Gulls Set for Back-to-Backs with Admirals

Mar 15, 2024

By Morgan Korovec/SanDiegoGulls.com    

Following a gritty contest with the rival Ontario Reign Wednesday night, the San Diego Gulls gear up for back-to-back contests with the Milwaukee Admirals at Pechanga Arena San Diego beginning on Friday, Mar. 15 (7 p.m. PST; TV: AHL TV; Radio: Gulls Audio Network).  

Wednesday’s contest saw San Diego get off on the right foot, entering the middle frame with a two-goal lead, scored by Nikita Nesterenko and Robert Hagg. The Gulls grasped onto that lead through the end of regulation while keeping Ontario at just one goal, thanks to a stellar 41-save performance by Calle Clang.  

Fresh off that 2-1 victory, the Gulls set onto the ice Friday determined to build off that momentum on home ice heading into the fifth game of their six-game homestand, where they are 3-1-0-0 so far.  

"It’s always nice playing at home here in front of the fans at Pechanga, so hopefully we can keep winning for them," Nesterenko said. 

San Diego has faced Milwaukee twice this season at UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena. Their first matchup in early December was action-packed and saw the Gulls bring home a 5-2 victory backed by a solid Tomas Suchanek in net to stop 32-of-34 shots. 

The two teams’ last meeting was on January 30, where a tight 4-3 outcome in overtime leaned in favor of the Admirals to end the Gulls’ three-game winning streak.  

"We’ve got a Milwaukee team coming in that we’re familiar with," head coach Matt McIlvane said. "We’ve seen them a few times and we’re excited to have the opportunity to play them again... Our big focus is let’s learn a little bit, let’s get our bodies ready so we can perform in a back-to-back."

"We’re just trying to get four points here," Clang added. "Big weekend coming up and I think we just got to keep playing to our game, stick to our plan and execute at a high level and get our four points there.”"

The final round begins tomorrow, Saturday, Mar. 16, as the Gulls host the Admirals for the second of back-to-backs at Pechanga Arena San Diego (6 p.m. PST).