PREVIEW: Gulls Look To Gain Edge In Season Series With Canucks
Dec 14, 2022By Brett Pickler/SanDiegoGulls.com
The San Diego Gulls will face the Abbotsford Canucks tonight at Pechanga Arena San Diego (7 p.m. PT; TV: AHL TV, RADIO: Gulls Audio Network).
Tonight, will mark game three of a four game season series with the Canucks. The last time these teams faced off with each other, the Gulls won 3-2 in a shootout. Currently, the series between these clubs is split, with each team registering a win. San Diego looks to recreate their success over Abbotsford and break their eight-game losing streak, but this will be a tough test as the Canucks are 7-2-1-0 in their last ten outings.
Part of the Canucks’ recent success can be attributed to the play of center Lane Pederson. He leads his team with 14 goals in 17 games. Over his last 4 games, he recorded 5-3=8 points. Defenseman Christian Wolanin is another player finding success for the Canucks. He leads the Canucks with 4-21=25 points and ranks second in the American Hockey League in points among defensemen. Wolanin just came off a 13-game point streak where he recorded 3-19=22 points.
The Canucks are clearly a threat offensively, but the Gulls will look to find an advantage on special teams. The Abbotsford penalty kill ranks second to last in the Pacific Division at 75%, and the Gulls will aim exploit this weakness to break back into the win column.
In the last series, the Gulls’ offense found success over the Canucks. Center Danny O’Regan has 0-3=3 points against Abbotsford this season and registered the shootout winner in their game on Oct. 29. He also leads San Diego in power-play assists (PPA) with eight. Defenseman Nikolas Brouillard has also been a key part of the Gulls’ power play this season. He has six PPA and leads Gulls’ defenseman in this category. Additionally, he recorded two assists in the team’s last game against the Canucks. Both players will be looking to use their playmaking ability on the man advantage and feed left wing Rocco Grimaldi. As of Dec. 13, Grimaldi is tied for second in the AHL with seven power-play goals (PPG).
However, playing well with a man advantage is only aspect of the game and head coach Roy Sommer noted the importance of playing together as a team defensively.
"We've got to come in, you know, defend this five. We can't get spread out. We know they come out yeah, they pinch. It's no different really than what we just ran into," Sommer said. "Abbotsford might be a little quicker up front. But you know, I you know, that was pretty experienced D-core that we you know, played against up in Calgary. So, I don't think we're going to face that."
With 48 games remaining in the regular season, there is still plenty of time for the Gulls to turn things around. A majority of the team’s remaining games are within the division, allowing them a path to fight their way back up in the standings by stringing together some wins. Gulls forward Blake McLaughlin mentioned how important it is to turn around this season in front of America’s finest fans.
"Yeah, it's important. I mean, we haven't won a game in a while and coming back home we're going to need to start winning some games to get back into a playoff spot," McLaughlin said. "We got to dig our heels in and give these fans something to watch."