2026-2027 Game 13: San Diego Gulls at Henderson

Henderson, Nevada. Dropping a tight 1-0 decider the night before after out-shooting their opponents but running into a hot goalie, the San Diego Gulls hoped to replicate some of the magic from their huge 3-2 shoot out win over Colorado the weekend before.

With Nico Myatovic recalled to Anaheim – Coulson Pitre saw his second game of the season; having slotted in the night before.
The forward lines were additionally shuffled as a result – with Sidorov moved up to the second line alongside Pettersson and Traff. Whilst Pitre came in on the third line with Farrell and Procyszyn.

Travis Howe once again found himself in the foreign but growing more familiar by the outing position of defense as the coaching staff opted for the heavier more experience line-up – instead of utilizing Austin Lee on the back-end.

Tomas Suchanek was given the start with Damian Clara backing up.

First Period:

Suchanek had to be sharp early as the Silver Knights jumped out to an early four to nothing shot advantage through the first five minutes of play but the Gulls were able to stem the tide, earning the first power play of the night as Herman Traff was interfered with before he could receive a pass on the rush.

Despite winning the draw and getting set on two separate instances, the first unit were a little too rushed in their passing and had their opportunities broken up by sticks in lanes. The second unit looked a lot better but couldn’t do much with the time allowed them.

Immediately following the man advantage the fourth line came out with some buzz and followed that up with a great shift a few minutes later coming out of a TV time-out. Nathan Gaucher setting up an open Drew Elliott at the near front but the chance was denied. Jet Woo got into a brief tilt at center ice behind the play with the Silver Knights Tuomas Uronen who was dropped to the ice without much trouble.

Nick Jensen was whistled for high sticking and the Gulls were tasked with killing the minor with four minutes left in the frame. After successfully erasing the minor – but keeping Captain Ryan Carpenter on the ice to take a shift with his line the Gulls earned another Power Play through some more hard work down low as Nathan Gaucher was tripped going after a loose puck.

The Silver Knights penalty kill was too aggressive for both Gulls units and they couldn’t garner much offense over the man advantage, playing out the remainder of the period at five on five as the penalty expired and taking another scoreless frame to the first intermission. Shots were 7-5 Gulls owing to their 2-1 Power Play advantage. Shot map showing things relatively even but a 2-1 high danger chance advantage to the Gulls.

Second Period: San Diego Gulls 0 – Henderson Silver Knights 0

San Diego faced adversity early as Yegor Sidorov was called for tripping on a play that I did not see so could only assume happened behind the play.

Killing the minor with relative ease the Gulls went right back to the attack, generating some looks via the fourth line once again but also the Hamblin line.

The Silver Knights abrubtly halted the growing Gulls momentum and started controlling play while putting Suchanek under pressure but the in-form Czech net-minder showed off his athletic reactions as he tracked bouncing pucks and plays in the Gulls defensive zone.

Another Gulls Power Play chance looked much more likely as Yegor Sidorov set up Herman Traff for a beautiful chance in close but it was stopped and similarly Matthew Phillips sent an amazing cross-ice pass to a wide open Lucas Pettersson but he was stopped by an equally amazing glove save.

With San Diego doing all that they could a heart breaking goal against the grain did seem inevitable as a Silver Knights counter rush with Gulls players diving to cut off passes still ended up in the back of the net as Suchanek was beaten on the two on one. 1-0 Silver Knights.

The Gulls tried to respond but didn’t really have an answer as they played out a more disjointed remainder of the period to go to the second intermission down by one. Shots were 10-8 Silver Knights on the period and an even 15 a piece overall. The shot map showing San Diego still generating nice looks but surrendering at their own end with a poor breakdown.

Third Period: Henderson Silver Knights 1 – San Diego Gulls 0

The start of the third was much like the flow of the second and first – the Gulls struggling to get any flow going as passes were just off the mark. As a result Suchanek was once again called upon to make some Hasek-esque saves.

Slowly but surely San Diego started to generate some momentum and came oh so close once again as a Solberg point shot spat out a rebound to the side with a wide open net but no Gulls in the immediate vicinity to deposit as they were all off to the wrong side.

An incredibly questionable likely home-town advantage influenced “roughing”call on Herman Traff briefly halted that burgeoning momentum but the Gulls were able to kill the minor as they were left with just under eight minutes left to find an equalizer.

With time against them and swiftly running out the Gulls pulled Suchanek for the extra attacked with just under two minutes remaining and then called a time-out fifteen seconds later.

Throwing everything they possibly could at the Silver Knights net it seemed as though it was an exact carbon copy of the night before until a literal last second goal crossed the Henderson goal line. The Officials waved it off initially but San Diego demanded a review and it showed that the puck did indeed cross the line before Jaycob Megna swept it back out. Lucas Pettersson was credited with the goal.

Overtime:

Starting with the trio of Pettersson, Phillips and Schunnemann the Gulls won possession off a messy face-off but they lost the handle near the Henderson net. After that it was back and forth and once again the Gulls were burned on the counter rush as Captain Ryan Carpenter attempted a 50/50 pass on a two on one break and Suchanek could not stop the Henderson rush the other way. 2-1 Silver Knights win.

Post Game Notes:

Back To Basics

There was a lot of bad passing in this game. It definitely wasn’t the usual clean Gulls play I have been used to seeing recently. They are prone to having at least a few of these games in a season but when it turns into a stretch because players start to get down on themselves – then it becomes a problem.
There was more than a few occasions where players were out of position within the defensive structure or simple straight forward passes were fumbled to effectively kill what would have been a great rush.
The Gulls need to go back to basics and get the simple things right.
It is very clear they are missing guys like Nico Myatovic and Roger McQueen but they will have to make do for now – help is on the way but I wouldn’t expect it until early December.

Who Comes Back?

Troy Terry is likely the closest player to return to action for the Ducks but who would they then in turn send down? The most consistent scratches of late have been Tyson Hinds and Frank Vatrano. Vatrano wont be sent down and it’ll likely be someone who doesn’t have to clear waivers. So who? The logical choice is Myatovic because he is waiver exempt but looking at the right side – where Terry would slot in – Sam Colangelo is the only one that sticks out to me as being on the outside looking in. He would need to clear waivers to be assigned.

Ian Moore is a right shot and although Noah Warren has made an unexpected impact – I do not think he is quite NHL ready; despite Hinds being the scratch lately I think Warren comes back once Moore returns to action.

Ofcourse once AJ Greer is cleared to play after the likely concussion he sustained it would be Myatovic coming back as he was the call-up to cover in the first place.

Notice I have not mentioned Caulfield – who has shown the hockey world exactly why I believed in him so much over these last few seasons. I’m sad I wont be able to see him play as much but so very very proud of him. There are other players to follow now and speaking of which.

Emerging Talent

I mentioned on X that when some questioned the Tim Washe extension and queried whether the length was appropriate. I mentioned that I was not sure off the top of my head which of the prospects was close enough to replacing him. After watching lately I can confirm that I now think Ethan Procyszyn is the likely replacement – he is a big solid center that is absolutely money in the face-off circle. This is only his first year pro so it will be at least a couple of years before he is ready. The Washe extension goes all the way to 2030 so there is leeway there – but at this point – I think Procyszyn fits the bill.

Drew Elliott continues to impress – he really makes the fourth line click and was very unlucky to not get a goal or two tonight. I feel it is only a matter of time before he starts putting up some consistent numbers.