LIVE: Limoges Hat Trick Delivers Gulls' Win
Mar 23, 2022By AJ Manderichio/SanDiegoGulls.com
Powered by an Alex Limoges hat trick, the San Diego Gulls defeated the Tucson Roadrunners 4-3 tonight at Pechanga Arena San Diego. The win extended San Diego's season-high point streak to seven games (6-0-0-1) and moved them within a point of the sixth-place Henderson Silver Knights in the Pacific Division standings.
Limoges' third goal - a power-play tally in the third period - stood as the game-winning goal. Jacob Perreault (0-2=2) also recorded a multi-point performance as the Gulls earned their third win of the season over Tucson.
Third Period Recap
Limoges finished his first professional hat trick, scoring a power-play goal at 8:43 of the final frame.
The Gulls moved the puck effectively on the man advantage, with Perreault finding Lucas Elvenes with a cross-ice pass. The center quickly fired a slap pass toward the net, where Limoges deflected the puck past the outstretched Ivan Prosvetov for his 17th goal of the season.
Second Period Recap
Hudson Fasching gave Tucson its first lead of the night, firing home a power-play goal at 6:56 of the middle frame. The Tucson captain continues to torment the Gulls, recording his eighth point (5-3=8) in five games against San Diego.
Brayden Tracey tied the game 43 seconds later.
Brogan Rafferty collected the puck off a faceoff win, finding Brent Gates Jr. as he cut through center ice. He quickly moved it to Tracey, who deked around the oncoming Matt Foley poke check before sliding it past Ivan Prosvetov for his 11th goal of the season.
The teams would trade quick goals late in the frame, scoring within 37 seconds to even the game at three.
Cole Hults would give Tucson a short-lived one-goal lead, sneaking down from the point and beating Olle Eriksson Ek with a low wrist shot for his sixth goal of the season.
Limoges evened the score, converting on an odd-man rush for his second goal of the game.
Tucson shot the puck wide on the rush, leading to an offensive chance for San Diego. Perreault collected the puck at the red line, feeding a streaking Limoges for the rush chance. The rookie forward did the rest, beating Prosvetov to the far side for his third multi-goal game of the season.
With an assist, Perreault extended his point streak to five games (3-3=6).
First Period Recap
Limoges opened the scoring, collecting his team-leading 15th goal of the season at 8:26 of the first frame.
Rookie defenseman Drew Helleson collected a loose puck behind the net, sending a pass to his defensive partner, Jacob Larsson, at the blue line. The Swede ripped a shot toward the net, hitting Limoges in front. The forward recovered to swipe the puck past Prosvetov's extended pad for the game's first goal.
The rookie forward extended his point streak to season-high five games (3-4=7).
Prosvetov entered tonight at 12-18-4 with two shutouts, a 3.66 GAA and .880 SV% in 36 games with the Roadrunners. He's faced the Gulls once this season, allowing four goals in a loss on Feb. 4.
Mitchell Lewandowski tied the game, scoring his first American Hockey League goal with 4:04 remaining in the opening period. The former Michigan State Spartan, who signed a Professional Tryout just under two weeks ago, tucked his attempt from in front over the blocker of Eriksson Ek and under the crossbar for the milestone marker.
Eriksson Ek enters tonight with a 5-11-2 record with one shutout, a 3.26 goals-against average (GAA) and .883 save percentage (SV%). He recently made 23 saves in a 4-3 shootout loss to the Henderson Silver Knights on Mar. 19.