LIVE: Gulls Win First-Ever Game Against Abbotsford
Jan 15, 2022By AJ Manderichio/SanDiegoGulls.com
The San Diego Gulls defeated the Abbotsford Canucks 4-3 in tonight's game at Pechanga Arena San Diego.
Kodie Curran led a balanced attack for the Gulls, posting a career-high three-assist performance (0-3=3). Brayden Tracey (0-2=2) added two helpers while four different Gulls found the back of the net.
The offense supported a solid effort from Francis Marotte, who stopped 29 shots for his first career AHL win.
Justin Bailey (1-2=3) led the Abbotsford attack. Arturs Silovs stopped 21 of 25 shots, suffering a fifth consecutive loss.
Third Period Recap
Alex Limoges restored San Diego's two-goal cushion with a shorthanded tally at 3:38 of the final frame.
With Morgan Adams-Moisan received a five-minute major and game misconduct for a hit to the head, the Gulls went to work shorthanded. A missed pass from Nic Petan sent Curran and Limoges in on a 2-on-1 chance from the neutral zone. Solvis handled Curran's low shot, but left a rebound at the side of the net for Limoges, who lifted it over the Abbotsford goalie and into the back of the net for his fifth goal of the season and first career shorthanded tally.
With his second assist of the night, Curran earned his first multi-point performance of the season.
Trevor Carrick pushed the lead to three with 8:12 left in regulation.
Tracey fed the puck to Curran, who held it in the faceoff circle. He laid it across the ice to Carrick, who one-timed an attempt on net. The puck bounced off Silovs and into the back of the net for Carrick's second goal of the season.
Curran's three assists mark a new single-game career high.
Tracey, who picked up his second assist of the game, is seventh among all American Hockey League rookies in scoring (9-14=23 points).
Bailey brought the Canucks back within two, scoring a power-play goal with 4:41 left in the final frame.
Phil Di Guissepe would add a final goal for the Canucks, squeaking the puck past Marotte with .2 seconds left in the game.
Second Period Recap
Danny O'Regan broke the ice with a power-play goal at 6:42 of the middle frame.
With Devante Stephens in the box for tripping, Curran corralled a loose puck in the offensive zone. He slid it to Carrick, who continued the puck to O'Regan. The center drove down into the faceoff circle, sneaking a wrist shot through a screen in front and past Silovs for his fifth goal of the season.
San Diego scored the first goal in 12 of the last 19 games and is 8-3-0-0 when opening the scoring this season.
Hunter Drew extended the lead to two with 2:28 left in the period.
Abbotsford fumbled the puck behind their own net, and Tracey alertly scooted down the board and sent a pass to Drew at the point. He gathered it in and fired a quick wrist shot past Silovs for his third goal in his last four games.
The goal also marks a career-tying high for the Kingston, Ontario native. Drew also reached the mark during the 2020-21 season.
Abbotsford broke through on the power play late in period, scoring on a Jack Rathbone slap shot with 38 seconds left.
First Period Recap
The Gulls identified a better start following their 5-1 loss to the Canucks last night, a game which saw their opponent take control with two first-period tallies. San Diego stuck to its script in the opening 20, limiting high-quality chances while controlling the tempo with a fast and physical game plan.
The hits led to fireworks near the end of the period. Mike McKee sent an unsuspecting Tristen Nielsen flying into the sideboards with a thunderous body check as the forward looked to carry the puck out of his own end. Chase Wouters took exception, finding Sean Josling and wildly swinging at center ice. The Gulls forward deftly dodged an overhand swing before wrestling Wouters to the ice, imploring the Gulls crowd to get on its feet after the bout.