The San Diego Gulls were able to play hockey.
For a team that was riding a three-game losing skid before COVID-19 issues halted the season on Dec. 22 and entered the weekend holding last-place in the AHL’s Pacific Division, that alone felt something like a victory.
Just for the heck of it, they went out and picked up an actual win.
Goals from Hunter Drew, Brayden Tracey, Benoit-Olivier Groulx and Bryce Kindopp along with some crisp goalie play by Lukas Dostal earned the Gulls (10-12-1-0) a 4-1 win over the first-place Stockton Heat at Pechanga Arena.
The Gulls had not tasted victory since beating Ontario at Pechanga on Dec. 11.
Prior to the game, Gulls coach Joel Brouchard laid out what he expected from his team after such a prolonged layoff.
“We know were are rebuilding somewhat after so much time away but we want to see progress,” Bouchard said. “We know it is important to be patient but still, we are pushing for more all the time.”
The Gulls were outshot 38-25 and finished 0 for 4 on the power play but killed all five of Stockton’s power play chances, including a crucial four-on-three situation in the second period.
Defensively, the Gulls caused Stockton problems all night with stingy play through the neutral zone, solid checking and by moving the puck crisply out of the back end.
Missing were some of the sloppy turnovers that have caused them problems in some losses this season and offensively, San Diego was able to cash in on a night when Stockton goalie Adam Werner was not particularly sharp.
Rarely has a team been outshot by more than 10 and yet seemingly dominated a hockey game.
Drew scored the game’s first goal when he took a from Nikolas Brouillard near the boards, took a few strides and blasted a shot past Werner for his fourth goal of the season at 5:12 of the second period.
Tracey made it 2-0 Gulls at 10:32 of the second when he blasted a shot from just inside the blue line that hit net for his eighth goal.
The Gulls nearly made it into the third holding that lead but with just under 15 seconds left, they lost a faceoff deep in the Stockton end and the Heat made them pay by linking es from Jakob Pelletier to Matthew Phillips to Eetu Tuulola, who slipped a point-blank shot past Dostal.
Groulx made it 3-1 Gulls at 7:51 of the third period when he gathered a rebound and slipped it home for his second goal of the season.
Kindopp put the game away at 14:18 of the third when he gathered a nifty from Tracey and used a smooth move to shimmy Weber before scoring his third goal of the season.
The Gulls play at the Ontario Reign Saturday night. They are 1-3 against their primary rival so far this season.
Notable
Forward Brent Gates Jr. made his Gulls season debut after g a Professional Tryout Contract this week and earned an assist on Kindopp’s goal.
Carter is a freelance writer.
