2025-2026 Game 40: San Diego Gulls at Abbotsford Canucks

Abbotsford, British Columbia. Needing a huge turn-around after dropping a tight 3-1 decision the night before the San Diego Gulls reset and refocused on the task at hand.

Once again the coaching staff kept the forward lines intact – keeping Cal Burke in the line-up and the suddenly hot fourth line together.

As predicted in my post game notes from the night before – Suchanek was given the start on the back to back with Calle Clang backing up.

Travis Howe and Konnor Smith were the scratches.

First Period:

It wasn’t a great start for the Gulls as they found themselves down a goal two minutes in after a mid-change combination of the second and third lines could not clean up in the defensive zone and a bad bounce off Sasha Pastujov landed right in the slot. 1-0 Canucks.

The minutes ticked away with minimal stoppages and tight neutral zone play that saw shots at just 3-2 at the midway mark of the period.

San Diego started to string some nice passing plays and rushes into the Canucks zone but it also felt like it might be one of those nights as crisp passes landed perfectly but the player receiving the puck hesitated a split second too long to get the shot away.

Much like yesterdays game – the Gulls heading to the first intermission down by one and needing to pick up their play. Shots were 11-9 Canucks with the shot map an almost mirror of yesterdays first intermission map – the Gulls getting some chances in close but not enough in comparison to their opponents.

Second Period: Abbotsford Canucks 1 – San Diego Gulls 0

A second Canucks goal to open the period felt a surety as Jonathan Lekkerimaki diced his way through the San Diego defense, faked around Suchanek to open him up and then sent his shot harmlessly off the side of the net.

The first Power Play of the game was awarded to the Gulls as Nikita Nesterenko drew his third call in two games against the Canucks. The first unit looked perhaps the best they have in several games, coming within inches on one nice play by Nik Brouillard to fake a shot and move around a diving defender to set up a chance. Moments later Justin Bailey was denied at the side of the net in the dying seconds of the minor and the recovered puck was immediately sent to a fresh from the box and streaking Danil Kimovich who shook off Nesterenko with a stop move then spun and fired a backhand shot that fooled Suchanek on a highlight reel goal. 2-0 Canucks.

The Gulls tried to respond – first via Judd Caulfield and the third line and then the top line but an interference call to Stian Solberg halted momentum as time passed over the midway mark.

Killing the minor with aplomb and going back to the attack the Gulls energy levels seemed to visibly drain as the Canucks quickly shifted things back the other direction.

With less than two minutes left the Canucks added to their lead on a point shot that beat Suchanek through traffic. 3-0 Canucks.

The Gulls down 3-0 after two and looking less likely by the minute. Shots were 14-11 Canucks and 25-20 overall.

Third Period: Abbotsford Canucks 3 – San Diego Gulls 0

Starting the third with more jump than they had the other two the Gulls drew a call when Judd Caulfield was tripped coming off the wall in the Canucks zone.

The San Diego Power Play spent almost the entire two minutes in the Canucks zone, sending shot after shot on the young Finnish Abbotsford net-minder but could not get one by him.

Whenever the Gulls tried to do sonething right they just got it wrong – again briefly holding the offensive zone and have a pass across the blue line from Nik Brouillard to Noah Warren picked off by Jonothan Lekkerimaki. The Canucks star prospect put on the moves to slip around San Diego defenders, slide across the crease and deke out a diving Suchanek. 4-0 Canucks.

The Gulls did show some fight and kept heading back to the Abbotsford zone – now with a wide ranging variety of line changes – but it seemed an after thought for a game result that had long since been determined.

The Gulls dropping another one and getting shut-out 4-0 to go 2-2-0-0 on the road trip.

Post Game Notes:

Feast or Famine

We are back to Jekyll and Hyde Gulls hockey again. They are either a clicking, hungry, all-over-the-other-team squad or they show flashes of what they can do but can’t finish, slowly malaise and ultimately fizzle out. This one felt and looked like they were VERY tired. There wasn’t a lot of hunger and grade A chances went begging due to hesitation, being too slow or just mental lapses. The sense of urgency just wasn’t there. I get that the coaching staff might be preaching patience when a player finds themselves with the puck behind the opposing net and the goalie is scrambling but at this point I am screaming JUST THROW IT OUT IN FRONT. I wish I had ideas or a solution but I don’t. The offense has now completely dried up and so many players are either very cold or ice cold – to join others that have yet to really get started. It is VERY concerning at this point in the season.

Could Have Been Worse x 2

Again the loss comes against the lowly Canucks and again thankfully the Roadrunners are losing as of posting this… But the slight worry there is the Silver Knights picking up points – previously the Gulls only really needed to worry about Tucson and Calgary but now Henderson is right there also.

Changes Or Help Coming?

There isn’t a heck of a lot the coaching staff can do to try to change things up. The only other options are Travis Howe and Konnor Smith. Both of whom I have already said previously I would not be surprised to see in the game in Coachella Valley this weekend. The frustrating thing is the Ducks called up Colangelo just to have him sit in the press-box while they play Ian Moore at forward. The NHL Trade Deadline is nearing and the Ducks do find themselves in the playoff picture at present – they have been tied to a deal for Rangers forward Artemi Panarin but that it could take a haul that involves two prospects and two draft picks. The Ducks are among teams mentioned as suitors although Panarin has a NMC so he can choose his ultimate destination. The slowly growing number of ex-Rangers on the squad as well as a past history with Joel Queenville does make it seem likely but I do worry about what prospects the Ducks would have to give up.