Gulls Postseason Review 2025-26

By Thomas Harrington

The San Diego Gulls faced off against the Colorado Eagles in a best of three, first round series, and the Eagles dispatched the Gulls in two games. San Diego was without its starting goaltender for the series, as Calle Clang was injured at the end of the regular season. However, even if Clang had been healthy enough to play, the Gulls still probably would have lost both games. Goaltending was not the issue in this series; a lack of offense was.

Game one saw Colorado take a 1-0 lead late in the first, and then make it 2-0 early in the second. After that, neither team scored until the Eagles scored an empty net in the final minute of regulation and won 3-0. San Diego was only able to muster 18 shots on goal in this game. Sasha Pastujov led the way with four, while Sam Colangelo had three. The other 16 skaters accounted for only 11 shots. Damian Clara got the start for the Gulls, and he stopped 24 of 26 shots in his AHL playoff debut.

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Clara got the start again in game two. Colorado opened the scoring early in the first, but Pastujov scored his first career AHL playoff goal to tie the game half way through the period. A minute later, the Eagles retook the lead. Neither team scored in the second, but things fell apart for San Diego in the third. Colorado scored less than two minutes into the final frame, and then scored three more times in the period, including an empty net goal, and won 6-1. In this game, the Gulls put significantly more pressure on net, finishing with 27 shots in the game. Tristan Luneau led the way with eight. Clara faced 31 shots and stopped 26 of them.

With San Diego’s season over, expect several players to be called up to Anaheim to serve as the team’s black aces. For the Gulls, the focus will now turn to next season. Coach Matt McIlvane has already been extended, so he’ll be back behind the bench. Anaheim prospects like Pastujov and Nathan Gaucher will likely be back next year, but others like Luneau and Tyson Hinds may spend most or all of the season in Anaheim.

Despite the early exit from the playoffs, this was a successful season for San Diego, but they do need to build on this season going forward. In three of the first four seasons as Anaheim’s AHL affiliate, the Gulls made the playoffs, and made it as far as the Conference Finals one time. However, these past several seasons have been difficult, with this being their first playoff berth since the 2021-2022 season. It’s time for San Diego to participate in the Calder Cup Playoffs on a much more consistent basis.

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April 27th, 2026