San Diego, Milwaukee Meet In Western Conference Matchup On Home Ice | San Diego Gulls

Nov 3, 2022

By Brett Pickler/SanDiegoGulls.com

The San Diego Gulls return dwelling for a weekend sequence in opposition to the Milwaukee Admirals beginning tonight at Pechanga Enviornment San Diego (7:00 p.m. PT; TV: AHL TV, RADIO: Gulls Audio Community).

The Gulls come again to San Diego following a 3-2 loss to the Bakersfield Condors on Wednesday evening. The crew battled onerous, however  a late push fell simply quick. Now, they have to face an Admirals crew that enters tonight on a four-game win streak. 

Consistency might be key for the Gulls. With a disciplined Milwaukee crew on faucet – their 48 PIM is the second-fewest within the American Hockey League – San Diego is aware of it should compete at even energy to seek out success. 

“We simply should compete,” Gulls assistant coach Jason Clarke mentioned following the loss to Bakersfield. “We play onerous for one shift and take one shift off. Then play onerous for one shift, then take one shift off. We have to begin being far more in step with our compete degree, and that is the place it begins. It begins proper from there.”

One participant for San Diego who’s embracing consistency is goaltender Lukas Dostal. He’s stopped 83 of the final 88 pictures he’s confronted, posting a .943 save proportion (SV%). His play is a big cause why the Gulls enter every sport with a bonus in web.  

“He is been our greatest participant since coaching camp, to be sincere with you,” Clarke mentioned when speaking about Dostal. “With out him within the final two video games, it might be some totally different scores, there isn’t any doubt about it. He simply involves the rink day-after-day, works onerous, is an absolute consummate skilled. He is been our greatest participant of the yr to date.”

Becoming a member of Dostal with a constant effort is Gulls ahead Danny O’Regan, who prolonged his level streak to 5 video games with an help on Wednesday. Moreover, Gulls ahead Rocco Grimaldi is now driving a four-game level streak, whereas ahead Bo Groulx has 1-3=4 factors in 4 video games. Each O’Regan and Grimaldi are at present tied for second in factors on the Gulls with 9. 

Nevertheless, the Admirals even have participant on streaks of their very own. Ahead Mark Jankowski is on a five-game level streak and leads his crew with 5-4=9 factors. As well as, ahead Phil Tomasino is on a four-game level streak. It is going to be crucial for San Diego’s defensive core – a bunch that noticed Jarod Hilderman make his AHL debut Wednesday – to restrict their alternatives.

Whereas the 2 groups don’t steadily play one another, San Diego brings a historical past of success into tonight’s matchup. The Gulls have a five-game win streak over the Admirals, with three of these coming at dwelling. It is going to be a tricky matchup, however the crew is happy for the problem.

“We have now a resilient group, we’ve simply acquired to point out it,” Gulls ahead Hunter Drew mentioned. “It’s fairly early within the yr – we’ve acquired a lot of time – however hopefully, it comes fast.”