LIVE: Gulls Snap Losing Skid In Homestand Opener
Dec 11, 2021By AJ Manderichio/SanDiegoGulls.com
The San Diego Gulls defeated the Ontario Reign 3-1 tonight at Pechanga Arena San Diego.
WATCH: Hunter Drew Nets PPG | GameCenter
Hunter Drew’s power-play goal stood as the game-winning tally as the Gulls snapped a three-game losing streak. Brayden Tracey and Brogan Rafferty also scored for San Diego, who extended its home point streak to five games (4-0-1-0).
Olle Eriksson Ek collected his third win in his last four starts, stopping 26 shots to keep Ontario at bay.
Helge Grans scored the lone goal for Ontario. Garret Sparks, making his fifth start of the season, stopped 11 shots in the loss.
SECOND PERIOD RECAP
Drew put San Diego ahead by two with a power-play goal at 2:49 of the middle frame.
Trevor Carrick started the play, chasing down a bouncing puck near the blue line and swatting it toward the slot. Alex Limoges tipped the pass, directing it over the stick of Jacob Moverare and to an open Drew in front. The forward slid his attempt through the legs of Garret Sparks for his third goal of the season.
Rafferty kept San Diego's foot on the gas, picking up his third goal of the season with 8:46 left in the period.
Tracey laid a big hit in the defensive zone, freeing the puck and starting the rush. He fed Danny O'Regan, who carried the puck into Ontario's end. He found Jacob Perreault, who faked a shot as he went streaking down the wing. The move opened a passing lane, and the right wing hit Rafferty coming down from the point. The defenseman didn't miss, wiring a wrist shot over a sliding Sparks and into the top of the net.
After ending his six-game pointless streak last night, Perreault picked up a point in a second consecutive game (1-1=2). He's tied with Tracey for the team lead in points (8-9=17). O'Regan also earned an assist in a second consecutive game.
Grans put Ontario on the board with 2:41 remaining in the second period, converting on a loose puck near the side of the net for his third goal of the season.
FIRST PERIOD RECAP
Eriksson Ek set the tone early, stopping the Reign on a prime scoring chance early into the period.
Adam Johnson found a soft spot in the San Diego zone, taking a Quinton Byfield pass and spinning to get the puck on his forehand. Eriksson Ek came out of his net to challenge, stopping Johnson's bid. A mass of bodies crashed into the net, knocking over the netminder. The Gulls rallied around him, keeping Ontario's forwards away from the net and shoving the puck under Eriksson Ek's pads to get a whistle.
The Karlstad, Sweden native entered tonight tied for fifth among American Hockey League goaltenders in save percentage (.938 SV%) and eighth in goals against average (1.77 GAA) since Nov. 1.
Kodie Curran turned away the Reign a few minutes later, making two plays in front to keep Ontario off the board. With Eriksson Ek lying prone at the side of the net, Curran quickly covered the yawning goalmouth and sticked away a stuff try. He stood his ground, eventually using his skate to kick away a loose puck as players converged to jam the puck home. Greg Printz did the rest, clearing the puck from in front of the net.
Tracey opened the scoring, collecting his seventh goal of the season with 2:52 remaining in the first period.
Defenseman Greg Pateryn started the play, sending T.J. Tynan to the ice and poking the puck to a charging Tracey. The right wing carried the puck in on a 2-on-1 rush, faking a pass to Pateryn before firing a wrist shot low the blocker side for the game's first goal.
Tracey extended his point streak to three games (2-1=3) with the goal. He leads the Gulls in scoring (7-10=17) and is second in goals.
Pateryn collected points in back-to-back games (1-1=2).