2025-2026 March 26 Weekly Recap: Final Stretch

Game 59: 6-5 Shoot-Out Win over the Colorado Eagles

Game 60: 5-1 Loss to the Colorado Eagles

Game 61: 6-4 Win over the Bakersfield Condors

Game 62: 5-4 Win over the Calgary Wranglers

Coming Together

I have been eating a lot of crow lately. Firstly – I admitted I was wrong about the Viel acquistion by the Ducks. Now I am glad to state that Nathan Gaucher and Stian Solberg have been coming ahead in their development of late. As stated in previous post game recaps – Gaucher has been a beast in the face-off dot but also on the defensive side of the puck at critical points of the game. He is also showing a lot of the play-driving aspect of his game that saw him get some notice at points in the previous two seasons. It should be noted that Gaucher did not see much ice while the Gulls were trailing by two and he was replaced by a double shifted Nikita Nesterenko on his line but as soon as the score was tied he was right back out there to take the next face-off. He and Caulfield work well together and their shorthanded goal was pure blue collar work ethic. Solberg has also been figuring it out, I haven’t seen him out of position on a goal for what feels like a good few weeks and he is deservedly seeing time on the second Power Play unit.

HOW BOUT THEM GULLS

This team has always shown fight but to come back from two goals down, on the road, in Colorado, against a foe they have always struggled to score against shows a definite turning point in their development. I feel more confident in a playoff spot now and even if they bow out in the first round – it will only get better from here. This is a team on the rise – so long as management can keep them somewhat together; or as much together as possible in a development league.

Sigh

Well at least they got two three wins against the Eagles this season as opposed to other seasons when they tend to get maybe one or two tops.

Good But Not Great

The recent uptick in play has been good and keeping the Gulls in the playoff picture but even if they do make the playoffs – I do worry for their staying power just based on the teams balance of offense and defense. Of all the teams in the playoffs as they currently stand – the Gulls are the only one with a negative goal differential. They have allowed the fifth most goals against, only Bakersfield and Henderson have allowed more and they are eighth worst in goals for – Tucson, who currently sit three points behind on the outside looking in – have scored more. San Diego need to get their offense going on a consistent basis and tidy up the defense down the stretch.

Unexpected Help Arriving

The Ducks announced they had signed the Swedish Judd Caulfield himself – Herman Traff to an entry level deal starting next season but that he would see out the remainder of this season with the Gulls on an ATO. This is an unexpected boon and I am VERY excited to see how he looks in the AHL. If you did not get my quip about the Swedish Judd Caulfield above – just read his draft profile and you will see why. He finished this year with 41 points in 51  games in the HockeyAllsvenskan – the second tier Swedish League, tied for eighth overall.

Where he slots in and who sits will be the question; my first guess is Coulson Pitre but I can see the lines being reshuffled again so that Traff can be placed with some vets to introduce him to the North American ice.

Meanwhile In Tulsa

If you didn’t see me share this on twitter/x – but uh Scott Neidermayers son is now playing for the Tulsa Oilers and scored his first professional goal.

He started as a Junior Duck, did a couple of years in the BCHL before going to Arizona State for three years. He transferred to Bowling Green in his sophmore year and did two more years there, finishing with a college career high 17 points in 32 games in his final year this season.

The middle brother at age 25, his younger brother Josh is at Colgate this season but seems to have followed a somewhat similar path of BCHL and Arizona State originally.

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.

Update: With Colangelo suspended and Gaucher called up – Burke will need to stay in.

Inconsistent Officiating Again

Just a quick note to say.

Sam Colangelo got a  game misconduct for a boarding hit in the first (and has since been suspended for two games)

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

The Gulls now have a magic number of 20 with 10 games remaining. They still occupy the seventh and final playoff spot with 70 points and are now four points back of both Bakersfield and Henderson. Tucson has a magic number of 24 and are three points back of the Gulls with one more game in hand. With Calgary and Abbotsford eliminated the Roadrunners are the only team who can catch the Gulls now who ideally would like to not only secure the seventh spot but move up to a spot where they would not have to face the likes of the Eagles in the first round.

Latest Developments

So in addition to all of the above post game notes – the Ducks have called up Nathan Gaucher and Sam Colangelo has been suspended for two games.

Taking two forwards out leaves room for both the newcomer Herman Traff to make his debut and Coulson Pitre to return to the line-up; albeit for the two games Colangelo is suspended. The Gaucher recall is to cover for the injured Jansen Harkins who is out indefinitely with an upper body injury.

Roger McQueen’s season is over and slight speculation is about that he could do as Herman Traff just did and sign an ELC to begin next season while playing with the Gulls on an ATO.

Both Traff and McQueen would be eligible to play for the Gulls in the playoffs despite not being on the roster pre the deadline paper transaction day.