PREVIEW: Gulls Look To Stay Alive, Force A Winner-Take-All Game 3
May 5, 2022By Paige Burnell/SanDiegoGulls.com
Never underestimate the power of a must-win situation.
The San Diego Gulls face elimination from the 2022 Calder Cup Playoffs as they take on the Ontario Reign in Game Two of their best of three-series tonight at Toyota Arena (7 p.m. PT; TV: AHL TV; RADIO: Gulls Audio Network).
"These best two-out-of-three series are kinda tough," Gulls defenseman Trevor Carrick said. "It’s the first time I’ve been in one of these. You know, when your back’s against the wall, you just kinda have to forget and take all the good things."
“We got a young group and that’s an experienced team over there. We just have to do our best to focus on the next shift and the next game and one shift at a time.”
The Gulls fell 7-4 in last night’s Game 1, but the score covers the team’s excellent start. San Diego scored twice in the first eight minutes, kicking things off with a Josh Lopina goal just 11 seconds into the game. His first career Calder Cup Playoff tally marks the fastest goal scored from start a playoff game in Gulls AHL history (previous: 0:46, Chase De Leo; May 13, 2019 vs. Bakersfield).
Hunter Drew added to lead at 7:47, snapping a sharp-angle shot past a shaky Matthew Villalta for his first goal of the playoffs.
The momentum didn’t last, as the Reign answered with four straight scores – highlighted by three special-teams tallies – to take a two-goal advantage after 40 minutes.
"We were down by a goal, we missed a couple of really good opportunities on the power play and then we give a goal on the power play and we give two goals on the PK (penalty kill) so it’s right there, that’s the game." Gulls head coach Joel Bouchard said.
Not only did Ontario capitalize on half of its power-play chances (2-for-4), they also scored twice shorthanded. The Gulls went 0-for-4 on the man-advantage.
"I think that’s kinda been the story against them all year, the special teams," Carrick said. "Their special teams have just been outplaying ours. You know, when you give up a shorthanded goal, I think two shorthanded goals, and then give up a couple on the power play, when it comes to playoffs that’s what it can come down to sometimes, the special teams. We have to find a way to shut them down and on their PP (power play), you got a very skilled PP. If we can find a way to shut them down and then find a way to get our PP going we’ll be okay. Playoffs, that’s what it comes down to sometimes."
San Diego will look to Alex Limoges to get the power play going, as the left wing led all American Hockey League rookies during the regular season with 12 power-play goals and set the Gulls record for the most power-play goals in a season.
Additionally, San Diego needs the efforts of Limoges and Drew to keep its even-strength scoring strong after each registered their first career multi-point Calder Cup Playoff games (1-1=2), scoring their first Calder Cup Playoff goals and collecting assists in their Calder Cup Playoffs debuts last night.
The Gulls also received offensive input from veterans and rookies on its blueline in last night’s effort with Carrick’s fifth postseason goal (1-0=1) and a pair of assists from Drew Helleson, who tied the Gulls rookie record for assists in a playoff game (last: Jamie Drysdale, Trevor Zegras; Game 1 of First Round, May 21, 2021 @ BAK).
In his AHL debut, defenseman Olen Zellweger also earned his first professional point (assist), becoming the youngest player in club history to register a point after he already broke the record as the youngest player to appear in a game (regular season or postseason) for the Gulls (previous for both records: Mason McTavish; 18 years, 8 months, 29 days).
Despite keeping Martin Frk (1-0=1) and T.J. Tynan (0-1=1) to quiet offensive nights, the Gulls still tied a postseason record for the most goals given up in a Calder Cup Playoffs game in last night’s loss. Vladimir Tkachev tied a career best with three points (1-2=3), while both Akil Thomas and Samuel Fagemo recorded multi-goal performances. In addition, both Alex Turcotte and Christian Wolanin picked up multi-assist nights.
Keeping the Reign’s explosive offense at bay is the biggest focus for Game 2.
"We want to play in their end and, like I said, they’re a high-flying team and I think that’s how we’re going to shut them down," Carrick said. "They want to play in the o-zone. If we can be in their o-zone as much as we can then we’re looking good. We just have to get on our forecheck better. Keep the puck behind their net and in their end and I think we’ll be okay."