Gulls Aim To Find First Win Against Firebirds
Dec 16, 2022By Brett Pickler/SanDiegoGulls.com
The San Diego Gulls are set to take on the Coachella Valley Firebirds in their second game of an eight-game season series tonight at Pechanga Arena San Diego (7 p.m. PT; TV: AHL TV, RADIO: Gulls Audio Network).
After losing the opening matchup 4-1 at home on Nov. 26, the Gulls look to even their series with the Firebirds. Coachella Valley is making a name for themselves in their first season in the American Hockey League (AHL), sitting in third place in the Pacific Division with a 13-5-3-0 record. Meanwhile, the Gulls are in the midst of a nine-game losing streak but have shown improvement in recent games.
"I mean, we’ve got nothing to lose here. We were already losing a couple of games in a row; we just say we’ve got to put our best effort," Gulls defenseman Nikolas Brouillard said following the game on Wednesday. "We’ve got to lay it out there and see what's going to happen, and I think that's what we did. We came back. Obviously, we didn't have the start we wanted, but throughout the whole game, we worked hard and we're on the right path."
San Diego’s offense is starting to wake up as evidenced by a four-goal effort against the Abbotsford Canucks on Wednesday night. The team benefitted from production from its depth players. Left wing Evan Weinger registered his first goal of the season on a powerful shot from the slot. His play has been noticeable, mainly in the defensive end, but it is a positive sign for the Gulls to see his name on the scoresheet. Left wing David Cotton also recorded his first goal of the season with a redirection on the power play. In addition to depth scoring, San Diego’s point leaders are also producing. Last game, Brouillard recording 0-4=4 points to set a career-high for points and assists earned in a single game. Right wing Rocco Grimaldi also contributed with 1-2=3 points as well.
The Gulls’ offense will need to keep this production up in this matchup with the Firebirds. Coachella Valley has a dangerous offense and currently have the third most goals in the Pacific Division. Right wing Kole Lind is leading the charge for them of late, with a four-game point streak. During this stretch, he recorded 4-3=7 points and now leads his team with 11 goals. Additionally, left wing Max McCormick is also putting up impressive numbers. Over his last four games, he combined for 3-4=7 points. These two players have the hot hand right now for the Firebirds and the Gulls will need to be aware of them when they step on the ice.
This matchup becomes more interesting with Gulls goaltenders Lukas Dostal and Olle Eriksson Ek currently up with the Anaheim Ducks. However, goaltender Garrett Metcalf showed he is more than comfortable between the pipes on Wednesday night. Coming into the game in relief, he stopped 36 out of 38 shots and helped spark the Gulls comeback attempt against the Canucks. Metcalf is a former sixth round draft pick (179th overall) by the Ducks and has previous experience in the AHL with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Gulls head coach Roy Sommer noted the importance of his relief effort.
"We got some big saves," Sommer said. "Metcalf – he came in there and killed off like a 5-on-3 right off the bat, made some point blankers, kept us in the game. Even the goal they scored on the 5-on-3, we put it in ourselves - wasn't like they got it. He kept us in."
The Gulls will need similarly strong netminding if they are to find their way back to the win column against the Firebirds.