As an injury bug hit the big club, both Max Jones and Isac Lundestrom were recalled during the week, leaving the Gulls with just the exact amount of forwards but still an excess of defenders. I had wondered whether one of the defenders might be tried at forward and was not very surprised to see Patrick Sieloff inserted on the third line with Broadhurst and Gates Jr. Hunter Drew was once again scratched while Ryan Johnston drew in.

San Jose had the better of play to stat and it felt like the under-manned Gulls might be in for a long night but the Barracudas overly aggressive efforts cost them as they gave the Gulls several chances on the man advantage, including a fifty second five on three. The Gulls could not convert on any of their opportunities but just as time expired on the second of the five on three penalties, Ryan Johnston carried along the right side boards, cut to the middle and fired a shot that deflected of a defender and to Blake Pietela. The former Devil burying the chance to give the Gulls the 1-0 lead with his fifth of the year. 1-0 Gulls.

While we wait for more hockey, we thought we'd highlight this sweet shot by Pietila that got us on the board first!#LetsGoGulls | #SJvsSD pic.twitter.com/k2CRQZs7WC — San Diego Santa Gulls (@SDGullsAHL) December 21, 2019

Feeding off of the goal the Gulls spent the rest of the period in the San Jose zone, generating chances and preventing any kind of counter rush and it wasn’t until the final forty seconds of the opening frame that San Jose were able to mount a response. The visitors drew a call in the final two seconds of time as Mahura was called for interference to prevent a Barracuda scoring chance. Daniel Sprong had failed to get a hard enough clearance moments earlier. The period ended with the Gulls leading 1-0 and down in shots 11-12. The shot map indicating that Barracuda had the better run of play for the period.

The second period began with San Diego preventing the Barracuda from getting set or putting together any sort of cohesive sequence during their almost full two minute man-advantage.

The Gulls controlled play for the next five or so minutes before San Jose were able to slowly swing things back in their favour. Anthony Stolarz made some timely stops and the San Diego defense were able to stifle any second chances as they worked to regain possession and momentum.

With two minutes left in the period things started to open up and both teams began to stretch the ice. Antoine Morand and Alex Dostie featured on two of of the biggest opportunities but San Jose managed to keep things 1-0 as time wound down, the period ending with the Barracuda out shooting the Gulls but still down by one. Shots were 25-18 for San Jose and the shot map painting a continuation of how things had gone in the first period.

San Jose controlled all facets of play to start the final period, keeping San Diego in their zone and generating shots but again the Gulls were able to keep most of their chances to the perimeter.

It felt like the relentless pressure was sure to amount to something and sure enough a four on two rush by the Barracuda resulted in a game tying goal as the standout rookie Joachim Blichfeld fired a perfect wrist shot by Stolarz. 1-1 tie game.

The Gulls came back with a push, trying to retake the lead with a quick response but Shortridge kept things even.

San Jose responded by again keeping the Gulls from leaving their zone and took the lead at the midway mark of the final twenty as shot from the point got by Stolarz who could not track it through traffic in front. 2-1 Barracuda.

The Gulls pushed back and held possession in the San Jose zone for a good few minutes before the Barracuda were able to regain the puck and head back into the San Diego zone. A controversial goal resulted after a Barracuda player bumped Stolarz and knocked his stick out of his hands, Stolarz and the Gulls protested the tally but the Officials deemed it to be good – which is standard in terms of how fairly things go the way of the Gulls overall. 3-1 Barracuda.

A Gulls Power Play in the final minute of the game gave slight hope and they did manage to execute back to back one-timers from Brendan Guhle but the Barracuda managed to regain the puck and ice it into the San Diego empty net to close things out 4-1. Jack Kopacka did make it slightly less offensive as he was able to find space and fire it hard into the San Jose net to make it 4-2 with less than two seconds left but ultimately the under-manned Gulls could not complete with the Barracudas firepower up front as they lost by the final four to two tally.

Post Game Notes:

Special …. Special Teams? Both Gulls goals were credited as being scored with the man advantage while the penalty kill stopped all four San Jose Power Play opportunities.

Keep It Simple There were too many times that I saw a San Diego player disregard the shooting option and attempt the 50/50 pass. At one point I was extremely surprised to see Daniel Sprong had two shots on net because it felt to me like I hadn’t seen him get a shot off at all. He was very uncharacteristically forcing the pass to a team-mate when he should have gone for the shot. I dont mean to just single him out either, it seemed on more than half the San Diego rush opportunities, the puck carrier was always looking to pass when the shoot-for-the-rebound play would have likely have been the better and smarter play.

Keep Johnston Ryan Johnston created the Pietela goal and looked the best option for any semblance of puck movement on the Power Play that San Diego could utilize. He needs to be kept in the line-up for this reason.

Sprong needs space I have been starting to wonder. Sprong put up huge numbers with the Penguins in Wilkes Barre perhaps because their system allowed for him to have a lot more space to wreak havoc. San Diego have been consistently doing a good job of exiting their zone and transitioning through the neutral zone and more often than not they are getting a good zone entry into the offensive zone but its when they get there it feels like there are too many conflicting philosophies and no set plan. Most of the time they appear to try to keep the puck down low and try force a pass out front or to the point. Teams are keying on this and easily breaking up chances by taking away passing lanes. San Diego needs to change things up, have the puck carrier wheel the zone with speed and potentially hand off to another forward cutting against the grain. The offense is drying up and it appears to me its because it is a far too predictable offensive strategy.