Gulls Bi-Weekly Report 9

By Thomas Harrington

The Gulls won two out of five games over the past two weeks. Despite the losing record, this was actually one of their better two-week stretches this season. Those two wins were the only two wins they’ve recorded over the past 10 games.

Things started out well for San Diego, as they hosted the Coachella Valley Firebirds, the team who had defeated the Gulls in the previous two games. Neither team scored in the first or second periods, and Coachella Valley took the 1-0 lead early in the third, but Pavol Regenda tied it up just over a minute later. Neither team scored again in regulation and the game went to overtime. In the extra session, Rocco Grimaldi got to play the hero and scored the gamewinner. The Gulls won 2-1.

The Gulls then traveled to Bakersfield to face the Condors. The game started out well as Dmitry Osipov scored less than four minutes into the contest, but the Condors tied the game 10 seconds later and had a 2-1 lead after the first. Bakersfield then scored three goals in the second and one in the third and won 6-1.

The Gulls returned home to host Tucson. Grimaldi got the scoring started very early in the game, but the Roadrunners tied the game a few minutes laters. Late in the first, Glenn Gawdin gave San Diego a 2-1 lead. Drew Helleson scored the only goal of the second to double San Diego’s lead. In the third, Grimaldi scored his second of the game and Regenda scored into the empty net to give San Diego a 5-1 win. This was Gage Alexander’s first career AHL start and he stopped 29 of 30 shots.

The Reign were the next team to visit San Diego, and they took a 1-0 lead in the first before Grimaldi tied it. However, Ontario scored again late in the period and had a 2-1 lead after 20 minutes. Grimaldi scored the only goal of the second period to tie the game, and then scored early in the third to complete the hat trick and give San Diego a 3-2 lead. However, Ontario tied the game later in the third, and then won 4-3 in overtime.

San Diego’s final game was a high scoring affair, as Bakersfield was visiting and took the lead just a few minutes into the game. Jacob Perreault tied it 20 seconds later, but the Condors scored again and had a 2-1 lead after 20 minutes. Bakersfield took a 3-1 lead early in the second, but Chase De Leo and Bryce Kindopp both scored to tie the game. Unfortunately, the Condors then scored four straight goals before the second was over and had a 7-3 lead after 40 minutes. Grimaldi scored early in the third, but Bakersfield scored again and won 8-4.

The Gulls will play six games over the next two weeks. They’ll start out by heading to Bakersfield to face the Condors before returning home to host Coachella Valley. They’ll then travel to Ontario before coming home and hosting Henderson. The Gulls will finish things up with two games in Tucson.

Grimaldi continues to be one of the few bright spots for the Gulls this season. If Anaheim doesn’t sign him to an NHL deal this summer, I have to think that another team will. It was also nice to see Alexander pick up a win in his first career AHL start.

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February 20th, 2023