2025-2026 Game 04: San Diego Gulls at Henderson Silver Knights

Henderson, Nevada. Hoping to get back in the win column and obtain some vengeance for the home opener defeat in their most recent encounter the San Diego Gulls headed to Henderson for the first of a back to back.

With the likes of Konor Smith and Jeremie Biakabutuka sitting for the first three games – Coach McIlvane made a slight adjustment to allow Smith into the line-up. Sitting Travis Howe and moving up Nik Brouillard to the fourth line once again while Owen Lindmark drew back in to center the fourth line as Drew Elliott sat and Cal Burke moved up to the third line with Judd Caulfield moving back.

The top two forward lines remained the same but defensive pairings were given a tweak to give both Smith and Solberg a “veteran” presence – where Tristan Luneau would be regarded as the unofficial but technical veteran given his NHL readiness.

Calle Clang was finally given the start in net with Husso this time backing up on the back to back.

Nathan Gaucher and Coulson Pitre were the only injuries with Drew Elliott, Ryan Lautenbach, Travis Howe and Jeremie Biakabutuka the scratches.

First Period:

San Diego were the more determined team to start the first and almost opened the scoring under two minutes in thanks to Justin Bailey throwing the puck on net with his line-mates Ryan Carpenter and Nico Myatovic in the immediate vicinity but despite the puck eventually seen to cross the line it was deemed to have done so after the whistle.

The Silver Knights stemmed the Gulls growing momentum by drawing a hooking call on the youngster Konnor Smith and the San Diego penalty kill looked much more aggressive than it had been of late – with some anxious moments – particularly when Henderson danger man Raphael Lavoie was left alone in front but thankfully shot his chance wide.

As play returned to five on five the Gulls took back control of the action and enjoyed possession and chances for much of the remainder of the period as time steadily ticked by. Sasha Pastujov had perhaps the best chance as he was sprung off a line-change for a clear cut breakaway but his backhand try was stopped. Konnor Smith also followed up a rebound to hammer a shot that made it through the Silver Knights goaltender Vikman but also trickled wide. The mounting pressure resulted in a Power Play for the Gulls and a new look over-loaded first unit took to the ice. Featuring Sidorov in the place of Pastujov and Nik Brouillard at the top of the umbrella.

Henderson killed the minor and neither team could muster much of a high danger chance for the remainder of the period as play settled into a tight checking back and forth style.

A scoreless tie resulted after the first twenty minutes of play as the Gulls took a handy 12-4 shot advantage into the first intermission. The shot map showing that if they could just keep doing what they are doing – they should eventually break through.

Second Period: San Diego Gulls 0 – Henderson Silver Knights 0

It wasn’t a great start to the second for the Gulls as the Silver Knights took advantage of a sequence in which two different Gulls lost an edge to allow Henderson to enter their zone and generate a span of chances that eventually ended up behind Calle Clang before their defensive structure could recover. 1-0 Silver Knights.

The goal appeared to be the spark the Gulls needed as they finally broke through thanks to the second line. Sasha Pastujov sent a shot on the Silver Knights net that bounced off a man in front and fooled their net-minder at the same time – as he juggled and then lost sight of the puck Jan Mysak skated in to find it and back hand it by him. 1-1 tie game.

Sensing an opportunity the Gulls kept up the attack and got another just 34 seconds later this time Roland McKeown finishing the play after some nice passing between Mysak and Phillips allowed him to skate into a soft area. 2-1 Gulls.

Henderson managed to stem the bleeding for the next few minutes as time passed over the midway point but another attack from the Gulls saw them earn their second Power Play as Tim Washe was tripped attempting to muscle a loose puck behind the Henderson net.

The Gulls Power Play was again left wanting and might have had the opposite affect on momentum as the Silver Knights closed it out by generating perhaps their best chance of the night so far but they could not get a stick through a slew of bodies diving in front of a prone Calle Clang.

With three minutes left in the frame the Gulls were enjoying another span of possession and attack in the Henderson zone when Stian Solberg was tripped after making a shifty move at the blue line and then in the same sequence Ryan Carpenter was felled also. The Officials deemed only to call the original Solberg trip and the Gulls went to the five on four power play with a minute left.

Looking much better this time – despite some initial trouble gaining the Henderson zone – the Gulls could not convert and took the 2-1 lead into the second intermission with a minute of carry-over time from the Power Play. Shots were 10-8 Henderson and 20-14 Gulls overall. The shot map showing a much more even period but the Gulls finally able to break through the Henderson net-minder.

Third Period: San Diego Gulls 2 – Henderson Silver Knights 1

Another poor start to the final frame saw the Gulls surrender their one goal lead as Tyson Hinds was unable to find support on the breakout and had the puck stripped from him then fed to the net where a moving screen prevented Clang from tracking a rising shot that was deflected top corner. 2-2 tie game.

A sense of urgency appeared to take over for the next few minutes of play with the Gulls spending time on the penalty kill after another dubious offensive zone penalty deemed to be a holding call to Nico Myatovic. San Diego killed the minor but again were their own enemies in gifting some chances to the Knights after two Gulls went after the same Silver Knight – leaving another alone down low.

San Diego were given another Power Play themselves as Tim Washe was hooked attempting to finish a cross-ice saucer pass and on the delayed call the Gulls looked more likely as they once again struggled mightily with the man advantage before going back to the attack with more surety once play returned to five on five.

With Henderson suddenly looking the hungrier team and with the Gulls struggling to escape their heavy hitting game it looked like it might be all San Diego could do just to earn a point from a game they once lead but with two minutes left Justin Bailey thought he had perhaps the game winning goal when he turned and fired a loose puck from the high circles by the Silver Knights goaltender but it was immediately waved off when the Officials only just then conveniently noticed that the net had come off its moorings. Further replays showed the Silver Knights own net minder had taken the net off much much earlier in the sequence.

Calle Clang had to come up big in the final ten seconds as the Silver Knights Raphael Lavoie found time and space with speed coming from the left side and we headed to over time for the first time this season.

Overtime

San Diego started with possession but lost it on a seemingly innocuous turnover in their zone that started a lengthy three and half minute sequence of constant anxiety as the Gulls were prevented from making a change until Calle Clang eventually was able to stop and smother a Silver Knights chance.

San Diego’s best and only opportunity of the extra session came in the form of a two on nothing break between Bailey and Hinds but the defenders pass back to Bailey was out of his reach and saw the Silver Knights counter-break to set up a clear cut chance in the slot that Clang was unable to stop. The Silver Knights taking a game that perhaps neither team deserved to win.

Post Game Notes:

Pitiful Power Play

I didn’t need to really check but a quick look at the league standings by Power Play percentage shows the Gulls are languishing near the bottom of the league converting at just 5.6% with one Power Play goal scored from 18 opportunities. There is a reason why staff made a tweak to both units for this game – swapping Sidorov and Pastujov and placing Brouillard as the quarterback on the top unit. It didn’t really work and I think it might be time to put Carpenter and Bailey back together on the top unit, maybe drop Phillips back to the second one.

I am assuming Michael Babcock is heading up the forwards and the Power Play and this should largely be on him – because on paper – this is some of the best depth the Gulls have had in a long time. I am sure when the goals start coming they will come much easier but to get it started – maybe just go back to the basics.

Proof In The Penalty Kill

By complete contrast the Penalty Kill is near the top of the league and second in the division behind the Canucks. Erasing penalties at a 90% rate, allowing just the one Power Play goal on ten chances. The Gulls are also – and this is perhaps the most surprising turn-around from recent years – the second least penalized team in the league right now. It’s a good trend that is starting to become very noticeable – as the Gulls play better they earn more Power Plays than penalties they themselves take.

Wow Burke Is Sneaky Fast

I don’t really have much else to say about this game except I have been meaning to note for a while now that wow – Cal Burke is very fast – likely extremely sneaky fast. You can see why he was a late cut from Penguins camp as a PTO.