Gulls Shutout Silver Knights in Home Opener
Oct 10, 2026By Ashley Rubin/SanDiegoGulls.com
The San Diego Gulls defeated the Henderson Silver Knights in a shutout at the Gulls Home Opener tonight at Pechanga Arena San Diego, 2-0.
Goaltender Damian Clara recorded his first career AHL shutout tonight, saving 25-of-25 shots. Clara became the fastest Gulls goaltender to record a shutout in his career, making the accomplishment in just six starts. Tonight was his second start of the season and second appearance at Pechanga Arena San Diego.
"If you look at the start of the game, I think he had one shot in the first 12 minutes, and we controlled the game there," assistant coach Kelly Buchberger said. "Then they came on a little harder in the second period and got a few more shots. I think they had five power plays also, if I'm not mistaken. He was solid there for us, especially when they pulled the goalie. He was squared to pucks, he made plays that he needed to make, and everybody played hard in front of him."
The game was scoreless up until the final three minutes of regulation when Roger McQueen found a way through to give the Gulls their first goal. The goal marks McQueen’s third of the season and first career AHL game-winning goal.
In his season debut, Drew Elliott picked up the primary assist on the goal, the first of his AHL career. The forward has appeared in seven total career AHL games, logging 1-1=2 total points. The secondary assist was credited to Anton Wahlberg, who now extends his point streak to 1-4=5 in four games. Wahlberg currently leads all Gulls skaters in points.
"That's what happens when you play with good line mates," McQueen said. "[Anton] Wahlberg put it across the ice to [Drew] Elliott, and I kind of tipped it down, and then he made a nice play, a slip play in, and I got a lot of net. Kind of just hoping for maybe a backdoor play for Wally off the pad, but ended up going in. So yeah, it was just good play all around."
San Diego secured the win after Nico Myatovic put one in on the empty net. This marked Myatovic’s second goal and fourth point of the season. He currently holds a point streak of two games, logging 1-1=2 points. Ryan Carpenter tallied the lone assist, also extending his point streak to two games with 1-1=2 points found.
There was a total of nine penalties called throughout the night. Neither team was able to capitalize on the power play as both did not let up on their penalty kill, playing a night of highly defensive hockey. San Diego went 0-for-5 on the power play but finished with a perfect 4-for-4 kill.
"I think we hold the blue line very well," Clara said. "It wasn't easy to get in, it wasn't easy to get rush chances against us, and we barely gave up something very close proximity to a net. Only high slot and outside shots with net drives, and that's way easier to handle as a goalie, as opposed to scrams in the middle. So, if we play like this, we have good chances in a lot of games."
San Diego will next compete back at home on Wednesday, Oct. 14 against their rivals, the Ontario Reign at Pechanga Arena San Diego (7 p.m. PDT).