Gulls Go Down 5-1 in Round Two with Firebirds
Mar 8, 2024By Morgan Korovec/SanDiegoGulls.com
The San Diego Gulls couldn’t double up over the Coachella Valley Firebirds as they dropped a 5-1 decision Friday night at Pechanga Arena San Diego.
The opening frame remained scoreless until 18:37 when Coachella Valley’s John Hayden landed one on the power play to kick off the action.
Just over 30 seconds into the middle frame, Max McCormick tacked on a second goal for the Firebirds.
At 8:42, Ryan Winterton snuck one in to stretch Coachella Valley’s lead to three. Connor Carrick found another late power-play goal for the Firebirds at 18:48.
Moments later, Tucker Robertson extended Coachella Valley’s lead to five to close out the middle frame.
Goaltender Tomas Suchanek made 18 saves on the night before Alex Stalock took over in net for the final frame, stopping all eight shots.
At 12:06 in the third, Ben King broke the ice for San Diego with a much-welcome goal, launching his 13th goal of the season to put the Gulls on the board.
Chase De Leo and Anthony Costantini each tallied an assist on King’s goal.
San Diego will be back at it again next Wednesday, Mar. 13 as they host the Ontario Reign at Pechanga Arena San Diego for their fourth matchup of the six-game homestand (7 p.m. PST).