Gulls Bi-Weekly Report 3

By Thomas Harrington

The Gulls started out the 2021-2022 on a down note, winning just three times in their first 10 games. However, over the last two weeks, the Gulls have won five straight games and vaulted themselves up the standings in the Pacific Division. Two weeks ago, they were in last place; now, they are in the thick of the playoff race.

San Diego Beats San Jose Twice On The Road

The Gulls started things off with a road trip to San Jose where they faced the Barracuda twice. For once, the Gulls got on the board first, as Brogan Rafferty scored midway through the first period, and Vinni Lettieri made it 2-0 before the second began. In the middle frame, Jacob Perreault continued his stellar play, making it 3-0, but San Jose answered with two goals of their own to make it 3-2. Late in the period, Bryce Kindopp scored to restore the two-goal lead, but San Jose closed to within one again with about 30 seconds left in the period. Neither team scored in the third, and the Gulls won 4-3.

In the next game, the Gulls struck first again, as Nikolas Brouillard and Greg Printz scored in the first to make it 2-0. San Jose answered back in the second with a goal of their own. In the third period, neither team scored and San Diego won 2-1.

Gulls Down Barracuda Twice At Home

The Gulls then returned home for a pair of games, both against the Barracuda. Brouillard scored in his second straight game to open the scoring, but San Jose tied the game before the first was over. The Gulls started to take over the game in the second period, as Greg Pateryn and Vincent Marleau both scored their first goal of the season to make it 3-1. It was Marleau’s first career AHL goal. In the third, Brayden Tracey scored twice to make it a 5-1 victory for the Gulls. Tracey also assisted on Marleau’s second period goal, giving him the first three-point night of his AHL career.

In the next game, Danny O’Regan made it 1-0 late in the first. Early in the second, San Jose tied it, but Tracey put the Gulls back on top before the period was over. In the third, Kindopp made it 3-1, but San Jose made it 3-2 with less than a minute left in the game. With a second left in regulation, Buddy Robinson scored into the empty net to give the Gulls the 4-2 win. Besides scoring a goal, Tracey also assisted on Kindopp’s goal.

Gulls Edge Condors 2-1

After four straight games against San Jose, the Gulls went on the road to visit Bakersfield. Early in the first Lettieri made it 1-0, but the Condors tied the game late in the second. Midway through the third, Robinson scored in his second straight game to make it 2-1, and the Gulls would hang on from there for the win. Tracey assisted on both goals.

What’s Next?

The Gulls will only play four games over the next two weeks. They’ll start out with a three-game road trip. The first two games will be in Stockton, before they head to Ontario to take on the Reign. San Diego will then return home to face the Reign again. That game will be the first of a seven-game homestand for the Gulls.

Final Thoughts

With three straight multi-point games, Tracey has been San Diego’s hottest player over the last two weeks, and was named the AHL Player of the Week for his efforts. Before the season began, he was on my dark horse list to make his NHL debut this season. If he keeps playing like this, the Ducks are going to have to give him at least a couple of games before the year is over.

After a great start to the season, Perreault has cooled off, with just two points over the past two weeks, but he still leads the team in points and is looking dangerous even when not scoring. Against Bakersfield, he had a shot from the goal line that hit the crossbar and post before bouncing out. He’s still playing well enough that I think his NHL debut is coming this season as well.

Lettieri and Benoit-Olivier Groulx have both been up and down between the NHL and AHL, and both will probably continue to bounce back and forth between the two leagues for the foreseeable future. Kindopp has had a slow start to the season, but he has two goals and three points in his last five games. More will be needed from him, especially if Perreault and/or Tracey spend any significant amount of time in the NHL.

A lot can change in two weeks. For the Gulls, two weeks saw them going from what was looking like a lost season to fighting for a playoff spot. While they won’t win every game going forward, if they keep playing like this, they should remain in the playoff race through the rest of the season. Their next four games are against two teams above them in the standings and will be a good test for them.

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December 2nd, 2021