San Diego, California. Looking to get back in the win column and some revenge for the final game of a weekend split with the IceHogs the previous month the San Diego Gulls returned home to Pechanga Arena.
My concern for Calle Clang after the last game was slightly relieved as he was kept in the line-up; albeit as the back-up. While the forward lines were changed up once again as the chemistry Sam Colangelo and Nikita Nesterenko displayed in the last game was rewarded with a combination on the third line with Nico Myatovic. While the ever active Yegor Sidorov was elevated to the top line. This time Matthew Phillips joined the second line grouping.
Defensive pairings remained unchanged.
First Period:
After some sub-par losses the Gulls needed to come out with urgency early and that they did but their shot choices led them to shoot high and wide on any moderate high quality chance.
Rockford began to answer when and where they could and as play started to become a battle of attrition the physicality picked up as did the chippy play. Sam Colangelo showed some pest in his game as he slashed a stick out of a Rockford defenders hands after the whistle and the exception he took to that lead to some four on four play for two minutes.
San Diego came away with momentum following play returning to five on five and they broke the ice with just over seven minutes left as the second line combined on a nice passing play. Sasha Pastujov finishing things off by controlling the puck back to his stick at the near side with his skate. 1-0 Gulls.
Rockford tried to respond but the Gulls were the better skating team and they swiftly shut down any rushes and closed down the neutral zone while making clean break-outs.
San Diego taking a 1-0 lead into the first intermission with shots 10-5 in favor of the Gulls.
Second Period: San Diego Gulls 1 – Rockford IceHogs 0
It wasn’t a great start to the second and after Suchanek was called upon to make a reactionary stop after three different Gulls went to one man leaving another wide open. Moments later after the Luneau – Hinds pairing was finally able to change after being on the ice too long a bad turnover in the neutral zone by Yegor Sidorov on a three on two rush lead to a three on one rush the other way. Suchanek left too exposed to stop the outnumbered opportunity. 1-1 tie game.
The Gulls tried to respond right away and came very close with some sustained pressure led by the Colangelo line.
As the intensity ramped up the Gulls continued to play a run and gun style, with defenders joining the play and it cost them once again as an outnumbered rush by the IceHogs gave them the lead after a nice passing play gave Suchanek no chance. 2-1 IceHogs.
A high sticking call to the IceHogs Taige Harding gave San Diego the games first five on four power play and they almost connected right away but Tristan Luneau broke his stick taking a sure fire chance. The IceHogs countered immediately after the broken stick and had the Gulls on their heels before San Diego could get back possession and revert back to getting set in the Rockford zone.
With play back at five on five and with the Nesterenko line holding possession while causing some havoc in the Rockford zone, Nikita Nesterenko erred in control of his stick as he caught a Rockford player up high.
Killing the penalty the Gulls went right back to the attack but were almost penalized again after play was blown dead for having too many men on the ice but after the TV timeout it was determined to not be a penalty.
Sasha Pastujov made a nice move to the slot after making a nice zone entry with speed but was slashed before he could get a decent shot attempt off and the Gulls headed back to the Power Play. The Gulls lack of eagerness came back to bite them once again as an IceHogs clear was not acutely played by the San Diego defense. Starting with Suchanek coming out to play the puck but having no options to pass it to he tried to send it up ice but it was picked off by the oncoming fore-checkers and sent behind him after a quick passing play. 3-1 IceHogs shorthanded.
Thankfully the set play on the left-side that the Gulls have been trying to make work ever since Colangelo came down was finally pulled off as a face-off win from Carpenter back to Luneau was quickly fed to a wide-open Sam Colangelo at the left side for the one-timer. Bang bang play. 3-2 Icehogs.
Some more exchanged penalties lead to four on four play for almost two minutes and the Gulls came close once again during the sequence but as San Diego appeared to be mounting momentum time expired on the period.
The Gulls heading to the third period down by one after getting burned for playing too fast and loose with their defense on the back-check. Shots were 16-8 San Diego on the period and 26-13 overall, the shot map showing the Gulls definitely generating quantity but the IceHogs capitalizing on quality chances.
Third Period: Rockford IceHogs 3 – San Diego Gulls 2
Another bad start for the Gulls almost cost them again but they soon got themselves back under control and headed to the Power Play as Sasha Pastujov was deemed to be hooked but looked more like a slew-foot.
After a minute into the man advantage a Matthew Phillips net drive ended in a goaltender interference call to end the Power Play prematurely. The penalties continued as off the very next face-off Roland McKeown drew a call by inadvertently getting his man to slash Calle Clang after a tie-up in front. The rare four on three went without any chances and so too did the rest of the four on four then very brief Power Play time.
With how much the Gulls had controlled play and the puck it was hard to believe they were still down by a goal as time started to become their enemy. An ill advised tripping penalty assessed to Stian Solberg presented another obstacle as they hunted for an equalizer with eight minutes left.
Killing the minor but losing another two minutes off the clock the Gulls were given a Power Play of their own as Sam Colangelo was hooked attempting to split through three IceHog defenders.
Again the Gulls could not finish with the man advantage and as time started to quickly drain from the hourglass they pulled Suchanek for the extra attacker with less than two minutes left.
It was a matter of do everything else well but get no reward as the Gulls ended up going down 3-2 – coming oh so close on two chances in the final minute of play; once on a partial break by Matthew Phillips and again on a wide open net and loose puck in front that was batted away by the IceHogs first.
The Gulls outplaying their opponent but getting punished for their mistakes.
Post Game Notes:
Back To Basics Identity Check
San Diego had this game in their hand but were their own worst enemy by getting too fancy with the run and gun play. It feels like you never know which team you are going to get on a night to night basis. The game plan for tonight’s match-up seemed to be to out-skate the opponent and it almost worked, they just got too carried away with activating the defenders too much and too often. I admire the idea – especially against a heavier and slower opponent but at this stage of the season it would be a better idea to go back to what works.
Post Deadline Debrief
Well the NHL Trade Deadline has come and gone and no San Diego Gulls were moved. The Ducks made just two moves – the shocking swing for veteran Power Play specialist defensemen John Carlson and the salary dump of Ryan Strome.
In addition – they also paper-transacted both Ian Moore and Tim Washe to the Gulls today – meaning the two will be eligible for San Diego’s Calder Cup run should the Ducks own playoff push end prematurely.
What these moves mean for the Gulls isn’t really much. I wouldn’t bet on this roster changing too much other than hopefully the return of Jan Mysak at some point. Of course – Carlson joins an already overcrowded Ducks blue-line and means both Helleson and Moore likely now sit on a consistent basis; so on that note we could see Moore back down on the odd assignment to make sure he stays in game-shape. Similarly Washe could come down once everyone returns from injury – Troy Terry is reportedly close while Mikael Granlund is on injured reserve. But it should also be noted the Ducks can carry as many players as they like from this point forward as the 23 man roster limit date has passed.
I also would not count on many if any Black Aces joining to disrupt the Gulls current team chemistry; they might join the team and take part in practices but depending on how confident the coaches feel in how they might contribute or how sure San Diego are of a playoff spot (which at this point does not feel so assured). Who might those Black Aces be? Let’s check in…
Black Ace Watch
Next season is the year most players taken by the Ducks in the 2024 draft class are eligible to play in the AHL. Need a refresher on that class? You can check my review of it here.
If there is one thing that I have not been a fan of this season (from a selfish perspective) it is the NCAA changes allowing CHL players to commit.
Maxim Masse was top of the list of players I was most looking forward to joining the Gulls next season but he has opted to go to College instead. Committing to the University of Massachusetts for the 2026-2027 season. Don’t get me wrong, its the absolutely smart and right move but selfishly it means we don’t see him in the AHL next year. The 6’3″ 198lb right shooting winger is second in league scoring with 83 points in 56 games this year in the Q.
Tarin Smith on the other hand is currently not an NCAA commit. He has 62 points in 59 games for Everett in the WHL but as I have written previously – I would not expect him to step in and become the instant second coming of Tristan Luneau. That said – he is due to make the jump to the AHL next season and should his Silvertips falter early (they currently sit as top seed of the Western Conference of the WHL); join the Gulls as a Black Ace this year.
Ethan Procyszyn is another from the 2024 draft class – taken one selection after Masse – that has had another steady year with 54 points in 59 games thus far to lead his team in scoring. He may not be a point per game player but he was never billed as a scorer and was projected to go late fourth to mid fifth round rather than the early third where the Ducks selected him. He still projects as a defensive forward that is generally a pain in the ass to play against but his point totals have been a nice surprise. He is eligible for the AHL next season and his North Bay Battalion are sitting fifth in the Eastern Conference of the OHL having clinched a playoff spot.
Essentially only Smith and Procyszn are the two players currently set to jump to the AHL next season. Everybody else from the 2024 class is either at College, committed to College or in Europe. Of course that is not to say plans could change but on that front your guess is as good as mine.
Previous draft class prospects still outstanding include:
Kyle Kukkonen (Senior year of College at University of Wisconsin – 6 points in 23 games)
Michael Callow (Junior year of College at Harvard – 5 points in 13 games)
And in Europe:
Lucas Pettersson – 19 points in 37 games in SHL so far. He was loaned to Brynäs for this season after his own SHL club was relegated at the end of last season. There was speculation he would come across after the relegation but given Brynäs seems such a good fit (it essentially a who’s who of Expat Ducks and Gulls on that roster) I wouldn’t be surprised if he stays for further development.
Herman Träff – 41 points in 51 games in Allsvenskan. Traff has gotten a lot of buzz this season; putting up historic numbers in the 2nd tier Swedish league. The Swedish Judd Caulfield acquired in the trade deadline deal for Brian Dumoulin last spring could make the jump across at any point and I am really hoping it is end of this season.
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 …