San Diego, California. Coming home after a big 5-2 win in Bakersfield the San Diego Gulls welcomed in the division dungeon dwelling Abbotsford Canucks to Pechanga.
In a somewhat surprising move – the Gulls coaching staff elected to go the 11-7 route to give Konnor Smith some game time and scratched Travis Howe to make room. With Cal Burke now absent for three straight games it was safe to assume he was likely injured.
Calle Clang was given the start with Ville Husso backing up.
Travis Howe was the only healthy scratch with my assumption that Cal Burke was injured.
First Period:
Facing a much tougher Abbotsford squad than they did in their last encounter the Gulls looked good early on as they established their fore-check and rush game. The pace was non-stop and time ticked over with minimal stoppages that were essentially the exchanging of penalties by both squads.
San Diego looked extra impressive on their penalty kill as they prevented the Canucks from getting set and as time passed over the midway point shots were 5-1 Gulls. Abbotsford started to pick up the hitting and left two Gulls skating gingerly after two encounters on one shift as Yegor Sidorov was driven into his own nets post and Matthew Phillips was hit hard into the player benches.
A confusing call that was assessed to Sasha Pastujov for holding that had everyone standing around looking at each-other as they waited to see what the call was – eventually was dispatched but not without some difficulty as this time the Canucks were able to gain the zone, get set and send some chances on Clang.
It was a race to the finish as the ice started to open up in the final few minutes of the period, Matthew Phillips was once again unlucky to finish a great individual effort as he took the puck from skate to stick while on his stomach to get denied in close. At the other end the Canucks managed a flurry of shots on Clang as the period expired with some pleasantries exchanged.
San Diego leading in shots 15-6 after the first set of twenty and going into the second period scoreless. The shot map showing the Gulls playing a much better game than they usually do at home.
Second Period: San Diego Gulls 0 – Abbotsford Canucks 0
Abbotsford started the second as physically aggressive as they had ended the first and as bodies fell on both sides the Gulls emerged with the Power Play after Jet Woo was called for slashing. San Diego only managed to get set the once as the visitors frustrated every zone entry attempt and gave no time or space to the puck carrier.
The Gulls carried momentum after the man advantage and it was all San Diego as time passed over the midway mark when Matthew Phillips drew another call as he was slashed on a partial break created by a nice head-man pass from Konnor Smith.
This time San Diego kept the Canucks zone as the first unit played keep away while sending hard shots on net until a Sam Colangelo shot from the left side landed at the feet of both Tim Washe and Ryan Carpenter. Washe smashing it in after several wacks but Carpenter making sure of it behind the sprawled Canucks goaltender Jiri Patera. 1-0 Gulls.
San Diego again controlled play and possession for the next few minutes after the goal until a patented Stian Solberg SMASH saw the Gulls head back to the Power Play as Joe Arntsen jumped him following the hit.
The Gulls looked deadly on the ensuing Power Play and Sasha Pastujov was unlucky to hit iron on a chance from the circles but as the penalty expired they looked by far the more committed team as they headed to the second intermission up by one. They out-shot the Canucks 15-2 on the period to lead 30-8 overall. The shot map was well in an over used internet acronym. LOL
Third Period: San Diego Gulls 1 – Abbotsford Canucks 0
The physicality continued as both teams exchanged minor penalties to start the third – the Gulls Power Play coming courtesy of Stian Solberg getting body position to dislodge a puck and getting tripped for his efforts at the end of the San Diego penalty kill.
As the neutral zone started to become a battlefield of attrition a Judd Caulfield steal near the Canucks blue line saw him skate in alone and execute a perfect move to make it 2-0 Gulls.
Calle Clang had to save some of his best work for last as the Canucks threw everything at him for the next few minutes of play, somehow keeping the puck out after a goal mouth scramble on one particular flurry of shots he faced.
The remainder of time left in the period felt very much like the playoffs as the Gulls were clearly content to play conservative and ensure they got the puck into the Canucks zone before pulling away and clogging the neutral zone. Frequent stoppages and post whistle stick infractions also lent to the playoff-like atmosphere.
A Stian Solberg hooking call at the side of the Gulls net added some adversity to the final seven minutes of play but a determined San Diego defensive effort killed the minor and as the Canucks pulled their goaltender for the extra attacker in the final three minutes some great work from the top line and Captain Ryan Carpenter opened up Sam Colangelo to skate in for an easy empty net goal. 3-0 Gulls.
The Gulls skating away with a hard fought 3-0 win and Calle Clang’s first career AHL shut out.
Post Game Notes:
Taking The Shot2
As noted in my post game recap last night – my constant “shoot the puck” complaints have been taken into consideration and the Gulls are benefiting for it. They have out-shot their opponents 374-230 for the month of December and are 6-3-1-1 in that stretch as they have out shot their opponents in every game in December thus far.
They are keeping things simple and although as I noted last night – some of the usual suspects are unusually quiet, if they keep up this strategy the goals will come and flow through to those squeezing their sticks at present.
And oh yeah – the Gulls have scored a Power Play goal in each of their last four games. Coincidence?
Standings Update
The win moves San Diego into sixth in the Pacific by points and fifth by points percentage. In the still insanely tight Pacific Division they are a win away from moving into second in the division and suddenly five points shy of the top spot. Much like Gulls squads in the past – the current cellar dwelling Canucks are likely too far out of the picture even though they are getting bodies back in time to make a late run; I wouldn’t exactly count them out entirely but with how the Pacific has been this season – it is a very slim chance they make it back to get a sniff of the final spot. The scariest thing is when the playoff positions are eventually set and start – some very good teams are going to be eliminated early purely because of how tight this division is.
Bits and Pieces
Judd Caulfield – is still developing well as a Power Forward but one concerning thing I have noticed is his situational awareness. He has missed time in the past with a concussion as a result of head-shots and tonight he was again caught up high – seemingly unaware of a Canucks player that caught up to him and got him from the side.
The 7-11 format – what was the point? We barely saw or noticed Smith – the only positive was the extra ice time allowed Nathan Gaucher who was suddenly a lot more noticeable and probably the best Gull on the ice not named Calle Clang.
Calle Clang has turned the corner – after some shaky years he has been locked in this season. He is 5-1-2-1 with a 0.916 SV% and 1.96 GAA which at this point would be his best record in the AHL through his three full professional seasons. His 0.916 SV% would have him currently in the top ten among qualified goalies in the league and his 1.96 GAA would be good four fourth in the league.
Drafting defensive forwards paying off – Nico Myatovic showed again some very strong aspects of his two way game tonight as he was the first man back to shut down a Canucks partial break when the Gulls defenders got caught. Previous iterations of Ducks prospects *cough* Perrault *cough* would not have made that same play.
Yegor Sidorov – one thing I have noticed and potentially why his production has dropped off; I haven’t seen him do that pull-the-puck in and use-the-player-as-a-screen shot at all much lately. Something I am sure is not a conscious decision by him – there just have not been the opportunities. The coaching staff need to find him those.
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