2025-2026 Game 38: San Diego Gulls at Tucson Roadrunners

Tucson, Nevada. After a hard fought come from behind overtime win the San Diego Gulls turned right around and hoped to put up another win on the back to back.

With points at a premium and the lines starting to look like they could start to put up some consistent numbers the coaching staff made no changes from the previous night other than putting Suchanek in as the back-up.

Calle Clang was given the rare back to back start with Suchanek backing up and Buteyets sent back to Tulsa earlier in the day.

Travis Howe and Konnor Smith were the scratches.

First Period:

Expecting a strong start from the home squad after again allowing their opponent to come from behind to snatch victory the Gulls instead flipped the script, looking the more hungry squad from puck drop and as the Gaucher line started the action the top line took over. Justin Bailey finding himself at the right place at right time to bat in a rebound off of a point shot from Nik Brouillard just under two minutes into the game. Gulls 1-0.

Tucson came with a response immediately after but San Diego did a good job of collapsing in front of their net while Clang showed no sign of fatigue for playing in back to back games as he stopped any puck that made it through to him.

San Diego looked willing and able to open the ice and play a rush game – a potentially dangerous tactic against a squad like Tucson but their confidence levels looked incredibly good as the fourth line broke through. A bad clear by the Roadrunners went right to Yegor Sidorov in the low slot and his quick snap shot caught Tuscon goaltender Jaxson Stauber up high before dropping to his feet where a waiting Cal Burke pounced and shifted it around him to make it 2-0. 2-0 Gulls.

The Gulls were relentless – showing a kind of insatiable hunger for the puck not seen in a few games and their barrage of entries into the Tucson zone added to their lead as the Mysak line cashed in. The man himself finishing off a chance in front as Sasha Pastujov also could have hit an almost empty net with Stauber down and out. 3-0 Gulls.

Tuscon again tried to respond but were a tad overzealous in doing so as Sam Lipkin was called for hooking in the offensive zone.

The Gulls first unit again looked lost for options and were too easily swarmed once they gained the Roadrunners zone. The second unit – given more time than usual – looked a heck of a lot better as they were able to send the puck around the diamond and get a shot on net with Nikita Nesterenko using his tall lanky frame to screen.

Returning to five on five the Gulls kept up the offense as the fourth line again lead the way and Cal Burke in particular proved too much of a handful as he drew a holding call in the Tucson zone.

Starting with the second unit they again looked more sure of themselves with the puck – creating some chances and getting zone entries much more easily before swapping out for the first unit. The first unit did mange to get some movement around the Tucson zone but also found the opposing penalty kill too easily close on them. A bad pass by Ryan Carpenter deflected off Sasha Pastujovs skate and into the neutral zone where Ben McCartney pounced and skated in alone on Calle Clang. 3-1. Gulls.

San Diego closed out the period by going back to their relentless work on the fore-check – taking a 3-1 lead into the first intermission and a convincing 19-9 lead in shots.

Second Period: San Diego Gulls 3 – Tucson Roadrunners 1

The Roadrunners showed some life to start the second, pushing the Gulls early on and drawing a call on Nikita Nesterenko as he was called for hooking just over a minute in.

The Gulls initially looked good on the penalty kill but were once again victimized by Andrew Agozzino as he batted in a rebound at the near side. The former Gull getting his second goal in as many games against his old club. 3-2 Gulls.

Sensing an opening the Roadrunners continued to pour it on but the Gulls had some near chances of their own – with Nathan Gaucher showing great poise to hold and create space in the Tucson zone to create a chance that ended in a goal mouth scramble.

The fourth line also enjoyed a nice foray in the Tucson zone but after that it was all Roadrunners and it felt invertible that the infamous most dangerous lead in hockey curse would strike again.

Sasha Pastujov made a shifty move to slip inside his check and send a quick snap shot that hit iron and then at the other end Ty Tullio thought he had the equalizer but Calle Clang’s left pad kept his sure-goal from going in.

Nathan Gaucher was called for cross-checking as the Roadrunners kept up the pressure and despite the Roadrunners winning back to back face-offs and controlling the San Diego zone the Gulls had perhaps the best chance of the sequence as a three on two shorthanded break saw Judd Caulfield just miss out on spotting a loose puck lying in the crease next to a down and out Jaxson Stauber.

With three minutes left in the period the aforementioned worst lead in hockey curse came to fruition as Austin Poganski finished a three on two break that Calle Clang had no chance on. 3-3 tie game.

Just over a minute later Calle Clang had to make a desperation lunge as the Roadrunners started to skate circles around a suddenly tired looking Gulls defense.

San Diego letting their foot off the gas and allowing the Roadrunners to tie things up after initially building the three nothing lead. Shots were 15-12 Gulls on the period and 24-21 overall. The shot map telling a different story to the scoring in the period but also no indicator of the play of Calle Clang.

Third Period: San Diego Gulls 3 – Tucson Roadrunners 3

Neither squad wanted to make the first mistake as a ferocious but conservative battle of wills saw the first five minutes of action absolutely fly by.

Despite Tucson taking momentum and controlling the Gulls zone for the next five minutes an inspired rush and give and go play between Jan Mysak and Matthew Phillips culminated in Mysak’s second of the game as he finished the perfect bang-bang play. 4-3 Gulls.

San Diego followed the goal with that familiar relentless attack and as the third line and then fourth line kept the puck in the Tucson zone the top line came on to maintain possession and lead a rush into the Roadrunners zone with speed. Nikita Nesterenko adding to the lead as he took a pass from Bailey and skated across the Tucson net to slide it five-hole. 5-3 Gulls.

Another Bailey and Nesterenko combination almost made it 6-3 but their two on nothing break was stopped as they unselfishly dished the puck between each-other.

With just under three minutes left the Roadrunners pulled Stauber for the extra attacker and held the Gulls under siege for a good minute before Calle Clang was able to glove down a point shot and allow a change to bring on a more defensive minded group.

Myatovic, Gaucher and Caulfield were tasked with closing out the win and that they did with Myatovic in particular making a key block at the blue line. The Gulls taking the sweep in Tucson with a 5-3 win.

Post Game Notes:

Hey What Did I Say?

Did I not mention in my post game notes yesterday that the fourth line could do some damage if they were kept together and given ample ice time to get some chemistry going? Believe it or not that was Cal Burkes first goal as a Gull and I hope it means the coaching staff will finally be keeping him in the line-up longer than the game by game swap outs. As I said – Howe really only needs to be in when the Gulls are facing a heavier team like Henderson and Coachella Valley. San Diego heads to Abbotsford next – if we don’t see Cal Burke in the line-up for those games, I give up.

Just Curious…

I had a random thought whilst listening to Aaron mention on the broadcast that the Roadrunners had called up a player from the Utah Grizzlies for this game. I wonder what Utah’s long term plan is for their AHL and ECHL affiliates. They don’t have an official ECHL affiliate this season but appear to be using the Grizzlies out of convenience. The Grizzlies however have been sold and are moving to New Jersey as of next season. Do the Mammoth plan on moving the Roadrunners? I know initial speculation pointed to yes when the Coyotes were sold and moved to Utah but those rumors were shut down at the time. Long term I can’t imagine the Mammoth are that thrilled with their call-ups being a day’s drive or two hour flight away. If they do move them to Utah – what does the Pacific Division then look like? It might be the right time to move the Eagles and Utah to the Central to give them nine teams instead of seven and the Pacific eight teams instead of ten.

Standings Update

The back to back wins put them three points ahead of Tucson for sixth place in the Division where they also sit by points percentage. Were the playoffs to start today they would face third place Bakersfield – a match-up I am sure the Gulls would relish. Coming up its a back to back in Abbotsford next weekend – the Canucks are still bottom of the division but have been putting together more wins than they did earlier this season and are not to be taken lightly. Then its the final three games of the month featuring these same Roadrunners back at Pechanga before the anticipated rematch with the Firebirds in Coachella Valley followed by a visit from the Reign to close out January.