Gulls Geared to Open Final Homestand of 2024-25
Mar 26, 2025
By Nick Aguilera/SanDiegoGulls.com
The San Diego Gulls will open their final extended homestand of the 2024-25 American Hockey League season tonight against the San Jose Barracuda (7 p.m. PDT; TV: AHLTV on FloHockey; Radio: Gulls Audio Network).
The Gulls will continue their playoff push on home ice in what could prove to be a make-or-break week, as they still sit seven points back from the final postseason spot in the Pacific Divion thanks to some favorable results from around the league.
"When we started this playoff push, [there were] 30 games left," head coach Matt McIlvane said. "Every game’s the biggest and nothings changing. As the game goes on, everything comes to a head, buts it’s the way that it is in the playoffs and the way that it is when you’re fighting for your playoff life is that the next game’s always the biggest."
A lot of new faces have joined the Gulls in the final leg of the season including defensemen Ian Moore, Stian Solberg and Will Fracis. Both Solberg and Moore made their debuts over the weekend, while Francis is waiting in the wings. All three were NHL Draft selections by the Anaheim Ducks, bringing plenty of talent to the table.
"It’s a little bit of everyone welcoming them," center Ryan Carpenter said. "Everyone in the locker room has been new guys at some point. We have a bunch of leaders in there whether the guys wear a letter or not, so we’re trying to gel. This push we’ve been on with a new group, we’re trying to refocus and start building some momentum."
The Gulls have had success against the fifth-place Barracuda so far this season, as San Diego has won four and posted standings points in five of seven games against San Jose this season (4-2-1-0). With the final game of the season series looming, San Diego will look to close out the set on a high note.
"We’ll have to find ways to make them defend and forecheck well and make them go 200 feet for their offense," Carpenter said.
The Gulls return to Pechanga Arena on Friday for a pivotal matchup with the Tucson Roadrunners at 6 p.m. PDT.
