PREVIEW: Gulls, Reign Renew Rivalry At Toyota Arena
Oct 22, 2021By AJ Manderichio/SanDiegoGulls.com
The San Diego Gulls look to grab their first win of the season, visiting the rival Ontario Reign tonight at 6 p.m. PT (TV: AHL TV, RADIO: Gulls Audio Network). Tonight marks the first time the Gulls will play a back-to-back set of games this season.
San Diego started the season with consecutive losses, the most recent coming last night in the team’s Home Opener presented by Cal Coast Credit Union. The Stockton Heat took down the Gulls, a 6-2 victory which saw them score five times over the final two periods.
“It’s not always going to go our way and we’ve just got to keep sticking with our systems and that’s really, when we get a little in over our heads out there, we try to make plays that aren’t us,” Alex Limoges said following last night’s loss. “So once we get down, we’ve just got to stick with our roots and keep playing our hockey.
“Yeah, it leaves a sour taste on our mouths, obviously. Anytime we can kind of have that quick mindset, turnaround and look forward to playing tomorrow. That’s fun and I know we’re going to be ready to go.”
A bright spot for San Diego is the team’s power play. Limoges and Brogan Rafferty scored on the man advantage last night, bringing the team’s total to three power-play goals in its first two games.
“Yeah, I think it’s probably the area we’re most comfortable,” Bouchard explained. Yeah, it’s one area, but the power play is not out of trouble. If it does, it’s once in a while, but you’re right if you look at the Brightside. When I look at the big picture, we’ve got a lot of work to do, my friends.”
Where the team’s coach will want to see his team improve is playing within its structure and system.
“There’s not really a big team chemistry,” he said following last night’s loss. “I don’t see an identity and it’s my job to make sure we have one and we work on it, but we get shortened time here. We need to play a few more games, see how we go.”
Jacob Perreault and Rafferty will also look to continue to contribute offensively. The duo enter tonight riding modest two-game point streaks (1-1=2).
Ontario enters tonight riding a four-game point streak (3-0-1-0) to begin the season. The Reign enter the rivalry matchup on the heels of a 3-2 win over the defending Pacific Division champion Bakersfield Condors last night at Toyota Arena. Austin Strand scored the game-winning tally early in the third period and Garrett Sparks shut the door, stopping 35-of-37 shots in his season debut.
The Reign thrive off a balanced attack headlined by offseason acquisition T.J. Tynan. The American Hockey League’s 2020-21 Les Cunningham Award (Most Valuable Player) winner is tied for the league lead with five assists. He also sits top-10 in scoring (0-5=5).
Martin Frk – who scored twice against San Diego in the first meeting of the season – leads the Reign with three goals.