PREVIEW: Gulls Close Road Trip Today In Matinee Meeting With Abbotsford
Jan 23, 2022By Paige Burnell/SanDiegoGulls.com
Sometime all you need is a do over.
The Gulls fell 5-3 to the Abbotsford Canucks last night, but San Diego will get another shot at their neighbors to the north in second game of their back-to-back series today at Abbotsford Centre (4 p.m., PT; TV: AHL TV; RADIO: Gulls Audio Network).
The Gulls are 1-3-0-0 all-time against Abbotsford after the Canucks broke San Diego’s three-game win streak last night.
"Of course it’s a tough game," Gulls center Lucas Elvenes said. "We were playing against a good team too, but there is no excuse. We still played a good game. Of course, bodies are getting tired in the third and that stuff, but they got kind of lucky goals that went in on our mistakes and all that stuff. We have a new game tomorrow and looking forward to playing that game."
Elvenes lead the team, earning a second consecutive three-point game (1-2=3). The Swedish center enters today riding a three-game point streak, collecting 1-6=7 points during that stretch. The centerman quickly found his niche with the Gulls after being claimed off waivers by the Anaheim Ducks and assigned to the team on Jan. 12. Elvenes already ranks second on the Gulls with 14 assists and is tied for second with 4-14=18 points.
"He’s getting better," Gulls assistant coach Dan Jacob said. "He’s understanding the concept. He’s harder in his battle and he’s getting rewarded. It’s fun to see. He’s been big for us. It’s not only the points he gets, but the way he gets them. We’re happy."
Additionally, Elvenes leads the team with five helpers on the power play after assisting on Alex Limoges’ power-play goal, his third goal in the last four games (3-0=3) and a career-high third power-play goal of the season.
The center is hopeful it sparks a power play which scored just once in its last 16 attempts.
“Especially when we find ways to create, find ways to score and that’s what we’ve been struggling with these couple of games,” Elvenes said. “It’s a good thing for us because it’s not often the PK and the PP is up, the special teams are winning games for you. That’s going to be good for us heading into tomorrow.”
Gulls defenseman Kodie Curran scored his first goal of the season and has 1-3=4 points in his last two games played against Abbotsford, leading the team in points against the Canucks.
While the Gulls penalty kill is a strength on this trip – it’s killed 12 of its opponent’s 14 power-play chances – the team wants to play with more discipline in the road trip finale.
"Yeah, they gave us energy, but at the same time they’re taking so much energy from some of the guys," Jacob said. "When one of your best penalty killers, he’s gone for 10 minutes…you know, we get another one with the goalie where we were in a position to have a primary scoring chance. So as much as the PK did well, they also took a lot of energy from our guys."
San Diego will also look to shut down certain Canucks who powered Abbotsford to its success against the Gulls this season.
This includes John Stevens who collected 2-1=3 points last night and leads his team with 3-3=6 points against San Diego, as well as Noah Juulsen, who contributed a three-point game (0-3=3) and ranks second with 0-5=5 points against the Gulls.
Moreover, Phil Di Giuseppe (0-2=2) Will Lockwood (1-1=2) and Ashton Sautner (1-2=2) all put together multi-point efforts last night.
"You get your liquid, you get your food, you get your rest and then you go back at it," Jacob said. "Like I told them, it’s a bit of a messy situation where we’re short bodies. But that’s how it is. There’s kids back home that don’t even get a chance to play. So, we need to embrace that challenge and show up tomorrow."