Gulls Fall to Eagles in Game One
Apr 22, 2026
By Ashley Rubin/SanDiegoGulls.com
The San Diego Gulls were shutout by the Colorado Eagles in Game 1 of the Pacific Division First Round to start their 2026 Calder Cup Playoffs run tonight at Blue Arena, 3-0.
Damian Clara made a massive impact in keeping the Gulls in the game tonight. In his AHL playoff debut, the goaltender saved 25-of-27 shots. Alongside Clara, the Gulls’ defense helped keep the game within reach with a standout play by Matt Basgall, hustling to assist Clara in keeping the puck off the goal line for what could have given the Eagles a three-goal lead in the third.
"He was great for us," Judd Caulfield said. "He was making key saves for us, giving us a chance to win the game. If it weren’t for him, we wouldn't have had the chance to tie it up late in the game. But yeah, he was unbelievable for us. We'll have to help him out a little bit more on Friday and not have to lean on him as much."
The playoff momentum was clear from both teams from the moment the puck dropped. 4-on-4 hockey was seen early as both teams received roughing minors 10:33 into the opening frame, with the Gulls’ call on forward Nathan Gaucher. The physicality didn’t stop there as Roger McQueen closed out the period with a roughing call alongside an Eagles skater, leading the middle frame to also start in 4-on-4 play. Colorado ended up striking first, netting the first goal of the game on a power play at the 14:07 mark of the opening frame.
Colorado found the back of the net again early in the second. San Diego had two successful kills in the period but could not capitalize on either of their two power plays. The third Eagles goal was found on the empty net late in the third. The Gulls ended the night with just 16 shots on goal compared to the Eagles 28.
"Colorado played a heck of a game, and I think that there were moments of the game where we were getting to the way that we wanted to play," head coach Matt McIlvane said. "I think that combination of some penalty issues and allowing them too many big opportunities shifted the momentum I felt in the game. It’s still one to nothing and then, in a shift, we've got two breakaways and an open net that bounces over our stick. That in that same shift they go down and score, and so it was a big momentum swing in that part of the game. But I think for us there's opportunity for us to play better, certainly both with and without the puck, and that's what we'll be searching for."
The Gulls look to regain momentum on Friday, Apr. 24 in game two of this series at Blue Arena which they must win to potentially advance to the next round (6:05 p.m. PDT).