Bakersfield, California. After surrendering an uninspiring 2-1 loss in regulation following a tight overtime win two nights before the San Diego Gulls headed to Bakersfield after the Christmas break to try get back in the win column.
With Nik Brouillard taking leave to represent Canada at the Spengler Cup in Switzerland, Roman Kinal finally entered the line-up to pair up with Noah Warren. All other lines and pairings remained the same.
Ville Husso was given the start with Calle Clang backing up.
Cal Burke was sat out as a healthy scratch as the rotation with Travis Howe continued. Konnor Smith who had been called up to fill the injury cover on defense was the other healthy scratch.
First Period:
With the game starting out with some instant snarl the camera feed showed Roland McKeown and a Bakersfield player exchanging cross-checks behind the play before the camera switched away and then switched back to a crowd reaction of McKeown getting cross-checked from behind down to the ice in front of the benches. No call. Roman Kinal immediately went after the Condors Sam Poulin – who I am not sure was the guilty party but one would assume so. After all of that the Officials deemed it necessary to whistle Noah Warren for a hooking call on the next shift and the Gulls went down a man after nearly two minutes of play.
However no sooner had Bakersfield gained the San Diego zone after a Gulls clear – a bad pass at the blue line was easily picked off by Gulls Captain Ryan Carpenter who skated in on Condors goaltender Matt Tomkins for perhaps the easiest shorthanded tally of his career. 1-0 Gulls.
Bakersfield came with an immediate response and capitalized with the man advantage as Nathan Gaucher fanned on an attempted clear at the blue line and the Condors were able to send the puck down low to a waiting Quinn Hutson in a danger area. 1-1 tie game.
Sasha Pastujov continued to be snake bit in each and every way as he and Jan Mysak created their own two man break but as Mysaks perfect pass found him at the left post – so too did Pastujov’s shot as it heartlessly hit iron.
The confusing penalties continued as Yegor Sidorov was called for slashing and as he went to play the puck his was slashed in half by a drive by a Condor player. Again the Officials deemed it necessary to only call Sidorov for the penalty. This time the Gulls were able to kill the minor and as play returned to five on five some great fore-checking by Sasha Pastujov and Jan Mysak saw the later make it 2-1 as he attacked a loose puck to the side of the Condors net and sneak it by Tomkins. 2-1 Gulls.
San Diego were awarded a Power Play that saw some chances but also a dangerous shorthanded chance the other way that only the NHL quality of Ville Husso was assured of stopping.
After play returned to five on five the battle for the fasted team began as teams exchange rush after rush until Bakersfield were able to hold control and possession in the San Diego zone for a good couple of shifts until the Mysak line were able to finally break out and drew a penalty in the process as the man himself was hooked behind the Condors net on a stop and turn move.
The Gulls Power Play looked deadly as they were able to make clear and crisp passes across the ice – setting up Sam Colangelo for a sure one-timer that was only stopped by the post. On the next face-off win the first unit continued to push and again Colangelo came close but the rebound generated by his shot was finished by a diving Justin Bailey in the slow. 3-1 Gulls.
Teams continued to swap penalties and the Gulls ended the first on the Power Play with a minute and forty to carry over to the second as Quinn Hutson was called for high-sticking.
San Diego taking a 3-1 lead into the first intermission and leading the shot department by 12-11. The shot map showing curiously a bias to the left side for both teams.
Second Period: San Diego Gulls 3 – Bakersfield Condors 1
Starting the middle frame on the Power Play the Gulls faced a more determined and overtly physical Condors squad that only resulted in San Diego going right back to the Power Play once their abbreviated sequence expired as Quinn Hutson was called for his second minor the game.
The Gulls looked much better on this sequence but again could not convert but maintained momentum as the man advantage completed.
Justin Bailey drew another call as his stick was ripped from his hands whilst fighting for a loose puck in the Condors zone, on the Gulls first and best opportunity on the man advantage a turnover that went right to Matthew Phillips was denied in close and in the resulting scrum for the puck Justin Bailey was called for tripping to even things out.
Bakersfield looked the better squad at four on four but the Gulls quickly took over on the very brief twenty second penalty kill and as Justin Bailey exited the penalty box he joined Stian Solberg on a partial break. The Ducks first round selection looking him off to send a hard and low wrist shot that beat the Condors goaltender to make it 4-1. 4-1 Gulls.
As time closed on the final quarter of the period the hitting started to pick up on both sides and distinct lack of Christmas cheer between the two squads became evident.
Following a worrying shift where the fourth line was hemmed for a full minute sequence that was only broken by Travis Howe getting into a passing lane near the top of the circles a rush lead by Myatovic and finished by Luneau saw the Gulls earn their sixth Power Play opportunity of the game as the later was slashed by Quinn Hutson.
The first unit did string together some cross-ice passes and set-ups but could not finish before struggling to gain the zone again before being replaced with the second unit.
Time expiring on the Gulls man advantage and the period as San Diego took a commanding 4-1 lead to the second intermission. Shots were 13-6 Gulls on the period and 25-17 overall.
Third Period: San Diego Gulls 4 – Bakersfield Condors 1
Starting the third with a clear plan to defend their lead by taking the game to Bakersfield the Gulls created two great chances that were only thwarted by an amazing save by Matt Tomkins and perhaps too much stick handling on the part of Sasha Pastujov.
Bakersfield started to push back against the non-stop San Diego attack and both teams began to trade rush chances.
With ten minutes left in the frame some poor Gulls defense on one particular Bakersfield rush saw the home squad finally get one back as on the rush a pass from the slot to setup a one time blast beat Husso clean. 4-2 Gulls.
Bakersfield controlled play for much of the next few minutes which quickly bled into the final five minutes of play and with three minutes left Tristan Luneau was pressured into a delay of game call as he uncharacteristically sent the puck over the glass on the full.
San Diego killed the minor with relative ease and included an empty net goal for Nico Myatovic to take the win 5-2 on the road.
Post Game Notes:
Taking The Shot
I can’t directly take credit but after banging the “SHOTS ON NET” drum in the last few post game notes the Gulls have been starting to do just that. One noted example tonight – Stian Solberg coming down the left side with players in front of the net and plenty of tantalizing options but the rookie defender elected to fire the puck on net. The smarter option.
All in all the Gulls finished with 38 shots tonight and lead the Condors in shots in every period – increasing the disparity with each one.
Hot Gulls Cold Gulls
The Gulls are heating up again but some notable scorers are still relatively cool. Matthew Phillips was scoreless again – his second game in a row. As was Yegor Sidorov – also his second game without a point. Judd Caulfield is pointless six games now but is still driving offense in other ways. It is concerning but I am also not that worried personally – as the Gulls continue to win – the confidence will come back and the goals will come.
In Praise Of Roman Kinal
Roman Kinal looked every bit the AHL ready defender we have known him to be over the last season or so despite not seeing any game time for almost a month. If anything – being able to step in and play a consistent mistake free game like that after not seeing any real game action for that long should make him more valuable. He is never a liability and you can see why the coaching staff rank him so highly over other players requiring development time – such as Konnor Smith. With Brouillard likely not back until some time in the new year this is a good opportunity for Kinal to get some games in before inevitably sitting again but he will likely be needed during the stretch run as both the Ducks and Gulls look to be in the post season at the same time for the first time in a very long while.
2025-2026 Playoffs Round 1 Game 1: San Diego Gulls vs Colorado Eagles
Loveland, Colorado. After dropping their final three regular season games while icing unde…