Gulls Bi-Weekly Report 8

Photo: San Diego Gulls

By Thomas Harrington

The San Diego Gulls played six games over the past two weeks and had a record of 1-5-0. This is the second two-week stretch in a row where they only won once in six games. The Gulls are currently at the bottom of the AHL standings.

The Gulls started things off by hosting Bakersfield for a pair of games. In the first game, Michael Del Zotto and Rocco Grimaldi scored in the opening frame, but the Condors got one back and it was 2-1 after the first. In the second, Benoit-Olivier Groulx and Glenn Gawdin both scored to make it a 4-1 game. In the third, Bakersfield fought back and scored twice to make it a 4-3 game, but Grimaldi scored his second of the game into the empty net to give the Gulls a 5-3 win. In the next game, things started out well for San Diego as David Cotton and Groulx both scored to make it 2-0 after the first period. Bakersfield made it 2-1 early in the second, but Bryce Kindopp restored the two-goal lead halfway through the period. However, the Condors scored again before the period was over to make it 3-2. In the third, the Condors tied the game 20 seconds into it, and then scored again halfway through the period and won 4-3.

San Diego then hosted their rivals the Ontario Reign. The Reign took a 2-0 lead, but Kindopp made it 2-1. Ontario scored again and led 3-1 after the first period. Early in the second period, Grimaldi scored made it a one-goal game, but Ontario then scored three straight goals before the period was over. They then scored the only goal of the third period and won 7-2. The Gulls finished up their homestand by hosting Abbotsford. The Canucks scored the only goal of the first and then three straight in the second before Grimaldi got San Diego on the board. Abbotsford scored two more times in the third and won 6-1.

The Gulls then traveled to Coachella Valley for a pair of games. The Firebirds scored early in the first, but Hunter Drew tied the game. Neither team scored in the second, and Coachella Valley scored the only goal of the third to win 2-1. The next night saw Coachella Valley score three times in the first and once in the second; they won 4-0.

The Gulls will play in five games over the next two weeks. They’ll start out at home by hosting Coachella Valley, giving the Gulls and Firebirds three straight games against each other. San Diego will then travel to Bakersfield for a game, before returning home for three straight games where they will host Tucson, Ontario, and Bakersfield.

At this point, the Gulls’ season is over, even though they have 26 games remaining on the schedule. They are currently 12 points back from Henderson, the next team above them not just in the Pacific Division standings, but the entire AHL. There haven’t been many bright spots for San Diego this season, but the play of Lukas Dostal has been one of the few, and he was rewarded with a trip to the AHL All-Star Game where he was named MVP.

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February 10th, 2023