FINAL: Gulls 4, Eagles 5
Feb 13, 2019The Gulls erased a three-goal deficit in the third period to force overtime and earn a point in a 5-4 overtime loss to the Colorado Eagles at Budweiser Events Center. Despite the setback, San Diego has points in 22 of 26 (18-4-2-2), in addition to points in 14 of their last 16 road games (10-1-2-2).
“I thought we were good in the first period,” said head coach Dallas Eakins “I think we got away from our offensive game in the second, but again the resiliency of this group. Even though we lose the game and only get one point, there hasn’t been too many times this year that I’ve been more proud of this group than tonight.”
With Nicolas Meloche sitting in the box for tripping, Kalle Kossila brought the puck down the ice and into the offensive zone. With an attempt to break through the Colorado defenders broken up Tropp collected the puck and threw it on net. The result was all too similar as Tropp scored a goal for the fourth consecutive game and for the second straight game on the man advantage at 9:36 of the first period.
Tropp’s four-game goal streak (5-1=6) marks the second longest of his career, one game short of his five-game goal streak from Feb. 28-Mar. 10, 2017 (5-3=8). Kossila picked up his fourth assist and fifth point over the last six games (1-4=5) while Josh Mahura recorded his 14th assist of the season on the goal.
In the final minute of the first period, the Gulls were attempting to get the puck out of their zone, but Mason Geertsen took it away and fired a shot into the pads of a Gulls defender. The rebound went to David Warsofsky who beat Glass for the goal with just 39 seconds remaining in the opening frame.
Colorado added another three goals in the second period and began to run away with the game. Andrew Agozzino scored the first goal 6:24 into the second as he shot the puck off of Glass’ glove and into the net on an odd-man rush opportunity.
San Diego was caught with too many men on the ice a few minutes later, giving the Eagles their first power play of the game. Colorado capitalized as Scott Kosmachuk fired in a one-timer for his 11th goal of the year at the 10:45 mark of the middle period. Just 3:33 later, the Eagles added their fourth consecutive goal as Agozzino intercepted the puck on a failed attempt to clear the puck out of the defensive zone. Agozzino’s wrist shot beat Glass glove-side, marking his second goal of the game and 22nd of the season.
Less than 30 seconds after the goal, Sam Carrick and Cody Bass dropped the gloves after Carrick was flagged for a tripping minor. Both players landed punches before sitting for the remainder of the second period.
Down three goals with just under six minutes left in the game, the Gulls made an incredible effort of a comeback. San Diego forwards Chase De Leo and Kiefer Sherwood connected on back-to-back goals just 11 seconds apart. De Leo netted the first, his 15th goal of the season at the 14:07 mark of the third period. The goal pushed his point streak to seven games (6-4=10), a new career-best, surpassing his prior six-game point streak set earlier this season from Dec. 19-30 (2-5=7).
As the Gulls won the following center-ice faceoff, De Leo chipped the puck down the ice on a pass from defenseman Korbinian Holzer. Sherwood got to the puck first and forced it past Francouz for the goal, bringing the Gulls within one.
With 38 seconds remaining in the game, Troy Terry worked the puck into the Eagles’ zone before turning around and passing it to Kossila back to the slot. Kossila netted the game-tying goal, forcing overtime with his wrist shot going past Francouz’s glove. His two points on the night marked his 33rd career multi-point performance. In addition, he has recorded six points (2-4=6) over the last six games.
After several great opportunities going both ways, including a breakaway chance for Sherwood that nearly went in, Colorado ended the game. Meloche added the game-winning goal on top of his assist earlier in the game.
“We’re happy with our response, but I don’t think we are satisfied by any means with how the game went,” said Sherwood. “We got a lot better and if we play our game, results will take care of themselves. I know we got a lot better in our locker room.”
Angus Redmond stopped eight-of-nine shots in 22 minutes of play after relieving Jeff Glass in the third period.
San Diego will conclude a six-game road trip at San Jose at SAP Center on Saturday, Feb. 16 (1:15 p.m. PT) and Monday, Feb. 18 (1:15 p.m. PT).