2025-2026 Game 45: San Diego Gulls at Bakersfield Condors

Bakersfield, California. Coming back from the All Star break and following up after taking down three straight divisional opponents including the most recent wild 7-4 win over the Henderson Silver Knights the San Diego Gulls headed north to face the Bakersfield Condors for the third time this season in a preview of a potential playoff match-up.

As noted by myself yesterday – Stian Solberg appeared to be already back and practicing and it was confirmed with the line-up that he was indeed back from whatever lower body injury he sustained.

The top two lines remained intact but the bottom two were shuffled slightly – Nico Myatovic forming a trio with the on loan Duck duo of Tim Washe and Sam Colangelo while Nikita Nesterenko joined the fourth line with Nathan Gaucher and Judd Caulfield.

Tomas Suchanek was given the start on the back to back with Calle Clang backing him up.

Coulson Pitre, Cal Burke, Travis Howe were again the scratches with Konnor Smith joining them.

First Period:

San Diego attempted to establish a hitting game early but the Condors Viljami Marjala found space to cut through the neutral zone and the Gulls first line of defence – focring Roland McKeown into taking a hooking minor less than a minute in. The Condors first Power Play unit then proceeded to test Suchanek early – their last chance coming from former Gulls Max Jones.

Erasing the minor thanks in large part to Suchanek the Gulls were able to tilt momentum and were awarded a Power Play of their own when Nathan Gaucher was tripped by Josh Brown as he intercepted a puck in the neutral zone and would have skated into the Condors zone on a two on nothing break.

Starting with the first unit and a face-off in the Bakersfield zone, it took just forty seconds for the very dangerous looking Gulls Power Play to convert as they created chances in front early and were able to keep the zone for the entire sequence before Matthew Phillips finish off a rebound that landed in the high slot. 1-0 Gulls.

Just seconds later Stian Solberg was called for interference as he stayed with his man on the next Condors rush but stayed with him a little too much.

San Diego killed the minor with little difficulty – allowing Suchanek to take a breather as their defense did the job of denying zone entries and quickly collapsing to prevent the Condors units from being set-up.

Play was mostly back and forth but the Condors started to slowly shift momentum as time passed by the eight minutes remaining mark.

San Diego pushed back and almost had another marker as Yegor Sidorov was set up at the side of the net by Captain Ryan Carpenter but his pass bounced over his stick.

The hitting picked up in the final few minutes but it was largely San Diego comfortably controlling play until a final desperate flourish from the Condors energy line that saw the period end with some unpleasantness exchanged and the first real snarl seen in the potential playoff preview.

The Gulls taking the 1-0 lead after the first period and leading in shots 11-7 but the shot map showing the Condors did have three very high danger chances that took place early on.

Second Period: San Diego Gulls 1 – Bakersfield Condors 0

Play was middling to begin the second although the Condors did enjoy the better of possession for much of the first five minutes and once again their energy line gave the Gulls some trouble in their own zone.

The Gulls started to push back and the Mysak line began to shift momentum as they held sustained pressure in the Bakersfield zone.

The new look third line followed that up and as they initially created some chances off an offensive zone face-off, it was this re-entry on a partial break led by Sam Colangelo that ended in the Gulls second tally as Nico Myatovic intercepted a puck behind the net and immediately turned and sent it back out in front to Tim Washe. Gulls 2-0.

The Gulls then controlled play for the next few minutes – seeing back to back quality looks from Ryan Carpenter and Matthew Phillips.

Bakersfield made a push led by former Gull Max Jones as he wrought havoc in the Gulls zone, that started with a reverse hit on Jan Mysak and ended with Tomas Suchanek suddenly called into action to make some desperation sprawling saves.

The ice continued to open up with the Gulls able to create more chances as Sam Colangelo led the way.

Bakersfield did manage to get some quality looks on Suchanek – including a one-time blast that he was equal to.

The hitting picked up in the final few minutes of play and the Condors spent the dying seconds in the Gulls zone but San Diego kept everything to the perimeter as they took a 2-0 lead into the second intermission.

Shots were 11-10 Bakersfield on the frame and 21-18 Gulls overall. The shot map showing Bakersfield able to generate more looks but San Diego still having the better quality of chances.

Third Period: San Diego Gulls 2 – Bakersfield Condors 0

San Diego started the third with a perhaps ill advised conservative style – ensuring to get a shot on the Condors net whenever they gained their zone but unwilling to commit too many fore-checkers to puck recovery.

The Condors meanwhile probed for an opening and almost took advantage of a couple of Gulls mistakes but Tomas Suchanek remained sharp in the hunt for his first shut out of the season.

The second line seemed the only one willing to force the issue in the Bakersfield zone and you got the sense that if the others didn’t soon follow suit that the Gulls may inadvertently allow the Condors back in the game by their own admission.

Judd Caulfield was called for hooking as he and Josh Brown barreled into the Gulls side post as the trailing player on a Bakersfield rush and the Gulls headed to the penalty kill.

Once again Suchanek was the story as he stopped back to back high danger chances in close and as the Gulls returned to five men – Judd Caulfield and Nikita Nesterenko almost combined for another goal but Caulfields sweeping move was sent just wide.

It was less of a sprint and more of a marathon run to the finish as the final five minutes of play was stop start with icing calls aplenty. Noah Warren was tripped coming out of the neutral zone and an outnumbered Condors rush allowed them to hold the Gulls zone and eventually break Suchanek’s shut-out bid with a pass across the crease. 2-1 Gulls.

With less than two minutes left the Condors pulled their goaltender for the extra attacker and it was tense moments as they held the San Diego zone for a minute while trying to set-up Quinn Hutson for a cross-ice one-timer.

In the final forty seconds – another rare own goal gave the Gulls a 3-1 lead as the Condors tried to feed a pass back to their point which bounced off the boards and all the way down the ice into their own net. 3-1 Gulls. The goal was credited to Nathan Gaucher as the last Gulls player to touch the puck.

San Diego taking the 3-1 lead and their fourth win in a row.

Post Game Notes:

Solberg Super Soldier?

I honestly thought Solberg was either done for at least a month or the rest of the season when I saw him struggling to put weight on that right leg so to see him back so soon and showing no ill effects whatsoever can either mean he is either some sort of Demi-God or got some of that super soldier serum. The likely answer is Viking Blood but still – its impressive. He is one tough kid. The Condors were actively targeting him today too – well most teams have – but Bakersfield players were definitely going out of their way to finish their hits on him.

Staying Hot Hot Hot

The win gives San Diego 53 points but keeps them in sixth place in the still incredibly tight Pacific Division. They would be sixth place by points percentage also. Again if the playoffs started today they would be facing these same Condors – which I believe suits them well. They aren’t a super heavy team like Henderson, Colorado or Coachella Valley. It was interesting to note – there was not a heck of a lot of snarl or chippiness in tonight’s game compared to others we have seen. Will see what the next one is like as the teams get to know each other more – but overall both teams seem to have a mutual respect that meant they did not need to resort to dirty tactics commonly deployed by the likes of the Firebirds.

Make Hay While The Sun Shines

The Gulls are definitely a heck of a lot more potent and confident looking now that they have all three of Sam Colangelo, Tim Washe and Nikita Nesterenko. As mentioned – they should have them for at least four more games. The Ducks next game after the break is the 25th of February – the Gulls have two more home games and a weekend trip to Rockford before then. With Petr Mrazek not due back from injury until March 1 the earliest it likely means Ville Husso will need to pass through waivers again if they hope to return him to the Gulls. Luckily Calle Clang is in the midst of a breakout season and Tomas Suchanek appears to have finally returned to form also. The dark-horse envy of the league tandem that I spoke of last season may actually be finally happening.