Gulls Extend Win Streak with Victory Over Barracuda
Apr 7, 2026
By Ashley Rubin/SanDiegoGulls.com
The San Diego Gulls kept their momentum going taking their third straight win in a matchup with the San Jose Barracuda today at Tech CU Arena, 5-2.
Calle Clang held it down between the pipes, saving 35-of-37 shots, the third most he has saved this season. Clang has taken three consecutive wins and totals 17 on the season.
"Calle was strong," head coach Matt McIlvane said. "18 [shots] in the third is a lot. There's time with the empty net, and they're putting a lot to the cage. I also felt like our guys did a good job collapsing and grabbing sticks around the net for most of the game. I felt like the team defense was real strong, and a lot of that 35 is from the outside and not allowing too many second opportunities. So, Calle was strong and I thought the team defense was strong."
San Diego got the scoring going early as Mathew Phillips netted one just 2:10 into the first period. Phillips totals 14-33=47 points this season, ranking second amongst all Gulls skaters. The goal was assisted by Roger McQueen, who now holds points in both of his first two AHL appearances.
San Jose responded with two in the first, but San Diego came right back in the second. Sasha Pastujov buried one on a delayed penalty in the second to tie it back up. Pastujov extended his team-leading point count to 20-34=54 as he tallied an assist later in the game and became the second Gulls skater to net 20 goals this season. Less than two minutes later, Nathan Gaucher found the back of the net for the go-ahead goal. Gaucher was later credited with an empty netter, bringing him to five goals logged in his past two contests.
The lead for the Gulls increased as Sam Colangelo put one through on the power play for the insurance goal. Colangelo ended a five-game goal drought for his 11th of the season and second point of the night. The forward has logged 1-3=4 points in his past two contests.
"We got our two goals, and it's a big insurance goal by Sam [Colangelo] on the power play late," McIlvane said. "And as a gutsy effort, you know what the takeaways for this is. We were great in stretches and when we needed to, we hung on and we hung together, and we were able to push back, which was great."
Nikolas Brouillard skated in his 229th AHL game with San Diego, making him the Gulls AHL all-time games played leader. The defenseman picked up two assists tonight, moving him into a tie with Kalle Kossila for fourth-most helpers by a Gull. He now has 26-90=116 points with San Diego and 38-152=190 AHL career points.
"It's an honor for sure," Brouillard said. "Like I always said, I love San Diego. I love this team. It always had a special place in my heart. This the first team who gave me a real opportunity to play in the American League, and now as a veteran player, I love to see the team grow, and it's definitely a huge honor."
Judd Caulfield skated in his 200th career AHL game tonight, the fourth player in Gulls AHL history to skate in his first 200 pro games with San Diego.
Assists were also tallied by Nico Myatovic and Tristan Luneau. Myatovic has picked up 1-3=4 points in his past three contests and Luneau has picked up 3-8=11 points in his past 10.
San Diego will next compete in a back-to-back series against the Bakersfield Condors starting Friday, Apr. 10 at Dignity Health Arena (7 p.m. PDT).