Preview: Gulls Battle Bakersfield Condors To Open Four-Game Homestand
Jan 25, 2023By AJ Manderichio/SanDiegoGulls.com
The San Diego Gulls open a four-game homestand tonight, hosting the rival Bakersfield Condors at Pechanga Arena San Diego (7 p.m. PT; TV: AHL TV; RADIO: Gulls Audio Network). The week-plus home stretch matches a season-high for the Gulls, who last played three-or-more consecutive home games from Nov. 18-Nov. 26.
"It's nice to not be on the road and it's nice to be back at Pechanga," Gulls left wing Pavol Regenda said. "I'm really excited about it. I think everybody is going to everything to succeed, to win, and hopefully we can make good games for fans also."
San Diego (11-29-0-0) enters tonight searching for their first win over Bakersfield (14-20-2-1). The Condors won all three previous meetings on Jan. 18 (5-1), Nov. 11 (2-0) and Nov. 2 (3-2). Pavol Regenda paces the Gulls with two goals against the Condors, while Carter Savoie leads the Condors in goals against the Gulls after posting a hat trick (3-0=3) on Jan. 18. Michael Kesselring (2-1=3) and Xavier Bourgault (0-3=3) are tied with Savoie for the most points earned against San Diego in 2022-23. In addition, 11 of the 13 goals scored in the season series so far have come in the third period, with the remaining two first-period goals tallies by Bakersfield on Jan. 18.
"We haven't generated a lot of offense against Bakersfield so far this year," Gulls assistant coach Kris Sparre said. "They've done a good job of shutting us down five versus five, so I think that's going to be a main focal point for us on how we can create a little bit more volume at their net, create a few more scoring chances for us, because you gotta score to win. We haven't scored enough against them. That'll be certainly a focus for us."
The Gulls carry a five-game losing streak into the contest, a stretch including Sunday’s 4-2 loss to the Coachella Valley Firebirds. In their first visit to the new Acrisure Arena, Regenda and Glenn Gawdin scored to give the Gulls a one-goal lead heading into the final frame. The Firebirds would respond, turning the deficit into a win with three final-frame tallies.
"I think everybody know(s) that Coachella (Valley) is a really good team," Regenda said. "They're really good, they're really hard to play against. I mean, we played the first two periods good, we were winning. We did a few mistakes and they're an experienced team. They scored those goals and it was hard to get back."
The Gulls are looking to draw the positives from the loss, using their long stretches of good play to reinforce the team’s goal to put together a 60-minute effort.
"That's certainly a topic for us to address right now," Sparre said. "What's positive is we know we can play well; we just have to do it more consistently like you mentioned. Three home games this week, guys are feeling good about our team right now, and I think things are going to turn for us here."
Tonight is a pivotal swing game for both teams. As the Pacific Division tightens, the head-to-head battles of teams looking to climb the standings. San Diego trails Bakersfield by just nine points, with three regulation wins separating the two teams.
"Everyone is checking the standings," Sparre said. "We check it; the players check it. We want to start climbing them. It's no secret this is a team we are chasing, and we play them back-to-back, both home games. I wouldn't say it's something that necessarily needs to be said, but that's something I'm sure guys are looking at and should add a little more enthusiasm to our game."