Gulls Biweekly Report 12

By Thomas Harrington

The San Diego Gulls played six games over the past two weeks and had a record of 3-3, an improvement from the previous month of play. Unfortunately, the Tucson Roadrunners have been playing even better lately, and now trail San Diego by one point for the final playoff spot in the Pacific Division. A month ago, a playoff spot wasn’t assured but it looked likely. That playoff spot has now become incredibly precarious.

The Gulls started out on the road for a pair of games in Colorado. The first game was a high-scoring affair, where the Eagles opened the scoring just over two minutes into the contest. Neither team scored again in the first, but Nathan Gaucher tied the game just over three minutes into the middle frame, and Sam Colangelo put San Diego ahead just over a minute later. A minute after that, the Eagles tied the game. Matthew Phillips put the Gulls ahead but the Eagles tied the game again 40 seconds later. They scored one more time in the second to take a 4-3 lead. In the third, Colorado scored late to make it a two-goal lead, but Tristan Luneau scored with less than two minutes to go in regulation and Sasha Pastujov tied the game in the final minute. Neither team scored in overtime and the game went to a shootout. Colangelo, Ryan Carpenter, and Nikita Nesterenko all scored while Tomas Suchanek stopped two of Colorado’s four shooters and the Gulls won 6-5.

The next game didn’t go as well, with Colorado scoring just 26 seconds into the first period. They then scored again a few minutes later. Pastujov scored the only goal of the second period, but the Eagles scored three straight goals, including an empty net goal, in the third period and won 5-1.

San Diego then returned home for a couple of games. In the first, they hosted the Bakersfield Condors. Judd Caulfield opened the scoring early in the contest before Bakersfield tied the game less than a minute later. Less than a minute after that, Stian Solberg put San Diego back in the lead, but the Condors tied the game again. Phillips and Justin Bailey both scored late in the period to make it a 4-2 game. In the second, Bakersfield made it a one-goal game before Luneau restored the two-goal lead. In the final frame, Nesterenko made it 6-3, but the Condors fought back and scored again. Cal Burke scored into the empty net, and San Diego won 7-4.

The Gulls’ next game was against the Calgary Wranglers. Gaucher and Carpenter both scored in the first period, and Gaucher and Burke both scored in the second to make it 4-0. Calgary then started a comeback, scoring three straight goals before the middle frame was over. In the final period, Gaucher scored into the empty net to complete the hat trick, but the Wranglers did score one more time, in the final second of the game, and the Gulls won 5-4.

The Gulls then traveled to Abbotsford for a pair of games. In the first game, Abbotsford scored twice in the first and once in the third to take a 3-0 lead. The Gulls couldn’t get any offense going, until Bailey scored with less than four minutes remaining in the game, and Caulfield followed less than a second later. But the Canucks scored twice after that, including one empty net goal, and won 5-2.

In the final game, Abbotsford scored twice in the first period before Pastujov put the Gulls on the board in the final second of the first period. Early in the second, the Canucks restored their two-goal lead. Later in the period, Drew Elliott scored his first career AHL goal to bring the Gulls back within one. In the third, Pastujov scored his second of the game less than a minute into the period to tie it up. Halfway through the final frame, Abbotsford retook the lead, scored again a few minutes after that, and won 5-3.

San Diego will play five games over the next two weeks. They’ll start out with two games at home, first hosting Tucson and then Bakersfield. The Gulls will then hit the road for three games, starting in San Jose and then visiting Bakersfield twice. San Diego also only has eight games remaining this season.

Gaucher has been one of San Diego’s better forwards recently and was rewarded with a call up to the NHL. He has yet to play in any games with the Ducks, and it looks like he could get the Tyson Hinds treatment from last season: get called up to the big club but not see any NHL action. It’s unlikely anyone else will get recalled from San Diego any time soon, but if someone else is, it should be Pastuov. He’s currently on a six-game point streak and has 10 points in his last eight games. He’s set career highs in goals, assists, and points this season and has been San Diego’s most dangerous forward most nights.

The Gulls are also going to be getting some reinforcements. Herman Traff and Roger McQueen will both be joining the Gulls now that their seasons have come to an end. They may play as soon as tonight. If not then, then likely this weekend. A number of other prospects in college have also seen their season end, or will soon. They will need to leave college in order to play in the AHL. It’s possible none of them decide to turn pro yet, but it will be interesting to see what they decide to do. There are also a number of players in Canadian Juniors who could join the Gulls when their seasons come to an end as well.

San Diego has the slimmest of leads for the last playoff spot. Their next game is against Tucson, the team directly behind them in the standings. It’s not hyperbole to call that the biggest game of the season. A regulation win doesn’t guarantee the Gulls a playoff spot, but it does give them a little breathing room down the stretch.

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April 1st, 2026