PREVIEW: Gulls, Condors Clash In Final Regular-Season Meeting

Mar 10, 2022

By Paige Burnell/SanDiegoGulls.com

The San Diego Gulls are ready to conclude their franchise-record eight-game road trip against the Bakersfield Condors tonight at the Mechanics Bank Arena (7 p.m. PT; TV: AHL TV; RADIO: Gulls Audio Network).

The Gulls hold a 31-22-2-2 overall record against the Condors, including a 14-12-1-1 record in Bakersfield. Their Pacific Division foes carry a 3-2 edge in the season series this season after San Diego dropped a 5-1 decision on Dec. 17.

The Gulls hit a rough stretch as of late, losing three consecutive outings. However, the lack of standings points is not an indication of how well the team played, as San Diego put up one of its most consistent efforts in its most recent loss, a 5-2 defeat to the American Hockey League’s first-place team, the Stockton Heat, on Wednesday at Stockton Arena.

"We had some really good moments," Gulls head coach Joel Bouchard said. "I think the first period was pretty good. I think there were six-seven minutes there that weren’t exactly how it could be. This is just a teaching (moment). You play against a team like that you can’t, you can’t do it. No, you’re right, it was disappointing cause I feel the guys were in the fight. Just a couple of plays here and there."

The Gulls held the lead twice in the game; the first off a goal from Benoit Olivier-Groulx to put them up 1-0 and the second off a shot from Brent Gates Jr. that deflected into the net to earn San Diego a 2-1 lead. 

"It’s really hard," Groulx said of the loss to Stockton. "I think we played one of our best period all year, especially in the first period. We missed a couple chances like I has a wide open one-timer at the end of the game and the goalie made a great save, but that should be a goal pretty much every time and he had some really lucky bounces. I think the second one bounced over Dos’ (Dostal) head and you can’t do anything on those ones, but no, it’s hard. But, we’re going to get back at it against Bako (Bakersfield)."

Groulx enters tonight’s match with 1-2=3 points in his last four games, while Alex Limoges has points in back-to-back games (1-1=2) and Jacob Perreault has 1-2=3 points in his past three contests.

"You play a good team like that you can’t break down or crack, you know?" Bouchard said. "Unfortunately, it’s the way it is. We have a good division. Good teams. You can’t get the foot off the gas. You can’t do it."

Perreault puts the pedal to the metal against the Condors as he paces the Gulls in production against Bakersfield this season with 2-2=4 points. He is followed by Brayden Tracey (1-2=3), as well as defensemen Nikolas Brouillard (0-2=2) and Trevor Carrick (1-1=2).

Offense from its blueliners is pivotal in the Gulls’ success, especially during the first seven games of its road trip. Carrick collected 1-4=5 points in his last five games and Brouillard recorded five assists (0-5=5) over a career-best four-game assist streak from Feb. 26 to Mar. 5.

Additionally, Brouillard leads the Gulls in assists and scoring with 8-20=28 points while tied for fifth in goals among AHL defensemen.

The Gulls must also make full use of their power play against Bakersfield. San Diego’s man advantage slept against Stockton, but the Gulls have still capitalized on 5-of-12 (41.7%) of their opportunities rate over their last four games. It should find success against a Condors penalty kill ranked near the bottom of the league with a 74.4% success rate on home ice. 

"I think we just need to capitalize on our chances, honestly," Groulx said. "Those are big points and those goals that we missed late in the game I think they’re killing us a little bit, and good teams they have good players and they can score some goals. So I think we just need a little bit less breakdowns and capitalize on more chances."

Bakersfield underwent massive changes since the two rivals last met. Gone is head coach Jay Woodcroft, who replaced Edmonton Oilers coach Dave Tippet on February 10. Dave Manson, an assistant on his bench in Bakersfield, joined Woodcroft with the Oilers. In his place stepped assistant coach Colin Chaulk, who has the Condors at 6-5-0-2 since he assumed the interim head coach title on Feb. 11.

In addition, Condors captain Brad Malone joined the National Hockey League Club, with Bakersfield teammates Philip Broberg and Stuart Skinner joining him. Malone sat second on the team in scoring against San Diego this season (2-2=4) while Broberg scored three points (1-2=3) in four games against the Gulls.

Remaining on the team is Seth Griffith, who continues to power a solid home power play. Bakersfield is sixth in the league at Mechanics Bank Arena at 23.2%, with Griffith ranking tied for second in the AHL in power-play points (10-18=28). He also ranks sixth in assists and tied for sixth in points (20-33=53) among AHL skaters. 

Griffith also provided an assist for a Condors power-play goal in their most recent game, which ended in 3-2 loss to the Ontario Reign. The Condors, who enter tonight in fourth place in the Pacific Division with a 24-14-4-5 record, scored the first two goals only to have the Reign notch three unanswered tallies for the come-from-behind win.

For the Gulls, the key to ending this losing skid is converting when given the opportunity. 

"I think we just need to capitalize on our chances, honestly," Groulx said. "Those are big points and those goals that we missed late in the game I think they’re killing us a little bit and good teams they have good players and they can score some goals. So I think we just need a little bit less breakdowns and capitalize on more chances."