LIVE: Gulls Lead Reign 7-2
Mar 31, 2021By AJ Manderichio/SanDiegoGulls.com
The San Diego Gulls defeated the Ontario Reign, 7-2, in tonight's matchup at FivePoint Arena in Irvine, CA.
Bryce Kindopp added on, scoring his first career shorthanded goal to put the Gulls ahead by three early in the final frame.
Brendan Guhle found the rookie center at Ontario's blue line, and Kindopp did the rest, splitting the defense before firing a snap shot past Matthew Villalta for his third goal of the season.
Guhle, who collected an assist earlier in the game, recorded his first multi-point game of the season (0-2=2). The defenseman has five assists in the last five games.
Sam Carrick continued the offensive outburst, collecting his second goal of the game with just over six minutes left in the third period.
Trailing by one entering the second period, San Diego turned on the offense to take control of the game.
Chase De Leo pulled the Gulls even at 1:48 of the period.
The La Mirada, CA began the scoring play, applying pressure behind the net and causing a Reign turnover. Alex Limoges alertly jumped on the loose puck and found De Leo alone in the slot. The forward wasted no time getting a shot on net, beating Matthew Villalta for his eighth goal of the season.
Limoges extended his point and assist streaks to three games (0-4=4). Signed to a Professional Tryout on March 25, the rookie center has a point in each of his first three American Hockey League games.
Carrick put San Diego back on top with a power-play goal at 9:09 of the period.
Andrew Poturalski fired a shot on net, and Villalta allowed the rebound to come out to the slot. Carrick alertly found the puck and swept his attempt through the pads and just over the goal line for his 10th goal of the season.
Kodie Curran also picked up an assist on the tally, giving him a multi-point (0-2=2) night.
Andrew Agozzino extended San Diego's lead with his sixth goal of the season at 13:01 of the middle period.
Nikolas Brouillard sprung the Gulls on a 2-on-1 rush, feeding a streaking Brendan Guhle with a pass at the red line. The defenseman chipped a pass to Agozzino, who burst past the Reign defense and tucked a shot high over the glove of Villalta.
Agozzino extended his AHL point streak to four games (2-2=4). The veteran center has nine points (6-3=9) in his last 10 games with the Gulls.
San Diego scored the game's first goal, but Ontario struck back with two goals to bring a one-goal advantage into the locker room following the opening frame.
Vinni Lettieri - reassigned to San Diego by the Anaheim Ducks before tonight's game - opened the scoring with a power-play goal at 9:05 of the period.
Sam Carrick started the play behind the goal line, looking to feed a puck to the front of the net. His pass came off a Reign defender and out to Lettieri, who patiently waited for a shooting lane to develop. The Excelsior, MN native found a clear path to the net and didn't miss, firing a wrist shot past Matthew Villalta for his sixth goal of the season.
Lettieri extended his AHL point streak to four games (4-2=6). He entered tonight's game co-leading the Gulls in points per game (1.50) and has four multi-point performances.
Rasmus Kupari tied the game at 11:02 of the period. The second-year center sped down the wing, snapping a shot past Lukas Dostal for his fourth goal of the season.
Aidan Dudas put Ontario ahead with three minutes remaining in the opening frame, putting a shot off of Keegan Lowe and into the back of the net for his fifth goal of the season.