Gulls Get Out-Skated By Canucks In Loss

Oct 28, 2022

By Brett Pickler//SanDiegoGulls.com

The San Diego Gulls fell 7-3 to the Abbotsford Canucks at the Abbotsford Centre. 

The Gulls needed a strong start to continue their momentum following their win on Wednesday night.

However, the Canucks were ready for this and quickly found themselves out ahead. In their first four shots, Abbotsford beat Lukas Dostal twice. 

"I thought the first period, we just got out-skated," said Gulls head coach Roy Sommer, "We had some breakdowns, and when we did have a breakdown, and they got an opportunity, it was in the net. Just a lot of bad details tonight, I can tell you that."

As the period progressed, the Gulls found themselves trying to push the pace and cut into Abbotsford’s lead. San Diego controlled the pace of play until they conceded a penalty. This halted their momentum.

Killing the penalty gave the Gulls some life, but this was shut down as the Canucks scored just under four minutes later to take a 3-0 lead. 

A late Abbotsford penalty gave San Diego a chance to get back in the game. Despite registering multiple shots and coming close on a few chances, Canucks goaltender Colin Delia stood tall.

The period ended after Abbotsford found the back of the net in the last minute of the opening frame, giving them a 4-0 lead heading into intermission.

San Diego started the second period with Olle Eriksson Ek relieving Dostal in net. The new netminder quickly made his mark on the game by stopping a two-on-one opportunity with a sprawling save.

This change in net sparked a fire under the Gulls as they took control of the game. They cut into the lead with a blue line snipe from Axel Andersson. Following a dominant forecheck by Bo Groulx, Andersson received the puck and deked the Abbotsford defender to make it a 4-1 game.  

"When we were physical in the second period, we created a lot of turnovers and that's how we scored our goals," Groulx explained following the game. "We didn't do that in the third period. Tomorrow, it's going to be our main point in our game plan and if we execute it, I think it's going to be a different game for sure."

The Gulls found themselves on the power play shortly after. All the momentum seemed to be in San Diego’s favor until Abbotsford converted on a short-handed breakaway to reestablish their four-goal lead.

San Diego continued to fight back as Austin Strand got a gratuitous bounce off a Canuck player to beat the goalie. This made it 5-2 and gave the Gulls the momentum heading into the third.

San Diego capitalized with a power play just over three minutes into the third period. Brayden Tracey snuck behind Abbotford’s defense and slammed home a back door pass to make it a two-goal game.

The Gulls continued to pressure the Canucks, but were unable to find a crack in their defense. This led to San Diego taking a more physical approach to the last half of the period.

Unfortunately, this did not work in the Gulls favor. Abbotsford matched the heightened intensity and scored on a counter rush created from huge hit from Jett Woo. 

The Canucks iced the game with a between-the-legs power play goal for a final score of 7-3.

Dostal was credited with the loss after giving up four goals on six shots. Eriksson Ek was strong in relief making 17 save on 20 shots.