try to keep the team intact this time given there is no change in management. As always I have a list of guys I would like to see them bring back but more on that in another update.
Black Aces Update
Sam Colangelo isn’t ready to finish College yet. His hat-trick helping the Broncos force a deciding Game 3 tomorrow in his teams NCAA quater finals match-up.
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