LIVE: Gulls Lead Roadrunners 8-6
Apr 9, 2021The San Diego Gulls defeated the Tucson Roadrunners 8-6 in the third period of tonight's game at Tucson Arena Convention Center.
Jacob Perreault took a five-minute major for cross checking with just under five minutes remaining in regulation, giving the Roadrunners a major penalty to end regulation.
Michael Carcone responded, scoring his fourth goal of the game to pull the Roadrunners within two at 17:03 of the third.
Cameron Hebig pulled Tucson within three with 6:34 remaining in regulation, one-timing a shot past Lukas Dostal for his first goal of the season.
Michael Carcone scored his third goal of the game to cut the deficit to four.
A dumped-in puck took an odd bounce off the end boards, coming from behind the goal line and out in front of Lukas Dostal. The Gulls netminder missed clearing it from in front with a poke check, and Carcone used a backhand shot to record his milestone marker.
Matt Lorito collected his second goal of the game to give San Diego an impressive eight tallies early in the final frame.
Connor LaCouvee kicked out a rebound on Brendan Guhle's shot to the slot, where Lorito collected the puck and swept it past the Tucson netminder for his fifth goal of the season.
Guhle set a season high in points (2-1=3) and has seven points (2-5=7) in his last five games.
After a five-goal first period, San Diego continued its offensive onslaught in the middle frame.
Vinnie Lettieri picked up his eighth goal of the season to give the Gulls a four-goal lead with 8:46 left in the period.
The veteran wing received a pass from Jacob Perreault, and tried to find teammate Andrew Agozzino to give the center a chance for the hat trick. His pass deflected off Connor LaCouvee and into the back of the net for Lettieri's second point of the game.
Perreault collected his third assist of the game and continues his recent impressive stretch, recording seven points (2-5=7) in his last four games.
San Diego tied a season-high in goals. It achieved the feat twice before - February 20 against the Colorado Eagles and March 31 against the Ontario Reign.
Andrew Agozzino scored his second goal of the game to restore San Diego's three-goal lead at 2:18 of the period.
San Diego moved into the Tucson zone on a 3-on-2 rush, with Perreault carrying the puck into the faceoff circle. His pass across the ice found Agozzino, who saw his initial shot stopped by Connor LaCouvee. The Tucson netminder couldn't corral the rebound, and Agozzino roofed the shot into the top of the net for his ninth goal of the season.
LaCouvee, pulled in the first period, returned for the second period.
Kyle Capobianco brought Tucson within two with a power-play goal just 50 seconds into the middle frame. The defenseman stepped into a slap shot to beat Lukas Dostal for his second goal of the season.
Former Gull Kevin Roy collected his third assist of the game. He continues to torment his former team, leading all skaters with eight points (2-6=8) in the season series.
The Gulls exploded for a season-high five goals in the opening period.
Agozzino opened the scoring with a power-play goal at 2:23 of the period.
Josh Mahura, playing in his 100th career American Hockey League game, held the puck at the point. He found Lettieri in the circle, who one-timed a shot toward the net. Agozzino established himself in front of LaCouvee and touched the puck past the Tucson netminder for his eighth goal of the season.
The Gulls have nine power-play goals in their last seven games.
Michael Carcone evened the score at 3:50 of the opening frame.
Roy started the play, leading a 2-on-1 rush into San Diego's end. Dostal made the initial save, but Carcone found the rebound and tucked it into an open net for his fifth goal of the season.
Brendan Guhle put San Diego back on top with his first goal of the season at 8:29 of the period.
Perreault carried the puck into the Tucson end and faked a dump-in, spinning away from a defenseman and sending an area pass to the high point. Guhle collected the puck and carried it to the slot, firing a shot past LaCouvee for the goal.
Just over three minutes later, Matt Lorito collected his fourth goal of the season to put San Diego ahead 3-1.
The veteran forward converted on an odd-man rush, depositing a rebound from a Bo Groulx shot past LaCouvee to chase the Tucson netminder.
Groulx, who picked up an assist on Guhle's earlier tally, continued his strong play against the Roadrunners this season. The rookie has five points (2-3=5) in five games against the division rival.
Carcone scored his second goal of the night to bring Tucson within one with 7:49 left in the opening frame.
The right-wing struck on the power play, taking a cross-ice feed from Roy and wiring it past Dostal for his second goal of the period.
Trevor Zegras and Andrew Poturalski combined for an absolutely beautiful goal to restore San Diego's two-goal lead.
Lettieri started the play, sending a pass to a streaking Poturalski as he exited the zone. The forward quickly moved past Tucson defenseman, who grabbed his jersey to bring the forward to his knees. He stuck with the play, sending a crisp pass across to Zegras. The rookie center one-timed the puck past Chris Nell for his fifth goal of the season.
Poturalski continues to pace the AHL in assists (22) and points (28).
Guhle recorded his second goal of the period to help the Gulls push their advantage to three.
San Diego took advantage of yet another odd-man rush, with Nikolas Brouillard finding the cutting defenseman for a tap-in tally.