2025-2026 Game 62: San Diego Gulls vs Calgary Wranglers

San Diego, California. Hoping to keep things rolling after a big 7-4 win over the Condors earlier in the week the San Diego Gulls welcomed the Calgary Wranglers into Pechanga Arena.

Making his return from injury just in time for the stretch run it was a welcome surprise to see Jan Mysak back centering the second line where he slotted right in – Cal Burke moved down to the third line to play wing and Coulson Pitre sat to make room.

Defensive pairings remained the same.

Calle Clang was given the start in net.

Roman Kinal and Coulson Pitre were the healthy scratches.

First Period:

It was another good start for the Gulls as Tyson Hinds looked to have the games opening goal but his open-side chance hit iron. Moments later Judd Caufield was setup in the slot but had the puck bounce over his stick before he could connect.

It was all Gulls for the next ten minutes of action until they finally broke through as Tyson Hinds sent a hard pass across to Nathan Gaucher and the rugged center got everything on a laser that hit the top corner of the Wranglers net. 1-0 Gulls.

The San Diego attack was relentless and they added to their lead just a minute later as the trio of Justin Bailey, Sasha Pastujov and Ryan Carpenter combined for an easy tap in goal for the Captain. 2-0 Gulls.

Calgary started to pick up the hitting and Sam Colangelo took exception to back to back heavy hits laid on him on one shift and retaliated by cross checking a Wrangler from behind near the boards. Once the dust settled after post whistle hostilities he was given a five minute major penalty and a game misconduct for the play.

San Diego buckled down and killed the lengthy and long disadvantage – going right back to the attack as soon as play returned to five on five with just minutes remaining in the period.

Just as they were starting to get close to another tally the Gulls were called for too many men with 43 seconds left in the period. Sasha Pastujov served the minor. Calgary looked much better and more desperate with the man advantage in the very short time left in the period but the Gulls were able to exit the period still up 2-0 with the remaining time in the penalty carrying over to the second frame.

Shots were 11-7 Gulls and the shot map showing the Gulls dominating the offensive zone.

Second Period: San Diego Gulls 2 – Calgary Wranglers 0

Starting the period on the penalty kill with the too many men call still being served by Sasha Pastujov the Gulls wasted no time getting back to the attack once he returned to the ice after killing the minor.

He and Nathan Gaucher combined to disrupt the puck behind the Calgary net and convert on a point blank shot out front for Gaucher’s second of the game. 3-0 Gulls.

Just seconds after the goal Alex Gallant was called for holding and the Gulls went back to the Power Play but on the first zone entry and setup Nik Brouillard was dinged a double minor for high sticking to make it four on four once again.

The Gulls looked calm and in control as they held possession for much of the four on four and then continued to keep it for some of the resulting Calgary Power Play afterward. Expertly killing the minor as time approached the midway mark.

Stian Solberg found himself in familiar territory as public enemy number one after a clean finish to a check in his own end but was then immediately jumped in a diving headlock by the Wranglers tough guy Alex Galant.

San Diego looked good with the man advantage but could not convert – although they kept the zone and the pressure on the Wranglers until eventually Stian Solberg found Cal Burke with a nice cross ice pass. 4-0 Gulls.

Calgary attempted a meek response after the goal but the Gulls sent play back up the ice and it looked like men against boys as they won puck battles, collected loose pucks before sending them back to the slot for chances.

Mounting frustration on the part of the Wranglers started to show as Justin Bailey was given some unwarranted post whistle love in front of the Calgary net.

After the TV timeout some bad back-checking from the Gulls allowed the Wranglers to get back in the game as Cal Burke was beaten to a loose puck and a swift pass in front for a bang bang play beat Clang. 4-1 Gulls.

Sensing an opportunity the Wranglers caught the Gulls napping once again as some finished hits and turnovers caused a centering pass to go off a skate in front and made it 4-2 for two quick goals in succession. 4-2 Gulls.

The Wranglers looked a completely different team as minutes later they disrupted the Gulls breakout with ease and found a way too clean cross-ice pass for a one-timer that Clang had no chance on. 4-3 Gulls.

The Gulls managed to stem the scoring at that but momentum was still largely in Calgary’s favor as San Diego looked a shadow of themselves as compared to the calm confident team we saw less than minutes before.

San Diego taking a 4-3 lead to the second intermission after once again taking their foot off the gas and allowing their opponent into the game in the second period. Shots were 10 a piece on the period and 21-17 Gulls overall.

Third Period: San Diego Gulls 4 – Calgary Wranglers 3

Calgary continued to push but the Gulls fought back this time as Justin Bailey demonstrated with a nice finish to his check in the Wranglers zone.

After a brief stoppage in which the player Bailey hit needed to be helped down the tunnel the Gulls re-exerted their previous dominance, running the Calgary zone shift after shift and sending chance after chance in or around the Wranglers crease.

Justin Bailey came close to making it 5-3 as he was setup at the back door but his chance was stopped and he was slashed after the play to give the Gulls a Power Play with just over nine minutes remaining in the game.

The Gulls were again dominant with the man advantage and were starting to build momentum toward perhaps another tally but as the penalty was about to expire the Wranglers goaltender Asrenii Sergeev was called for tripping as Ryan Carpenter was felled in front of the Calgary net.

San Diego created yet more chances in the Calgary zone and continued to hold momentum though they did not convert with the man advantage and as play returned to five on five time was in their favor.

Calgary pulled Sergeev with just over a minute left in the period but the Gulls locked down their zone and the combination of Nikita Nesterenko and Nathan Gaucher resulted in the Quebec native’s first professional hat trick. 5-3 Gulls.

With one last rush the Wranglers did manage to get one last goal in the dying seconds but that was all she wrote as the Gulls took this one 5-4 despite the scare in the second period.

Post Game Notes:

FIX THE SECOND PERIOD LAPSES

So I watched the first period live and then came back and watched the rest after the game had completed. Having known the end result it was very hard to fathom how they gave up four goals after they looked so in control right up until the three quarter mark of the second period.

What. The. Fuck.

Benefit of the doubt the Wranglers did look like they had been given a massive wake-up call by their coaching staff but also the Gulls completely fell to pieces the moment Calgary started to lay the body.

The Gulls have given up 3 + 1 + 0 + 3 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 1 + 3 + 0 = 17 goals in the second period this month and as you can see they have given up three goals an unacceptable four times.

They absolutely have to fix this before the playoffs.

Welcome Back Mysak, So Long Burke

It was a very pleasant surprise to have Mysak back from injury with ten games left in the season and he could not have come back soon enough. His play driving and defensive presence down the middle has been sorely missed. I don’t know about breaking up his long standing chemistry with Pastujov though. After Colangelo was ejected he saw the odd shift with Pastujov as he was rotated onto that line and they instantly clicked whenever he did.

Speaking of defensive presence down the middle – Cal Burke aint it. Not to be harsh as he did score the fourth goal and has been a faithful plug-in at a moments notice veteran this season but he was also on ice for all three of the Wranglers goals in that second period breakdown. With Herman Traff likely making his professional debut this side of the Ocean in Abbotsford this weekend I am picking Burke is the one that sits.

Inconsistent Officiating Again

Just a quick note to say.

Sam Colangelo got a game misconduct for a boarding hit in the first.

Yet Alex Gallant two minutes for “roughing”for this.

And Cal Burke was similarly sent head first near the boards in the third with no call made at all.

Just once I would love to see a well officiated AHL game.

Magic Number Watch

With ten games remaining the Gulls now have a magic number of 20. They still sit in seventh – the final playoff spot, two points behind Henderson, three behind Coachella Valley and four behind Bakersfield. Tucson meanwhile are now five points back but could still catch up. It is still too tight to call.