2025-2026 Game 12: San Diego Gulls vs Bakersfield Condors

San Diego, California. After coming back from down 3-0 to force overtime but eventually go down by a score of 4-3 in Ontario the San Diego Gulls hoped to get back in the win column and keep their point streak going buoyed by the addition of a proven goal scorer down from the Anaheim Ducks.

With Sam Colangelo returned from Anaheim the Gulls coaches had some tough decisions to make in the forwards – in the end reuniting the top line of Bailey, Carpenter and Phillips, adding Colangelo to the already potent Mysak-Pastujov combination and keeping the suddenly hot third line together. This meant Yegor Sidorov was dropped to the fourth line as surprisingly veteran Cal Burke was the odd-man out and was sat to make room.

Tyson Hinds returned from injury and slotted back in on his pairing with Roland McKeown which meant Konnor Smith was relegated back to the bench.

Ville Husso was once again given the start while the newly recalled Tomas Suchanek backed up.

Cal Burke, Owen Lindmark, Roman Kinal were the only scratches, Calle Clang was announced as being away from team on a leave of absence for personal reasons.

First Period:

San Diego set the tone early – generating the first three shots and creating a little anxiety for Ville Husso at the other end who did not see a single shot until the five minute mark. When the Gulls netminder finally did see some action come his way it came thick and fast and suddenly the Condors jumped out to a seven to three shot lead by the first commercial break.

The Gulls struggled to slow the Condors speed through the neutral zone and all of a sudden Husso was the only reason the game remained scoreless as he faced down rush after rush.

San Diego managed to mount the odd counter offensive but struggled to string together passes or were one bad angle away from connecting on would-be break-away chances.

The Gulls did manage to halt the Condors burgeoning momentum and by the final TV time-out shots were 9-7 Bakersfield with San Diego able to spend more time in the offensive zone while being lucky to not get a call from the Officials who seemed to misunderstand exactly what interference was.

I lost the feed momentarily and missed it but Roland McKeown chose violence on punk rock night as he finished a hit on the forecheck that resulted in the Condors Cam Dineen exiting the game while favoring his shoulder.

On the very next face-off Tim Washe was called for high-sticking but the Gulls killed the minor penalty with relative ease including some offensive chances created by Nathan Gaucher.

San Diego heading to the first intermission in a scoreless tie and trailing in shots – a rarity for them thus far this season. Shots were 13-10 Bakersfield and you didn’t need the shot map to know the Condors had played the better period.

Second Period: San Diego Gulls 0 – Bakersfield Condors 0

Roland McKeown was clearly public enemy number one and it took just under three minutes for a dance partner to pull him out for a short scuffle.

Less than a minute later Tristan Luneau inadvertently drew a call when he skated backward into a Condors player who was called for interference. San Diego began well on the Power Play but got too cute and a Condors three on one break saw the Gulls go down a goal as Husso was helpless to stop a drop passed one timer. 1-0 Condors.

As play returned to five on five the Gulls suddenly started to play with some urgency but were still uncharacteristically static in defense – allowing the Condors to continue their barrage on Husso as they probed for another goal.

Just as the third line were starting to get some jam going in the Bakersfield zone a slashing call to Noah Warren gave the visitors their second Power Play of the game and put a stop to the slowly building momentum.

Bakersfield made the Gulls near top of the league ranked penalty kill look more than ordinary as they speedily passed the puck around their static perimeter to easily slide a feed across the crease to the backdoor. 2-0 Condors.

With just over five minutes left in the period the Gulls best chance of the period came in the form of Justin Bailey entering the zone with speed and dropping back to Ryan Carpenter. His shot was stopped but sat neatly for Bailey at the side of the net who had no where to go but to push it back out into the crease but it was cleared before it could get to another Gulls stick. Minutes later Bailey was tripped trying to make a move through the neutral zone and San Diego went back to the Power Play – wary of the Condors overtly aggressive penalty kill.

The second unit did not generate much but the first unit coming on in replacement immediately forced Connor Ingram to make back to back huge stops, first on a back door feed to Jan Mysak and then a partial break created by Matthew Phillips.

As play returned to five on five the Gulls continued to press – feeding off their crowd and Tim Washe stayed hot as he got San Diego on the board. Tristan Luneau spotting him skating through the slot with his stick down and perfectly feeding a shot-pass that Washe tipped into the top corner of the net. 2-1 Condors.

With just over a minute left in the period a roughing minor to Nik Brouillard was offset by a matching Diving/Embellishment call to James Hamblin and the four on four sequence created some open ice for the remaining time in the middle frame but the score remained 2-1 as both teams headed to their respective dressing rooms. Shots were 12-10 Condors on the period and 25-20 overall for the visitors. The shot map showing the Gulls playing a better period but facing their first NHL quality goaltender of the season.

Third Period: Bakersfield Condors 2 – San Diego Gulls 1

The Condors again looked the better team to start the period as the Gulls seemed uncommitted to taking the puck in their own zone. Stian Solberg drew a high sticking call as he went in for a hit but took a stick to the head as the Condors player tried to avoid it.

Bakersfield killed the minor but the added momentum appeared to give San Diego more life through the neutral zone.

As the Condors appeared to be perfectly playing to plan in protecting their one goal lead a pass to Justin Bailey saw the highly emotional winger wind up and send a blast that beat Ingram through waves of traffic. 2-2 tie game.

Bakersfield came back with a push and although the Gulls withstood the initial pressure and created some further chances of their own, some poor man to man defense in their own zone saw the Condors retake the lead as Rem Pitlick was left alone at the right post to put away a rebound. 3-2 Condors.

As the Officials conspicuously looked the other way at various obvious infractions such as Sasha Pastujov being hit without the puck behind the play that even the Condors player thought he was guilty of they finally made a call when Nik Brouillard was slashed in his own zone.

The Gulls Power Play again struggled to clear a shooting lane as the Condors defense collapsed and smothered the puck carrier at each and every opportunity.

With the Condors again controlling things in their zone a Michigan attempt by the Condors Roby Jarventie was stopped by Husso but his follow through caught Tyson Hinds under the visor and as the Gulls defender immediately headed to the bench with blood visibly flowing the Gulls went to the Power Play for a full four minutes – the remainder of the time left in the period.

San Diego controlled the puck in the Condors zone for almost the entire remaining time in the period and just as it seemed the Condors might skate away with the win there was one more moment of drama as Justin Bailey was slashed by Riley Stillman in front of the Bakersfield net. With just nine seconds left on the clock San Diego settled in for the face-off of the six on three – pulling Ville Husso to increase their chances. An initial set-up for a one-timer to Sasha Pastujov was stopped but in the dying seconds one last face-off win and feed to Sam Colangelo saw the recently re-assigned sniper beat Ingram with a tenth of a second left to send Pechanga into a frenzy.

Overtime

Starting the overtime session on the Power-play due to the carry over of the second penalty taken in the dying seconds of the final period the Gulls controlled the action for most of the time but despite an early setup for Sam Colangelo they still seemed somewhat discombobulated. Justin Bailey – who had seemed possessed for much of the night took it upon himself and suddenly hit the Nos to blaze by his would be checker and skate in alone on Ingram. His low hard shot beating the goaltender five-hole to give San Diego their first overtime win of the season and the perfect ending to a night full of highs and lows.

Gulls taking the win 4-3.

Post Game Notes:

Clean Up The Penalties – Still Need to Fix The Power Play

The Gulls went from a positive start to the season and being one of the least penalized teams in the league to piling on the PIMs in a matter of weeks to now sit 24th in the league for times short-handed. Still a fairly good ranking but not as good as it once was. As a consequence their Penalty Kill has also suffered as they have given more opportunities to opposing teams Power Play units. They went from second in the league just weeks ago to 11th – killing penalties at a 82.5% rate.

So while the Penalty Kill has gotten worse – the Power Play has stayed terrible, currently 27th in the league having scored five Power Play goals on 39 chances with the man advantage. Oof.

Gull Gull Gull-Den Boys

In a game that was perhaps one of the most disjointed the Gulls have played all season I would not have been surprised or even that disappointed by a loss – in fact; the first iteration of these post game notes spoke of how the Gulls home record is poor but marginal and I cannot fathom why they can play like a well oiled unstoppable machine on the road sometimes and then completely turn around and shit the bed at home. But Justin Bailey and Sam Colangelo took it upon themselves to have standout games. Bailey more so than Colangelo but the game tying goal was the kind of goal that only he could score.

Bailey was playing like a man possessed tonight and we have seen this before. Soon after he was acquired last year. It is why I was so adamant that the Gulls bring him back. He plays with a lot of passion and his speed can prove a turning point. Tonight’s game-winner a pure example of that.

Standings Update

This win puts the Gulls above .500 for the first time since their initial win at the start of the season. They now move into sixth place in the division with a .542 points percentage and a 5-4-3 record. They next face the last place Abbotsford Canucks – a team plagued by injury and especially between the pipes. Hopefully the Gulls know not to take them lightly as they next face the San Jose Barracuda – another team on a hot-streak as they have won four straight.

When Michigans Go Bad

Here is one for the anti show-boating crowd. As much as Michigan goals are fun to watch when they are scored by your own team – I am glad that Roby Jarventie decided to attempt one in a game where is team had the lead and could just play out the remainder of the game by keeping control of the puck. Without that double minor I don’t think the Gulls come back and win this. So here is to fancy-pants moves back-firing sometimes. And thanks Jarventie.