Regenda, Stalock Lead Gulls To Season-Opening Victory Over Reign
Oct 13, 2023By Nick Aguilera/SanDiegoGulls.com
The San Diego Gulls started the season on the right foot on Friday night, taking down the Ontario Reign 4-1 at Toyota Arena.
The win marks the first in the AHL for head coach Matt McIlvane.
"I’m just happy for the guys," McIlvane said. "Ontario gave us a pretty big gap to fill from five days ago to now. Obviously getting guys into the lineup, that helps.
"We have a lot of respect for them. We know how high their skill is and it’s just a matter of trying to make them a little bit uncomfortable. I thought the guys were prepared and they executed the game plan."
Pavol Regenda recorded the second multi-goal effort of his AHL career, scoring twice on net front goals (2-0=2). He notched the first goal of the Gulls’ 2023-24 season, a powerplay goal at 11:20 in the first period. Ontario’s goaltender David Rittich later gifted Regenda his second goal of the game shorthanded early in the third, tossing a puck back into his own net in an attempt to play it to a Reign skater.
"That’s kind of my office," Regenda said. "I didn’t do it as much during camp and I got told that I should improve that and get better. Of course I want to be there… That’s my job. I’m a heavy guy. I have to play around the net. I’m never going to score goals like [Anaheim Ducks forward Trevor] Zegras."
Alex Stalock made 40-of-41 saves on the night, the most by a Gulls goaltender in a season opener. At 36 years, 2 months, 6 days, he also became the oldest player to ever appear in a game for the Gulls.
Sasha Pastujov tallied his first career AHL point with his assist on Regenda’s first goal. Olen Zellweger recorded two assists, marking both his first AHL regular season point and his first career multi-point AHL game.
Jacob Perreault netted San Diego’s third goal of the night on a delayed penalty in the third to put the game firmly in the Gulls’ hands before Glenn Gawdin scored an empty netter in the dying seconds.
Andrew Agozzino, Trevor Carrick and Colton White picked up assists on the night as well.
San Diego’s penalty killers got the job done as well, going 6-for-6 playing a man down and 1-for-2 with the man advantage.
"Our special teams were great today," McIlvane said. "Get on the board with the power play and then getting the shorthanded goal with a fortunate bounce. But our team showed good character, strong defense, high competitiveness. And I think we got a lot better this week."
Ontario’s lone goal came from Mikhail Maltsev. Rittich stopped 28-of-31 shots.
The Gulls will be right back at Toyota Arena on Sunday, Oct. 15 for the second of a three-game season-opening set against the Reign (3 p.m. PT; TV: AHL TV; Radio: Gulls Audio Network) before heading home to Pechanga Arena for their home opener on Friday, Oct. 20.