Gulls Dominate Condors in 7-4 Win
Mar 20, 2026By Ashley Rubin/SanDiegoGulls.com
The San Diego Gulls took down the Bakersfield Condors in an exciting matchup tonight at Pechanga Arena San Diego, 7-4.
The first period was full of action as the Gulls put up four goals in the period for the first time this season. Scoring started early for the Gulls as Judd Caulfield put the puck through just 2:52 into the opening frame. The winger has found 16 goals this season and has totaled 35 points, 10 more than his total found last season. Bakersfield responded quickly, but moments later Stian Solberg gave the Gulls their lead back. The defenseman has found 10-7=17 points this season, with his 10 goals ranking tied for the most among rookie blueliners.
Matthew Phillips skated in his 400th career AHL game and made it a memorable one, finding the back of the net on the powerplay for the third San Diego goal. Phillips later tallied an assist and now totals 12-31=43 points this season, the second most of all Gulls skaters. Less than two minutes later Justin Bailey netted the fourth goal of the period. The goal broke a nine-game goal drought for Bailey, who leads all Gulls skaters in goals this season with 19.
"Feels good to be at home," Nathan Gaucher said. "Feels good to have our fans. I think we're comfortable playing at home as well. But we needed that start, and we got it. It's good for us."
Tristan Luneau logged his ninth multi-point game of the season with a goal and an assist. Luneau put a snipe through to score what would ultimately be the game-winning goal, his second of the year. The defenseman has recorded 5-10=15 points in his past 10 contests and leads all Gulls defensemen in points with 9-24=33 found.
Scoring did not stop there as Nikita Nesterenko put one through to make it six in the third period. The forward earlier tallied an assist, making tonight his third multi-point game of the season. Cal Burke added one more for good measure, scoring his second goal of the season on the empty net. Burke also ended the night with 1-1=2 points, his first multi-point game of the season.
Goaltender Tomas Suchanek has another solid night between the pipes. Suchanek saved 15 shots, logging his third consecutive and fifth overall victory of the season.
"It's fun to have a goalie that battles hard every time, he never gives up," Tyson Hinds said. "That's a big thing for us, and big thing for him too. So it's good. We have confidence in them, and both of our goalies are playing really good these days so it's really good. Like I said, he battles hard and never gives up."
Nathan Gaucher and Sam Colangelo ended the night with two assists while Sasha Pastujov, Yegor Sidorov, and Tyson Hinds all tallied one each.
San Diego will rest tomorrow before returning on Sunday, Mar. 22 to take on the Calgary Wranglers back at Pechanga Arena San Diego (5 p.m. PDT).