PREVIEW: Gulls vs. Reign

PREVIEW: Gulls vs. Reign

Nov 21, 2018

The Gulls host the Ontario Reign tonight in the penultimate contest of a season-long five-game homestand tomorrow at Valley View Casino Center (7:00 p.m., FOX 5 San Diego, Mighty 1090-AM). The Gulls enter tonight with three consecutive wins to begin the homestand, while also having a four-game win streak on home ice against Ontario. 

The Gulls are currently riding a seven-game point streak at home (5-0-1-1, 12 points) and have points in seven of their eight home games this season (5-1-1-1, 12 points), the second-best mark to begin a season on home ice (6-0-1-0, 13 points in 2015-16). San Diego’s seven-game home point streak is the second longest in the AHL this season behind only Bridgeport (eight games).

San Diego is coming off arguably their best performance of the season, a 4-1 win last Friday over the Bakersfield Condors. Corey Tropp netted two goals, while Chase De Leo and Troy Terry each scored goals of their own.

Terry added an assist in the game to tie the Gulls’ all-time record for consecutive games with a point, set by Tropp (Dec. 9, 2017-Jan. 3, 2018; 8-6=14) and Nic Kerdiles (Feb. 26-Mar. 18, 2016; 7-9=16). Terry has scored points in all nine games to begin his AHL career, a Gulls record. Terry also has recorded a point in all seven home games to begin his career (6-5=11), and a point tonight could see the young rookie be the first Gull to record a double-digit point streak, while it would also see him set the first 10-game point streak in the AHL this season. In addition to the numerous point streaks, Terry also leads all AHL rookies with 1.44 points per game and ranks tied sixth among rookies in scoring with 13 points (6G/7A) in nine games. 

The Gulls are 22-14-1-1 all-time against the Reign, including a 10-7-1-0 record when playing in San Diego. Corey Tropp leads San Diego in all-time goals and scoring against Ontario (7-11=18) in 23 career games.

San Diego is 1-1 through two games against Ontario this season. The most recent matchup on Nov. 3 at Ontario saw the Reign scored three third-period goals, including two in a 19-second span, ending San Diego’s five-game point streak. Gulls rookies Josh Mahura and Max Jones scored their first regular-season AHL goals in the loss. On Oct. 13 at Citizens Business Bank Arena, Sam Carrick scored his fourth goal of the season in a Gulls 6-5 shootout win. His goal marked the first time a Gull has scored in each of the first three games to open a season.

Since San Diego’s first meeting against Ontario, a game in which the Gulls went 2-of-6 on the power play, the Gulls have scored a power play goal in nine of the following 10 games (12-of-49, 24.5 percent). 

In addition, the Gulls’ penalty kill ranks ninth overall in the AHL (49-for-58, 84.5 percent). San Diego has stopped nine of 10 Ontario power plays in two games this season. San Diego is currently one of three AHL clubs with both the power play and penalty kill ranked in the top-10 (also Charlotte, Iowa, Texas).

A series of Gulls’ roster moves were made throughout the week, resulting in several players recalled by the Anaheim Ducks and others being assigned to San Diego. The Gulls roster is going to have a different look than that of five nights ago on Friday against Bakersfield.

Luke Schenn, a veteran of 716 NHL games, would be making his AHL debut after being assigned to San Diego on Sunday. Schenn signed a one-year contract with the Ducks on July 1, 2018. He appeared in eight games for Anaheim this season, going scoreless with seven penalty minutes. 

San Diego also recalled defenseman Chris Forney and Scott Moldenhauer from the Tulsa Oilers (ECHL). Forney, 24, appeared in 13 games for the Oilers this season, scoring 1-2=3 points with a +5 rating. Forney was scoreless in three games played for the Gulls last season. Moldenhauer, who has yet to make his AHL debut, registered six assists (0-6=6) in nine games with Tulsa, and had a team-leading +7 rating. He also co-led club defensemen in points and assists. 

The roster moves included Anaheim recalling defensemen Jake Dotchin and Josh Mahura to the NHL club. Dotchin, 24, earned one assist (0-1=1) with a +3 rating and 18 PIM in seven games with the Gulls this season. Mahura, 20, scored eight points (1-7-8) in 12 games with San Diego, leading Gulls defensemen in points and assists at the time of his recall.

Goaltender Kevin Boyle was also called up to Anaheim Sunday where he served as the backup netminder to Ryan Miller in the Ducks 4-3 overtime loss to Colorado. Boyle rejoined the Gulls for yesterday’s practice after he started the previous three games for San Diego, winning all three and posting a 2.01 goals against average (GAA) and .950 save percentage (SV%). He stopped 46-of-47 shots Friday, and ranks seventh among AHL goaltenders with a .920 SV%. Boyle has posted a 3-2-2 record with a 2.12 GAA and .938 SV% in eight career games against the Reign.

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