2025-2026 Game 14: San Diego Gulls vs San Jose Barracuda

San Diego, California. With back to back wins at home and coming off a 7-0 thrashing of the Abbotsford Canucks the San Diego Gulls faced a tougher test as the also-hot San Jose Barracuda came south to Pechanga.

Both forward and defensive pairings remained the same from the previous win over Abbotsford, the only change coming in net as the recently recalled Buteyets swapped places with Suchanek in backing up Ville Husso.

Travis Howe and Roman Kinal were the only scratches, Calle Clang still remained away from the team for personal reasons.

First Period:

It was all Gulls for the first few minutes of the game and Stian Solberg got things going by netting his first of the season as he swooped in to collect and fire a loose puck by San Jose goaltender Gabriel Carriere. 1-0 Gulls.

Keeping up the pressure the Gulls headed to the Power Play as the Barrcauda’s Igor Chernyshov sent the puck over the glass under duress. San Diego once again struggled to get set and over the two minute sequence only managed to create just the two shots.

Once play returned to five on five the visitors picked up the pace and momentum quickly shifted, generating chance after chance on rush after rush before the inevitable game-tying goal finally came as Colin White was found at the back door all alone. 1-1 tie game.

San Diego attempted a push back and enjoyed some further possession which they were unlucky to turn into quality chances and found themselves suddenly behind as some poor back-checking on a San Jose rush to their net saw a bouncing puck prove nuisance enough for the Barracuda to take the lead. 2-1 San Jose.

The physical play started to pick up and the pace slowed down somewhat through the final few minutes as the Gulls headed to the first intermission down 2-1 after initially leading 1-0. Shots were 7-6 Gulls after one period and the shot map showed Barracuda enjoyed an advantage of quality vs quantity in shots.

Second Period: San Jose Barracuda 2 – San Diego Gulls 1

Starting the second with the same dominance as they did the first the Gulls were very unlucky to not convert on two separate very high danger chances – one of which saw the San Jose net empty for more than a few tantalizing seconds.

Keeping their heads up the Gulls did eventually break through as Justin Bailey was left alone with time in front to measure and send a wrist shot top corner – set up by the ever dependable Sasha Pastujov and Jan Mysak. 2-2 tie game.

San Jose came with an immediate response and had San Diego on their heels for the next few shifts before eventually drawing a call as Tyson Hinds was called for high sticking.

The hitting picked up after San Diego killed the minor and Tim Washe drew a call as he took a hit but bounced the Barracuda player off him in such a manner that it seemed to upset him, grabbing and holding him as they wrestled on the ice.

Less than twenty seconds into the Power Play Jan Mysak lead a rush that saw the Czech center lose an edge and collect the San Jose goaltender as he flew on his back into the net. What was assumed to be a nullifying of the Power Play turned into a five on three as the Barracuda player was deemed to have cross checked him. San Diego had a full minute and some thirty six seconds in the Barracuda zone with the two man advantage but could not connect on several set-ups

The pace picked up once again as play returned to five on five as each teams exchanged rush and counter rush – including a Judd Caulfield break-away that was shot wide.

Roland McKeown was forced to take a hooking call as the Barracuda snuck a man behind the defense for a breakaway that McKeown was able to slightly foil. The Gulls looked mostly in control on the kill but in the final few seconds Nathan Gaucher lost his stick near his own blue line and was left exposed as the Barracuda took advantage. 3-2 Barracuda.

San Diego attempted a response and came close on a brilliant individual effort by Sasha Pastujov – but he was stopped as he tried to close out the play. Against the grain a San Jose rush in the opposite direction ended up behind Ville Husso as Quentin Musty sent a low shot that made the usually outstanding goaltender look ordinary as he beat him on the stick side. 4-2 Barracuda.

The Gulls were awarded one more Power Play to close out the period as Tyson Hinds was slashed by former Gull Pavol Regenda whilst joining the rush but San Diego again could not muster a shot on net for the minute they had with the man advantage.

San Diego again looking good to start the period but surrendering two more goals to be down 4-2 heading into the final frame with a minute still left on the man advantage. Shots were 11-8 San Jose on the frame to give them a 18-15 advantage. The shot map again showing the Gulls defense allowing too many quality chances in front.

Third Period: San Jose Barracuda 4 – San Diego Gulls 2

It took just forty seconds for the Gulls to convert on the remainder of the time left on their man advantage that carried over from the second period as Sasha Pastujov was perfectly set up for the one time blast. 4-3 Barracuda.

San Diego appeared to finally settle into a rhythm that allowed them to maintain possession and generate sustained pressure in the San Jose zone for much of the next few minutes of play but they were still frustratingly much more out of sync than usual as they fumbled passes and saw opportunities go begging.

A sequence with the Barracuda preventing the Gulls from getting the clear for a prolonged length of time ended with Justin Bailey chipping the puck over the glass on the full to send San Diego back to the penalty kill.

San Diego killed the minor with little to no hiccups and as play returned to five on five with less than eight minutes left in the game we saw some visible desperation on the part of the Gulls.

Just as it felt like the visitors just might stifle the Gulls offense for the remainder of the time remaining by playing out a perfect road lead protection game an inspired shift from Roland McKeown and the fourth line with Cal Burke in place of Nathan Gaucher saw San Diego tie the game up. Stian Solberg sezied the opportunity when he received a puck at the blue line with time and space to fake an initial shot and then send a low shot that bounced and was deflected by Judd Caulfied before sauntering into the San Jose net. 4-4 tie game.

As the goal was scored with just five minutes remaining it set up a nail biting finish but San Diego managed to withstand the Barracuda push back and take this one to the extra session to keep their point streak alive.

Overtime:

San Jose won possession off the face-off and never really surrendered it completely as they owned the puck for much of the extra five minute session before beating Husso on a low wrist shot that caught him off-guard on his glove side. 5-4 Barracuda win.

Post Game Notes:

Home Defense

I think the Gulls need to watch some tape – namely some documentary films entitled Home Alone and Home Alone 2 because they are terrible at defense at home. For much of the game they allowed the Barracuda to dictate the pace of play and got sucked into a rush game that played into an advantage for the visitors. They could have easily locked down the neutral zone and frustrated their opponents into submission but they chose to go head to head with their speed game.

It is a harsh lesson but hopefully one they have learned early enough in the season to work on and correct.

Whats Up Sam?

Am I alone in thinking Sam Colangelo has not quite been himself since coming down from Anaheim? Sure he has had some big goals in the last two games but he went pointless tonight and was pretty much invisible but for maybe one individual partial rush that ended in him being put on his ass in the San Jose zone.

He has largely been a passenger and although his shot is and always will be dangerous – the Gulls need his play driving game also.

The Ducks are again close to having further players return from injury as both Granlund and Poehling are day to day. Once they are ready to rejoin the line-up it will mean two forwards have to come out – likely Ross Johnston and Nikita Nesterenko. I don’t imagine the Ducks will be happy with Nesterenko growing rusty with no game-time but he is also no longer waiver exempt so they will either have to sneak him through or keep him on the roster and send a waiver eligible player down – likely Ian Moore or maybe even Pavel Mintyukov. The Gulls don’t really need help on defense but wouldn’t say no to the NHL calibre defenders.

Meanwhile in Tulsa

The Oilers are currently on a five game win streak and moved to seventh place in their conference standings and fourth in their division with a 7-4-0-0 record.

Ryan Lautenbach has been keeping pace since joining the team and has six points through his first six games while Coulson Pitre is starting to settle in with four points in five games. Jaxsen Wiebe has four in six games. On defense Jeremie Biakabutuka still leads the blue line with 8 points in 11 games, putting him in the top ten in league scoring by defenders. Will Francis appears to have only played in two games in mid October – collecting two assists in that span. The recently recalled Buteyets now holds the better record of the two goaltneders with four wins to Suchaneks three – he is also sporting a 2.81 GAA and 0.924 SV% to Suchaneks 3.05 GAA and 0.918 SV%.

Standings Update

The overtime loss brings the Gulls record to 6-4-4-0 on the season and brings them into a tie with Coachella Valley in points with 16 with just four points between them and second place in the division – which is now the San Jose Barracuda. By points percentage the Gulls now sit tied for fourth – also with Coachella Valley but have one more regulation win. It is only fitting that they now head to the desert to face the Firebirds and hopefully find their defensive structure once again on the road.