Tucson, Nevada. Heading to the desert with just the one home win in three games to show as well as the shame of a 4-0 defeat at the hands of the Coachella Valley Firebirds, the San Diego Gulls looked to pick themselves back up and get some positive flow going against the hottest team in the division.
Even with news that the Gulls had recalled Konnor Smith and Vyacheslav Buteyets from Tulsa the line-up remained largely the same as the loss against Coachella Valley. The only change coming on the fourth line as Cal Burke and Travis Howe continued to switch in and out for eachother. Burke returning and centering the fourth line.
Calle Clang was given the start with recalled Buteyets backing up.
Travis Howe, Konnor Smith and (assumed) Suchanek were the scratches.
It should be noted that Yegor Sidorov did not face any discipline for his after the whistle activities in the last game.
First Period:
Play was mixed through the first few minutes after puck drop – Tucson were immediately committed on the forecheck but the Gulls also looked much tighter on defense than they have in their more recent home games.
Play started to open up and chances were exchanged at both ends with the Roadrunners starting to tilt the ice in their favor.
Justin Bailey had the Gulls best chance of the early goings as he was found at the far side post by Ryan Carpenter but his finish off the shot-pass hit the post.
Play was pedestrian and confined to the neutral zone for much of the next ten minutes, turnover and counter-turnover ensured the puck never really left the area between the two blue lines.
San Diego managed to send two big chances on net in the final minute of the period as the Mysak line put the Roadrunners on their heels with their speed. But the score remained locked at zero a piece after the first twenty minutes. Shots were 10-8 Roadrunners on the period. The shot map showing San Diego generated the better of the chances in front.
Second Period: San Diego Gulls 0 – Tucson Roadrunners 0
It was all Tucson for the first three minutes of action and Calle Clang had to look his recent calm and composed self as he squared up to and turned aside shot after shot.
San Diego countered with the fourth line as Cal Burke proved his worth by chasing down and forcing a turnover via a hard check and the continued possession in the Roadrunners zone saw chances created by both the top line and the Mysak line.
An offensive zone draw with the Gulls pressing saw Nikita Nesternko draw a hooking penalty as he was denied on a cross-crease pass after a San Diego face-off win.
The first unit looked initially deadly but then quickly grew too static and their telegraphed plays were easily blocked and as teams returned to five on five the ice was spread by sudden rush and counter rush plays. The Gulls looking almost there – on a four on one play with nice passing but unable to finish. While at the other end the Roadrunners were finally stopped by a statement glove save from Calle Clang.
On the very next face-off in the defensive zone a win back to the point from the Roadrunners saw Judd Caulfield block a shot and head off on a partial break where he then made a beautiful inside-out move around the last defender skating back before sending an attempt on the Tucson net. The forehand to backhand move was stopped but the rebound fell right to the trailing Nathan Gaucher who sent it home. 1-0 Gulls.
The Roadrunners came with an instant response as former Gull Andrew Agozzino beat Clang through traffic with a quick snap shot from the high slot. 1-1 tie game.
The pace picked up and Stian Solberg made a goal saving defensive block to disrupt a two on one which was then followed by Nikita Nesterenko intercepting a blue line pass to go in alone on the Tucson net but his five-hole shot was stopped as he drew a slashing call on the attempt.
The first unit looked much better this time and able to make better use of space but were still unable to convert and with the sparse time allowed the second unit did not look quite as polished.
Jan Mysak was found guilty of slashing in the final minute of the period but San Diego locked down the neutral zone to deny the Roadrunners any shots with the man advantage as time expired on the period.
Shots were 12-11 Gulls on the frame and 21-20 Tucson overall. The shot map showing again the Gulls having a higher concentration of chances in the slow slot but the Roadrunners finding more opportunities in the the mid slot area.
Third Period: San Diego Gulls 1 – Tucson Roadrunners 1
Starting the period on the penalty kill the Gulls quickly erase the remaining time on the minor and went right to the attack – enjoying the majority of possession until Stian Solberg was called for interference in the neutral zone.
Tucson won the offensive zone face-off and sent back to back chances on Clang but the Gulls were eventually able to get a clear and deny them a further zone entry for the remainder of the kill.
With the pace picking up again a bad change by the Gulls gave Tucson too much time and space in the San Diego zone and a wide open Max Szuber was allowed to receive a pass at the point and skate into the high slot to beat Clang clean. 2-1 Roadrunners.
Judd Caulfield led the initial charge in response and started to make some inroads but the Roadrunners were firm in their gap control as time passed over the midway mark.
Cal Burke again showed some of his stand-out hustle as he chased down a dump-in and drew a call as Max Szuber cross-checked him from behind.
The Gulls first unit again looked uninspiring – unable to keep the zone after two entries and after the first minute without a shot on net it felt like another waste of an opportunity until a great entry by Tristan Luneau on the third attempt (which should have seen him draw a call with a Tucson player slashing and hooking him as he did) allowed the Gulls to set up and find Sasha Patujov at the point. The playmaking forward spotting the traffic in front of the Tucson net and quickly throwing a mid level wrist shot that Justin Bailey tipped by Roadrunners goaltender Matt Villalta. 2-2 tie game.
Teams traded chances for the remaining time in the period but despite coming close to taking the lead neither could solve their respective opposing goaltenders and we headed to the extra session.
Overtime:
Tucson won the face-off and owned possession for the first minute and a half of the sudden death three on three overtime session but a turnover by Nik Brouillard in the Gulls zone and subsequent transition to Nikita Nesterenko up the boards allowed the speedy winger to show why he is so dangerous in space. His rangy stride easily accelerated by Tucson defenders and as Matthew Phillips joined him to give a passion option he leisurely wired a wrist shot that beat Villalta stick side to give San Diego the win. 3-2 Gulls win.
Post Game Notes:
Power Play Still Misses…
Tim Washe – on the face-off and in front of the net and now Sam Colangelo as the other trigger man. The first unit did look good at points but also ran out of ideas quickly due to the lack of options now that they no longer have Colangelo to go to on the left side boards or Tim Washe in the bumper. I don’t really have any other commentary, feedback or solutions on that – the Gulls are working with what they have but if the Power Play continues to decline in their absence maybe its time to just try something new. Chuck Stian Solberg on the point and just get him to throw pucks on net with Carpenter and Caulfield in front. Of course with the loss of Colangelo and Washe it also means new-old blood gets into the line-up…
Nesty Is So Back and Pitre Is Sort Of Back
What more can you say about Nesterenko. He has NHL speed and offers the Gulls another weapon in that department with his ability to get in quickly to force turnovers but is also just as valuable on the back-check. It really is surprising he was not claimed on waivers last week and I still don’t understand why the Ducks made that move while then keeping him up for a few more days after he was not claimed. I would not count on him being with the team long-term though – he either goes back to the Ducks eventually or gets moved at the deadline because it feels like their management have moved on. I am not sure why they have suddenly soured on him – he is still a hard working two way forward with next level speed but either way – I’m not complaining about his second tour of duty with San Diego.
Coulson Pitre has been back for a few weeks and able to see action in six games so far – going scoreless with five shots on net. He has not exactly been invisible and there have been flashes of some of the kind of game we have seen him play in the past – he thrives in the neutral zone forcing turnovers and using his speed to create but is slowly adjusting to both his line-mates and getting back to speed with the AHL. He and Sirodov could potentially develop something if they remain together long enough – Sidorov is a play driver and Pitre has some finishing skill while Cal Burke balances them both with good speed and defensive awareness. If that line can stay together for a decent amount of time and are given enough ice time to get going – they could be a hidden find. Of course that depends on whether this Burke – Howe swap-in-swap-out rotation keeps up – something I don’t entirely agree with…
Keep It Consistent
Apologies to Travis Howe fans – I do appreciate everything he does and in particular how he showed up in the last game to let the Firebirds know they cant keep crossing the line with the Gulls skill players but at the detriment of developing chemistry on that fourth line I would prefer he stayed out of the line-up unless it’s a game against a particularly physical or abrasive opponent. Don’t get me wrong – I do like to see him in the line-up every so often and I am already penciling in that game on the 30th in Coachella Valley as one I would like to see Howe as well as Konnor Smith in the line-up so that even if the Gulls get blown out again, at least they can give the Firebirds a taste of their own medicine in the process. For now however – in games where the points are becoming very important; lets keep Burke in?
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