Gulls Finish Homestand With Matchup Against Barracuda
Apr 3, 2021The San Diego Gulls look to complete a perfect four-game homestand tonight as they host the San Jose Barracuda at FivePoint Arena (7 p.m. PT, TV: The CW San Diego; RADIO: Gulls Audio Network). The Gulls own a 31-18-4-1 record all-time against the Barracuda, including a 17-7-2-1 mark on home ice.
The Gulls and Barracuda continue a six-game season series tonight, with this matchup the final regular season meeting in Irvine. San Jose currently leads the season series, going 2-1-0 as the teams played a three-game set from March 5-9 at FivePoint Arena and Solar4America Ice. The Barracuda outscored the Gulls, 11-6, in those three contests.
"They have some good speed," Gulls assistant coach Sylvain Lefebvre said. "They have some big defenseman that can play phyiscal but can move the puck pretty well, and they're goaltending is pretty good too. Where we have to be good is limiting turnovers, getting pucks behind their defenseman and challenging them with our forecheck and speed. If we can do that, we'll be in good shape."
San Diego enters play Saturday riding a five-game winn streak after a resounding 7-2 victory over the rival Ontario Reign on Wednesday. Thirteen different Gulls found the scoresheet in the win, as rookie netminder Lukas Dostal stopped 33-of-35 shots in his return to the San Diego lineup.
Prior to Wednesday’s game, the Gulls welcomed back Dostal as well as forwards Vinni Lettieri and Andrew Agozzino and defenseman Kodie Curran from the Anaheim Ducks taxi squad. The three skaters played a key role in the Gulls offensive outburst as Lettieri opened the scoring with a power-play goal, Agozzino tallied a second-period insurance tally and Curran notched two assists.
“We’ve been playing well and we picked up some bodies from Anaheim. They’re very engaged in how we’re playing.” said Gulls head coach Kevin Dineen. “It gives you more depth. Both of them (Agozzino and Lettieri) come in and are on both sides of the special teams. They give you options. These are veteran players and you can surround them with guys who haven’t played that much. They give you that veteran stability. They’re good additions for us.”
While San Diego’s attack provided a cushion for a rookie netminder returning to game action after nearly three weeks, Dostal’s steady, composed play helped the Gulls get off to a strong start.
Dostal and fellow rookie goaltender Olle Eriksson Ek combined to form a dynamic duo for San Diego this season. Dostal leads all rookie netminders in saves (413), games played (13) and minutes played (758). Eriksson Ek ranks fifth among all AHL netminders in goals against average (2.02) and save percentage (.927). The two young goalies are the only pair of teammates to rank in the top ten among rookies in wins, GAA and SV%.
The Barracuda currently sit fourth in the Pacific Division by points (19) and point percentage (.528). Joachim Blichfield leads the team in scoring (10-5=15) and goals, co-leads in power-play goals (2) and ranks second in plus/minus (+5). The Barrcauda lineup also includes a familiar face in Gulls all-time games played leader and former captain Jaycob Megna. Megna is the only San Jose skater to appear in all 18 games and co-leads Barracuda defensemen in assists (6).