Heartbreak In Charlotte As Gulls Drop OT Thriller 4-3

Nov 3, 2023

By Nick Aguilera/SanDiegoGulls.com 

The Gulls picked up a point in their first matchup with the Charlotte Checkers, but ultimately dropped their fifth straight game in overtime 4-3 on Friday. 

"That one hurts for sure," head coach Matt McIlvane said. "I thought we did have a really good start. Our first 10 minutes was very strong. See the puck go in in the second for the guys was good. We put ourselves in a good spot to manage the third period and just the way it ended hurts."

Trevor Carrick had a big homecoming in Charlotte, tallying a season-high three points (1-2=3) to surpass 300 career AHL points (78-223=301). Carrick began his career with the Checkers and spent five seasons in Charlotte from 2015-19. He recorded 181 of his 301 points with the team. 

"Kind of full circle I guess," Carrick said. "It feels good obviously playing in front of Charlotte. Some of the old faces I haven’t seen in a while and brings back some good memories here. But you know, just a disappointing night."

Calle Clang stopped 35-of-39 shots, his fourth straight start with 30-plus saves. 

Charlotte got on the scoreboard first after Zac Dalpe tipped one past Clang in the final minute of the period. The Gulls couldn’t generate much offense in the opening frame, putting five shots on goal. 

The Gulls started to put the pressure on Charlotte in the second and were rewarded. Judd Caulfield got a wicked goal to even the score, dumping a puck from center ice that bounced passed Spencer Knight.  

Carrick then put the Gulls up minutes later with his second goal of the season. The goal marked the 300th point in his AHL career.  

Charlotte brought it back to a tie game after Ryan McAllister scored on a scramble in front of the net at 14:29 in the second. 

Ben King capped the scoring in an eventful period and put the Gulls up 3-2 with his second of the campaign. Carrick got his third point of the period on the play with the primary assist, the 17th time in franchise history a player has recorded three points in a period. 

"I think that the big deal was that we showed a level we can play at early in the game and we just got away from that," McIlvane said. "I think that the guys found a way to respond in the second period which is a good thing."

The Gulls couldn’t hold the lead though, as Lucas Carlsson scored with six seconds left to force overtime. Gerry Mayhew then broke free in the extra frame and iced the game for Charlotte. 

Brayden Tracey picked up an assist, his first of the season. Josh Lopina and Andrew Agozzino also recorded assists. 

San Diego will be right back at it against Charlotte on Saturday, Nov. 4 in the second half of the back-to-back.