Gulls Search for Seven-Game Point Streak
Feb 9, 2020San Diego looks to extend its point streak to a season-high seven games as they close a two-game homestand tonight and host the Bakersfield Condors at Pechanga Arena San Diego (5 p.m. PT, TV: FOX Sports San Diego, Radio: San Diego Gulls Audio Network). The Gulls are streaking, reeling off points in six consecutive contests (4-0-2-0), in addition to 11 of their last 12 games (9-1-2-0) and 15 of their last 19 overall (11-4-3-1).
On Thursday, the Gulls announced a three-year partnership with Rady Children’s Hospital, with today’s Family Day set to raise funds and awareness for Rady Children’s Hospital. Gulls fans are invited to participate in a variety of ways, including a ‘text to donate’ campaign. Fans are encouraged to text “RADY” to 41444 to help raise the level of care the hospital can provide.
San Diego erased a two-goal deficit in Friday night’s matchup against the Pacific Division-leading Tucson Roadrunners with three second period goals by Chase De Leo, Sam Carrick, and Justin Kloos. Chris Mueller converted on the power play for the game-winning goal and Isac Lundestrom netted an empty-netter to seal a 5-3 win. As playoff position remains key in the back half of the schedule, the Gulls sit fifth in the Pacific Division, three points behind Ontario with four games in hand.
This will mark the sixth of eight meetings between the Gulls and Condors, the third at Pechanga Arena San Diego. All-time, the Gulls are 23-17-1-2 record against Bakersfield (11-9-0-1 on home ice). This season, the Gulls have collected points in three of the five previous meetings with the Condors (2-2-0-1).
“We’re going to want to have a good start, get the crowd in it, get everyone going and roll those four lines,” said Jani Hakanpaa. “We have to play with a lot of pace and enthusiasm.”
Following his goal Friday, Carrick holds the team lead with 34 points (19-15=34), while also boasting a season-tying six-game point streak (2-5=7). He’s one of two AHL players with three separate point streaks of at least six games (also Iowa’s Gerald Mayhew) and now has 20 points his last 16 games (10-10=20, +15) and 29 points his last 25 contests (17-12=29, +24).
With Friday’s win, goaltender Anthony Stolarz improved to 17-10-4 with a 2.77 goals-against average (GAA) and a .920 save percentage (SV%) , while posting four consecutive wins. He’s been stellar in net since the calendar turned to 2020, going 7-0-1 his last eight starts with a 2.47 GAA and .932 SV%, stopping 30-or-more shots in seven of the eight appearances. Among AHL goaltenders, he ranks tied for third in wins (17), fifth in minutes (1,841), sixth in games played (30) and eighth in SV% (.920).
Bakersfield (20-21-4-1, 45 pts.) enters tonight’s contest coming off a 10-3 loss against the Ontario Reign and have dropped six of their last 10 games (4-6-0-0). Tonight’s game will be crucial in any effort for the Condors to turn the season around for a late playoff push.
“Of course, if that happens to you, you’re going to try to clog up your own net and make sure you don’t get scored on anymore,” added Hakanpaa regarding Bakersfield coming off the tough loss. “They’re probably going to play desperate so we need to match that desperation and be hard to play against.”
Defenseman Evan Bouchard leads Bakersfield rookies in scoring, tallying 7-23=30 points in 46 games. The AHL All-Star held a four-game point streak in the new decade dating from Jan. 8-14, recording 2-4=6 points. Josh Currie leads all Condors in goals (19) and is second on the club with 34 points (19-15=34). The Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island native has 4-3=7 points his last seven games.
Stuart Skinner posted a 16-12-3 record with a 3.27 GAA and a .894 SV% this season while starting 15 of last 19 games. Skinner is 2-1-0 with a 2.29 GAA and a .929 SV% against San Diego, with his two wins against the Gulls coming on consecutive nights, in which he stopped 68-of 71-shots, Jan. 3-4.