Hunter Drew Records Career Night In One-Goal Loss To Reign
Feb 20, 2022By AJ Manderichio/SanDiegoGulls.com
A career night for Hunter Drew couldn’t push the San Diego Gulls past the rival Ontario Reign as they fell 4-3 today at Toyota Arena.
The defenseman-turned-forward recorded a three-point game (2-1=3) – the first of his American Hockey League career – to become the first Gulls player to reach double digit goals. Brent Gates Jr. also found the back of the net, extending his goal streak to a career-high four games. Lukas Dostal dazzled in relief of Olle Eriksson Ek, stopping all 11 shots he faced.
Gabriel Vilardi powered the Reign attack, recording his fifth multi-goal game of the season in the win. T.J. Tynan collected a second consecutive multi-point game, scoring five points in the weekend series (1-4=5). Matthew Villata stopped 17-of-20 shots for his 17th win of the season.
“Yeah, I mean it comes down to doing the little things and being consistent," Gates Jr. said about the loss. "That’s kind of been our struggle the last couple games has been just that consistency throughout the whole game. We have flashes where we play really well and then some stretches where we don’t and against a good team like that, they’ll take advantage. So, a lot of positives, doing things right, but doesn’t really show anything if we’re not doing it consistently."
The Gulls received the start they needed, taking a 1-0 lead at 5:49 of the first period on a Gates Jr. goal.
A Drew point shot hit off a body in front and fluttered to the slot, where Gates Jr. corralled the loose puck. He curled back toward the middle and released a floating wrist shot, sending it through traffic and past Villalta for his seventh goal of the season.
Gates has six points over the last four games (5-1=6).
"You know, it’s been a good run," Gates Jr. explained. "I’m just trying to chip in where I can and pucks have been bouncing the right way as of late, but you know, it doesn’t really change my game. Just try to keep it simple and on that one, I just kind of rolled over top. I had a really good screen in front of the net by, I think, both my linemates and I just kind of sifted one through and it found its way."
A tight-checking game opened up in the second period, with the teams combining for two goals 47 seconds apart early in the middle stanza.
Tyler Madden struck first, tying the game at one just 1:57 into the period. The forward converted on a pass from Tynan, who collected his 10th assist against the Gulls this season.
Drew would respond at 2:44, jumping on a loose puck and sending a wrist shot past the glove of Villalta for his ninth goal of the season.
He added an assist in the first period to record back-to-back multi-point nights for the first time in his AHL career.
Ontario would jump ahead later in the period with two goals in under four minutes.
Cameron Gaunce tied the game at two, coming down from the point and one-timing a Vilardi pass by Eriksson Ek for his third goal of the season.
Vilardi would tally at 9:06 of the period, one-timing a Rasmus Kupari shot from the left circle past the sliding Eriksson Ek for his 14th goal of the season.
Drew would collect his second goal of the game, tying the score at three with 9:21 left in the period.
He started the play in his own end, laying down a thunderous body check on Austin Strand to stunt the Reign's attack at his blue line. San Diego quickly transitioned, with Greg Printz feeding Benoit-Olivier Groulx at Ontario's blue line. The center laid the puck to Drew, who collected it and whipped it on net in one motion, clanging it off the post and past Villalta for his 10th goal of the game.
"I think my linemates, Gatesy (Gates Jr.) and Limo (Limoges) and you know, I was up with Bo (Groulx) one shift," Drew said. "Everyone has been helping me out and we’ve been trying to help each other. Anytime, especially when you’re on the fourth line, that you can kind of drive the bus for your team, that’s what I’m trying to do and that’s what we’re all trying to do so I’m grateful for them."
Drew reached double digit goals for the first time in his AHL career.
"I mean, it’s big," Drew said of the personal milestone. "Obviously, I made a transition up front this year and you know, it’s not my job really to produce, but it’s a big bonus and obviously, it feels good, but at the end of the day, it’s team sport and I’d love to win hockey games."
Vilardi would answer back, scoring on the power play with 4:21 left in the period, collecting his fifth multi-goal game of the season. Tynan picked up an assist, his fifth point (1-4=5) of the weekend series.
Dostal entered the game following the goal. Eriksson Ek stopped 14-of-18 shots in 35:39.
The four goals in the middle period marks a new season for goals allowed in the second period by the Gulls, surpassing the previous high of three.
"Defensively we struggled a little bit," Drew explained when asked about the middle period. "Obviously, everybody wants to score. Everybody wants to produce, but you gotta play both sides of the puck in this league or you’re not going to win hockey games."
The final frame began with an incredible save from Dostal, keeping the Gulls within striking distance with an Andrei Vasilevskiy-type glove stop early in the period.
Samuel Fagemo made the initial move, cutting from the goal line to the front of the net to try and stuff the puck past Dostal. The Gulls netminder stood firm, withstanding the crashing Reign forward but keeping the puck in play. Tyler Madden found it, trying to flick the puck over the prone Gulls netminder, but Dostal flashed the glove to keep the puck away from the open net.
San Diego couldn’t use the momentum to find the tying goal, failing to break through against a stingy Reign defense in the last period.
The Gulls continue their franchise-record eight-game road trip with a weekend series in Henderson against the Silver Knights. They open the back-to-back set on Friday at 7 p.m. PT.