PREVIEW: Gulls Look To Split Weekend Series Against Reign
Jan 14, 2023By Brett Pickler/SanDiegoGulls.com
The San Diego Gulls travel up the freeway to complete their two-game set with the Ontario Reign at the Toyota Arena (6 p.m. PT; TV: AHL TV, RADIO: Gulls Audio Network).
Last night, the Gulls lost a close game with the Reign 3-1 after an empty net goal iced San Diego’s chance to complete the comeback. In their previous four meetings with Ontario, the Gulls are 1-3 against their rivals, but are 1-1 at Toyota Arena this season.
The Reign are riding a three-game win streak heading into their home arena. During this stretch, Ontario showcased their 200-foot game outscoring their opponents 12-6. Their fast-paced offense mixed with a hard-nosed defense makes them a tough team to play against. Additionally, their goalies are playing at a high level as well. Goaltender Cal Petersen is 2-0 during their win streak, posting .924 save percentage (SV%) and 5 goals allowed. Meanwhile, his partner Matthew Villalta picked up the win last night making 17 out of 18 saves in the game.
Despite the loss, San Diego are winners in three of their last five contests, limiting opponents to only six goals during this stretch. This improvement in defensive play is highlighted by the Gulls’ penalty kill. Over this period, they killed 21 out of 23 opposing power plays. Additionally, their penalty kill recorded three shorthanded goals in last two games. Gulls right wing Rocco Grimaldi is leading the attack on the kill, tallying 2-1=3 shorthanded points. Defenseman Michael Del Zotto added a shorthanded goal last game to extend his point streak to five games (2-3=5). Defenseman Drew Helleson recorded the secondary assist on Del Zotto’s tally giving him four assists in his last five games.
"I think we're just on the same page," forward Bo Groulx said about the team's penalty kill success. "We're playing it really, really easy. We don't have some crazy system or whatever. We're just all on the same page and we got really good penalty killers on this team."
Goaltender Lukas Dostal continues to prove why he is an American Hockey League All-Star. In last night’s game, he stopped 35 out of 37 shots including a highlight reel save on the first shot of the game. The 22-year-old netminder is playing lights out since being reassigned by the Anaheim Ducks. In addition to posting consecutive shutouts, he is 3-2-0 with a .954 SV% and a 1.79 GAA in his last five starts.
"I think we just gotta go back to the basics, to be honest," Groulx said on what it will take to win in Ontario. "Right now, we're turning the puck over way too much at the red line and the blue line and that's killing us and against a team like Ontario who has a lot of skills, a lot of speed. It's really hard to play against these guys when we're playing that way. I think if we just get back to the basics; I know it's gonna sound like a cliché but putting the puck low, hit some bodies, get some shots at the net. Against a team with skill like that, we're gonna beat them for sure with our with our forecheck and or heaviness down low. So I think that’s a key."