Gulls Take on Barracuda in Matinee Matchup
Mar 20, 2024By Nick Aguilera/SanDiegoGulls.com
Wake up, it’s time for some hockey!
The San Diego Gulls are ready to rise and shine in a Wednesday morning matchup against the San Jose Barracuda at Tech CU Arena (10:30 a.m. PDT; TV: AHL TV; Radio: Gulls Audio Network).
San Diego is coming off a successful homestand that saw them go 4-2-0-0 at Pechanga Arena, including wins over the Pacific Division-leading Coachella Valley Firebirds and Central Division-leading Milwaukee Admirals.
The homestand saw excellent goaltending from Calle Clang, who posted back-to-back 35-plus save performances, including a career-high 41 saves Mar. 13 vs. Ontario and 38 saves in a shootout win over Coachella Valley on Wed., March 6.
"I feel really comfortable," Clang said. "It’s been a long way to go here, but right now I feel confident. I feel comfortable being with the group, especially with the environment here in the AHL with guys being called up, called down. There’s a lot of change, so it’s been a time for me to adapt to it, but right now I feel comfortable.”"
Clang will likely get the nod this morning thanks to his strong play, but even with an unusual start time, the 21-year-old Swede is ready to go.
"It’s for sure different," Clang said. "It tweaks a little bit of the routines you have with the pregame nap and those kinds of things. You just have to get you body ready to go as fast as possible."
Clang hasn’t been the only bright spot as of late, as Chase De Leo ended the homestand with back-to-back multi-point games. Robert Hagg has had an offensive breakout as well, collecting 1-6=7 points in his last six games.
The Gulls haven’t had much success against the Barracuda so far this season, dropping both games against San Jose thus far, but San Diego is catching them at the right time, as they have dropped nine of their last 10 games and made some significant changes across their roster.
The Gulls will return home following today’s game for another three-game set at Pechanga Arena, beginning with a matchup with the Texas Stars on Friday night.