PREVIEW: Gulls Continue Rivalry With Reign In Ontario | San Diego Gulls

Nov 12, 2022

By Brett Pickler/SanDiegoGulls.com

The San Diego Gulls head up the freeway for a battle in opposition to the Ontario Reign at Toyota Enviornment (3 p.m. PT; TV: AHL TV, RADIO: Gulls Audio Community).

The Gulls enter tonight’s contest trying to earn their first win of their eight-game season collection in opposition to the Reign. San Diego dropped its first two video games in opposition to Ontario, dropping 2-1 (Oct. 21)  and 5-1 (Oct . 22). 

The Gulls enter the matchup with a 4-8-0-0 report that doesn’t present the total image of the season. All however three of San Diego’s losses have been by two objectives or much less, exhibiting they’ve an opportunity to win each sport. 

One cause for that is their goalies. Lukas Dostal is taking part in at a particularly excessive stage. Over his final 5 begins, he stopped 173 out of 183 photographs for a .945 save proportion (SV%) and a 2.00 goals-against common. That is additionally a results of the rising confidence within the defensive zone and penalty kill. As of Nov. 12, the Gulls killed their opponents’ final 12 power-play possibilities.

“Simply stick to the habits,” Dostal mentioned. “Belief the method and be affected person in the correct moments and I believe the result’s going to come back.”

The protection might want to stay a stronghold for the Gulls of their matchup as we speak. Ontario sits in first place within the Pacific Division and is among the greatest offensive groups within the American Hockey League, rating second within the Pacific Division with 3.60 goals-per-game. 

Ahead T.J Tynan entered the weekend tied for first within the league with 1-14=15 factors. He carried a four-game level streak (0-7=7) into Saturday’s contest with Bakersfield.. Moreover, on November 12, defenseman Jordan Spence had a four-game level streak, whereas ahead Lias Andersson collected 3-2=5 factors in his final 4 video games. 

“We now have a troublesome opponent Sunday in opposition to Ontario,” Gull head coach Roy Sommer mentioned following the loss on Friday. “They skate, a high-pressure staff, and we simply acquired to come back out and have a greater first…The goaltender once more gave us an opportunity to win, we simply did not give him any help.”

San Diego will look to  set up a constant offensive assault to help its glorious goaltending.  

The Gulls will want gamers similar to Rocco Grimaldi, who has 4-9=13 factors in his final 10 video games following a four-point effort (1-3=4) on Nov. 8, and Jacob Perreault, who has 2-0=2 objectives in his final three video games, to proceed producing possibilities for themselves and  their linemates. 

Nevertheless, the Gulls may even be on the lookout for extra depth inside its scoring. Of their 7-0 win in opposition to the Henderson Silver Knights on Wednesday, Nov. 8, 11 completely different gamers discovered their method onto the scoresheet. With the total staff firing on all cylinders, San Diego will make for a troublesome matchup for any staff.