PREVIEW: Gulls Look To Ground High-Flying Eagles At Pechanga Arena
Jan 25, 2022By Paige Burnell/SanDiegoGulls.com
Guess who’s back, back again.
The Gulls return to Pechanga Arena tonight to take on the Colorado Eagles, looking to and move back into the win column after a winless weekend series against the Abbotsford Canucks (7 p.m., PT; TV: AHL TV; RADIO: Gulls Audio Network).
The Gulls are 0-1-0-0 this season and 12-7-1-0 (8-3-0-0 at home) all-time against the Eagles. The sole game played between these two birds of prey on Nov. 6, 2021 was a one-goal decision (3-2) in favor of Colorado.
"Yeah, it’ll be a tough game Wednesday," Gulls assistant coach Max Talbot said after San Diego’s game against Abbotsford on Sunday. "We have another big week ahead of us and it starts on Wednesday against Colorado and then we’re going back on the road against Iowa. So there’s no really time to rest up and relax too much, right? We’d rather just stay into the action, make adjustments and keep pushing the guys to get better every game."
Brayden Tracey is one Gull responding well to team’s packed schedule. The right wing collected his fourth assist in his last five games (0-4=4) in the Gulls game on Saturday (4-2 loss at Abbotsford) and continues to lead the team in all scoring categories with 9-16=25 points.
Tracey is eighth is points, tied for 10th in goals and tied for 11th in assists among rookies this season. The 2-6=8 points he earned in his last eight games also rank him sixth among first-year skaters.
During San Diego’s last road trip, Lucas Elvenes had two consecutive three-point games (1-5=6) on Jan. 19 and Jan. 22. The centerman also has 2-6=8 points in his six games with San Diego after being claimed off waivers by the Anaheim Ducks from the Vegas Golden Knights on Jan. 12, ranking tied for third among all American Hockey League skaters from Jan. 12 - Jan. 25.
A shorthanded roster – the Gulls played both games this weekend with only 16 skaters – is opening positions for the team’s depth to play a more important role.
"We were 10 and we were at nine forwards also with the five d(efensemen), but for sure it’s shorthanded," Gulls forward Morgan Adams-Moisan said following the team's loss on Sunday. "We played really well with what we had and for sure."
Adams-Moisan scored his first Gulls goal in San Diego’s most recent game against Abbotsford, which marks his first point since earning an assist on Nov. 24 against the San Jose Barracuda.
Kodie Curran stepped into the spotlight on the blueline, earning his seventh assist of the season over the weekend to match a career high in assists. He enters tonight with points in back-to-back games (1-1=2).
"That’s the advantage when there’s a couple guys missing, right?" Talbot said. "Is that a couple other players have a chance to have more ice time and play in different roles. You have to seize that opportunity."
The Gulls will face a red-hot Eagles team, who rides a seven-game win streak into San Diego. They've also earned points in nine straight (8-0-1-0) games.
Colorado is 18-11-3-2 this season, with a league-leading 12 of those wins in one-goal games. This tight style of play, in combination with the league’s 11th best power play on the road, enabled the Eagles to remain undefeated in the 2022 calendar year. It presents a tough test for the Gulls, who bring the eighth-best home penalty kill (86.2%) into the matchup.
Leading the offense for the Eagles is right wing Dylan Sikura, who enters tonight with 13-16=29 points in 28 games. The first-year Eagle is the team leader in goals. Colorado is also bolstered by defenseman Jordan Gross, who leads all AHL blueliners with 7-19=26 points.
In net, rookie goalie Justus Annunuen is second in the league with 13 wins. He’s riding his own seven-game win streak, posting a .929 save percentage (SV%) over that run.
Returning to home ice is a welcomed sight for San Diego as they look to get back on track.
"Coming back home, sleeping in our own houses, practicing at Pechanga, playing at our home barn also - that’s going to be a lot of things," Adams-Moisan said. "We are looking forward to it and of course, with the best fans in the league so we’re just happy to be back."