2025-2026 Game 53: San Diego Gulls at San Jose Barracuda

San Jose, California. Finishing the mind road swing with a trip back to the coast the San Diego Gulls looked to get revenge on the Pacific Division opponents they last had a physical altercation with last week.

The forward lines were changed up again, reuniting the Colangelo-Carpenter-Phillips trio on the first line while Bailey dropped to the constantly shifting new look second line. Nesterenko was once again tried at center with Coulson Pitre this time moving to the wing on his line. The familiar Sidorov-Gaucher-Caulfield line rounded things out.

Defensive pairings remained unchanged.

Calle Clang was given the start with Tomas Suchanek backing up.

First Period:

The Gulls started well – establishing the fore-check early but San Jose swiftly turned momentum and got on the board first as their top line caught the Myatovic line flat footed and were able to feed a cross-crease pass to the backdoor. 1-0 Barracuda.

The next few minutes was an absolute battle with bodies flying, players looking for penalties and chances exchanged – including a golden opportunity for Sam Colangelo that was stopped.

The Barracuda established control and generated all of the next few chances including one right side rush by Quentin Musty that left Calle Clang down on his knees and in discomfort as we went to an ad break. As the feed returned Clang was shown to be up on his feet with the aid of a trainer and skated off holding his left hip. Tomas Suchanek was brought on to replace him.

San Diego seemed to settle down somewhat after the goaltender change but still found themselves on the wrong side of much of the physical play and that in turn opened up the ice for some high danger chances in front of Suchanek.

With less than a minute left things went from bad to worse as the Barracuda’s Quentin Musty found space near the goal line and threw a standard back hand on net that appeared to skip up and off Suchaneks equipment and into the net. 2-0 San Jose.

The Gulls heading to the first intermission down 2-0 and barely in the action despite shots being an even eight a piece. The shot map telling the story of exactly how and why they were down by two goals.

Second Period: San Jose Barracuda 2 – San Diego Gulls 0

After losing Clang to injury in the first it was a very scary moment to start the second as Tomas Suchanek lay on his stomach appearing to be in discomfort after another Barracuda net drive that saw several players from the opposing squad take liberties in the Gulls crease with no repercussions either from the Gulls or the Officials.

Suchanek stayed in and play continued.

San Jose continued to control play, both by the pure threat of pure physical punishment and also just generally looking the hungrier team but the Gulls were given some life when Egor Afanaseyev was called for hooking. The man advantage did give San Diego a chance to control the puck but they could never really get set and as time expired play was messy as they desperately tried to get something near the San Jose net.

San Jose took back control after play returned to five on five and were awarded a Power Play of their own on yet another net front drive – in which the player did not appear to have any intention of avoiding contact with the goaltender – where Stian Solberg was called for holding trying to prevent Anthony Vincent from making said contact with his goaltender.

The Barracuda thought they had a third goal after a barrage of shots in front but it was immediately waved off as Quentin Musty had brought the puck down with a high stick.

San Diego started to show some glimpses of what they can do as Coulson Pitre and Nico Myatovic combined for some chances in the San Jose zone but time was against them as it quickly ticked over the two and a half minute mark.

As the second period mercifully came to a close the Barracuda had jumped out to a 20-13 shot advantage as they commanded a 12-5 disparity over the middle frame. The shot map showing the Gulls somehow got worse and only Suchanek had kept the score as it was to start the period.

Third Period: San Jose Barracuda 2 – San Jose Gulls 0

If the Gulls were to have been given any extra motivational speech between periods it didn’t show as they came out just as flat and unmotivated to start the third – surrendering a third goal this time at the back door less than three minutes into the period. 3-0 San Jose.

Just as it seemed San Diego would not get another sniff of a high danger chance let alone a goal a somewhat unorthodox breakout led by Tyson Hinds making an outlet to neutral ice that was then fed to Sasha Pastujov for the zone entry saw the forward stop up and spot Tristan Luneau heading into space in the slot. The Ducks highly touted defender quickly sending a backhand shot on net from the slot that snuck by the San Jose goaltender to make it 3-1 with just over 14 minutes left. 3-1 San Jose.

With renewed life the Gulls immediately set to pressuring the San Jose net and Stian Solberg was some large inches away from adding another as his rebound chance sailed high over the net.

Suddenly San Diego were creating chances at every touch of the puck as Yegor Sidorov made nice moves into the slot and Judd Caulfield similarly created his own chance with a power move in front.

Keeping up the pressure Tyson Hinds was unlucky not to convert from a loose puck that had the San Jose goaltender out of position and unable to track him but his chance hit the post. He was rewarded for sticking with it though as moments later Judd Caulfield made a nice between the legs move to bring the puck out from behind the goal line with the intention of executing his own backhand but he ran into a waiting Tyson Hinds who swiftly grabbed the dislodged puck and sent it by the San Jose goaltender. 3-2 San Jose.

San Jose managed to get some chances the other way but it was all Gulls for the next few minutes and one had to wonder where was this team for the first two periods. Justin Bailey drew a clear interference call with just under four minutes left to set up a thrilling finish.

The Gulls looked good with the man advantage but once again some bad puck luck put a stop to things as Matthew Phillips was at the wrong end of a bad bounce from a deflected shot.

Pulling Suchanek for the extra attacker with two minutes left the Gulls came oh so close on three separate chances but the Barracuda survived their third period comeback bid, leaving the Gulls with another loss to end the road trip.

Post Game Notes:

Deliberately Dirty

Don’t get me wrong. I am not that sort of homer. I recognize the Gulls were thoroughly outplayed by the hungrier team. But they also didn’t need to deliberately run the goaltender at every opportunity. It really drove home the point that with no Howe or Konnor Smith in the line-up the Gulls are exposed to some unsavory play with little to no response. Who is left to step up and drop the gloves? McKeown? Warren? Gaucher?

Depth Check

I responded to a Tweet / article link earlier this week that mentioned San Diego Gulls players due looks with the Ducks with Nathan Gaucher mentioned among them. I did not agree and replied as such but it made me ponder during this game that it is due time that I update the current Gulls list of players in line for call-ups as I see it.

For forwards: As it currently stands – with players that are healthy – the obvious is Sam Colangelo followed by Nikita Nesterenko but in terms of “next in line” players that have yet to see NHL time I see it as: Sasha Pastujov (co-leads Gulls in scoring with Phillips), Judd Caulfield (5th in scoring and tied second in goal scoring) and Yegor Sidorov (7th in scoring and also tied in goal scoring). I realise Caulfield is not under NHL contract but that is easily remedied as shown in the past with Simon Benoit. When healthy – Jan Mysak is next on the list if not ahead of Sidorov if he had remained healthy and playing like he did at the start of the season.

For defense: Tristan Luneau is the no-brainer. After that – it goes Tyson Hinds then Noah Warren and Stian Solberg as the least ready. Solberg showed again today there are elements of his game he still needs to iron out when he was flushed out by a fore-checker and attempted a puck rush on his own but had the puck stripped at the blue line which lead to a high danger chance in front. Luneau is more than ready and Hinds is too I believe. Warren might have a few struggles but I think would learn pretty quickly.

Goaltending: Clang is almost ready. This is his break out year – it is the most confident I have seen him play in the AHL but I wouldn’t call him ready to steal an NHL role just yet. Next year possibly. Suchanek has had a major setback but should bounce back by end of this season; he has definitely shown some good signs lately.

More Injuries

Here is hoping the Clang injury isn’t serious because if so it means Suchanek takes the number one load and Buteyets gets a recall to handle any possible back-to-back games if the coaches feel any confidence in him – which they didn’t seem to have on previous recalls. Will Damian Clara come in last minute to rescue the situation once again?