PREVIEW: Gulls Host Eagles On Pink In The Rink
Feb 1, 2022By Paige Burnell/SanDiegoGulls.com
The San Diego Gulls are looking to put an end to their five-game losing streak as they begin a four-game homestand tonight against the Colorado Eagles at Pechanga Arena (7 p.m. PT ; TV: AHL TV; RADIO: Gulls Audio Network).
Tonight is San Diego’s Pink in the Rink, a game dedicated to promote women’s health initiatives, cancer research and awareness. The Gulls will wear a new, commemorative pink jersey, with game-worn player sweaters autographed and available for a jersey raffle on the concourse at Section 10 beginning at 6 p.m. and ending at the conclusion of the second intermission. Select game-worn player jerseys will be autographed and available for an online auction during the contest.
San Diego is 0-2-0-0 this season and 12-8-1-0 (8-4-0-0 at home) all-time against Colorado after the Eagles bested the Gulls 5-3 a week ago.
“We need to stick together and just, I think the biggest thing, is knowing that every season is going to have its ups and downs,” Gulls forward Brent Gates Jr. said. “There’s going to be stretches where things don’t go your way. We’ve had bright spots, we’ve had spots throughout the stretch where we’ve kind of gotten what we deserve. The biggest thing is that we need to stick together and just kind of all come together and say, ‘enough is enough’ and put an end to it.”
Colorado secured its win with three power-play goals, the start of a recent slide for San Diego’s penalty kill. The unit is just 13-for-22 (59%) over its last five games and twice allowed three man-advantage goals, including its 6-1 loss on Saturday to the Iowa Wild.
“Guys have been fighting…the short lineup, the guys playing out of position,” Gulls head coach Joel Bouchard said. “I felt we didn’t get rewarded as much as we could probably during the last little while. That being said, my job is to push the guys to be better. The guys stuck together, which I’m very happy (about), through the weekend.”
To counter these issues, Gates Jr. explained the Gulls needed a sharper focus to execute at even strength.
“There was a lot more than just power play, penalty kill that kind of led us to where we are now on this little skid,” Gates Jr. said. “Our main focus needs to be playing five-on-five and really taking it to that and focusing on that. If we’re playing well, you know rolling the lines all over them, then that leads to less penalties, and obviously more confidence when we are on the power play and penalty kill. So, its more simplifying it and not getting too caught up in power play, penalty kill, but just kind of taking care of what we need to five-on-five and just going out with a good mindset.”
One player who has demonstrated success in five-on-five play is defenseman Nikolas Brouillard, who scored twice in his last three games, including collecting the lone goal in Saturday’s game against Iowa.
Brouillard’s six goals tie him for the fourth-most among American Hockey League defensemen, while he ranks third in assists (12) and tied for third in points (6-12=18) on the Gulls.
Gates Jr. earned an assist on Brouillard’s goal to put him an assist away from tying his career-highs in assists (7) and points (9) in an AHL season. Mike McKee also grabbed a helper on the play to mark the first point of his AHL career (0-1=1).
Tonight’s opponent won’t show mercy, as the Gulls face a Colorado team that earned standings points in its last 12 games (10-0-1-1) and carry an overall record of 20-11-3-3.
The Eagles are led by a trio of 30-point performers, including former Gull Kiefer Sherwood (13-18=31) and the AHL’s leading scorer among defenseman, Jordan Gross (7-23=30). While a recent call up to the Colorado Avalanche for Dylan Sikura may spare the Gulls from facing their opponent’s leading goal scorer (14-17=31), San Diego must find a way to contain Sherwood and Gross, who combined for 2-4=6 points in the clubs last meeting on Jan. 26.
“I’m just looking for a bunch of guys that are going to keep fighting through this adversity and say we’re going to get out,” Bouchard said. “As a coach, I think it’s kind of good a little bit, you know? What we’re going through - those kind of moments they pay when you get deep in the season and playoff because you always remember where we were and where you can head.”