It was hardly the outcome new coach Kevin Dineen wanted.
The San Diego Gulls were ambushed early by the host Bakersfield Condors in the first period and they could never get the equalizer, dropping a 2-1 decision at Rabobank Arena in the AHL season opener for both teams.
The defending regular season Pacific Division winners from last season, Bakersfield came out peppering Gulls goalie Anthony Stolarz in the first 20 minutes. At one point, the Condors had six shots on goal and the Gulls had none.
Bakersfield jumped on the scoreboard first when Josh Currie scored at 8:16. That was followed by a second Condors goal 2:06 later on a shot by Kailer Yamamoto and that was the way the period ended.
The Gulls finally got the offense going in that first period and only trailed 11-8 with shots on goal.
“I think we were overwhelmed early,” said Dineen. “It looked like a really enjoyable game for them to play. They won all their puck battles, they were first to pucks, they were making plays. It’s something we’re going to have to address. That kind of happened at our last game at home in Anaheim as well.
“We have to make sure we’re ready for the puck drop and have our game sorted out. I liked our pushback. It’s just very early on in the season and you like to think that you addressed a lot of things in training camp.
“All of a sudden the game kicks up and you realize that there are areas to continue to work on. We have a long week that will keep us busy and our preparation will be much more solid heading into next week.”
San Diego finally scored its first goal of the season at 7:41 of the second period when Kiefer Sherwood scored on an assist from Daniel Sprong.
In total, the Gulls had 11 shots in the period.
“That was a nice play by (Sprong),” said Dineen of the goal. “He certainly showed a level of patience with the puck. I thought he was going to shoot it and Kiefer just went to the front of the net. You look at all of the goals scored at whatever level, so many are scored from right in that area so that’s something we’re going to continue to harp on. To get to that area and that will make a difference for us.”
In the final 20 minutes neither team was able to put the puck past the opposing goalie. Both teams had nine shots in the period and neither team could score on the power play.
