SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Stockton Heat scored late in the third period to tie the score, but were not able to finish the job in overtime and lost to the San Diego Gulls in overtime 3-2.
At the Valley View Casino Center, before 7,152 fans, much of the game was a goaltender duel. Jon Gillies for the Heat and both John Gibson and Matt Hackett for the Gulls put on great shows in their respective nets.
Garnet Hathaway (9) jumps to avoid a shot during a Heat power play in the opening period – Photo by Jack Lima
Early in the first period the Gulls killed off just over four minutes of penalties at five-on-three, following two back-to-back penalties, then another one only a few seconds later. Stockton had a couple of decent chances, but two of them bounced off the goal posts. The teams remained scoreless, despite a blocked shot that trickled out between Gillies legs, and rolled just outside the net in the last minute of the period.
The Gulls’ Nick Ritchie opened the scoring with 5:01 remaining in the second period on a power play. Ritchie let loose a slap shot that found the back of the net, through traffic, from the top of the slot. The goal was quickly answered with a short-handed goal off the stick of Bryce Van Brabant when he shot the puck from the top of the circle for the Stockton equalizer goal.
Bryce Van Brabant tries to score past Gulls goalie John Gibson – Photo by Jack Lima
“It was kind of a broken play. They darted out of the PK, [Drew Shore] went to the net. I just shot it and didn’t even look,“ said Van Brabant about his goal.
Problems with the net caused some delays late in the second period. But immediately after the net was repaired, the first trip down the ice for the Gulls resulted in a Max Friberg power play goal to give the Gulls the advantage with 3:39 remaining in the period. Antoine Laganiere was given the assist on the goal.
“It was off the rush on the power play break out,” said Friberg on his goal, “[Laganiere] made a nice pay up the middle and good shot, and I guess I was lucky to get the puck for the shot.”
Bryce Van Brabant tries to score past Gulls goalie John Gibson – Photo by Jack Lima
Matt Hackett replaced Gibson in the Gulls’ net at the beginning of the third period. Gibson looked to be having some pain in his back towards the end of the second period.
Gulls coach Dallas Eakins assured us that it was mostly precautionary. Gibson may have “strained his back. We didn’t want to full around with it. So we pulled him out of the game and we will re-address it tomorrow.”
The Heat’s Bill Arnold wristed a second chance rebound past Hackett in the net with 4:04 left in the period to even the game at two apiece. Brett Kulak and Aaron Johnson were credited with the assists on the play.
Matt Bailey and Oliver Kylington (4) tangle after a stopage in play – Photo by Jack Lima
Gillies made several unbelievable saves during the last minute, including an odd-man rush by the Gulls, so when the final bell rung, the score was still knotted.
This was the first time this season the Heat has had to play into overtime. About halfway into the overtime period, a penalty on the Gulls for too many men on the ice, gave the Heat another power play opportunity. Despite a number of great chances for the Heat, they just couldn’t find a way to get the puck past Hackett in the net. With no goals in the OT period, the game advanced to a shootout.
Jon Gillies makes a great save on Stefan Noesen (11) late in the game – Photo by Jack Lima
It took until the fourth round for someone to score for the win. Stefan Noesen, Nick Ritchie, and Max friberg’s shot were all blocked by Gillies, but it would be Michael Sgarbossa’s five-hole shot that won the game. Ken Agostino, Bill Arnold, Markus Granlund and Freddie Hamilton all missed for the Heat.
Eakins said, “Hackett was excellent. It’s hard to come into games like that. Hackett’s only payed sixty minutes this year. So for him to come in cold and play well, his performance in the shootout was excellent.”
Gulls Matt Bailey (22) dives for the puck as Aaron Johnson (45) defends – Photo by Jack Lima
Heat’s Coach Huska said after the game, “I was real happy with the way we worked tonight. A little bit of our execution was off at times. But the effort was what we want to see consistently. I guess at the end of the day when we look at this one, we didn’t score on those power plays and that’s what we needed in tonight’s game.”
Gulls Goalie Matt Hackett (31) makes a save on Ken Agostino (15) during the overtime period. – Photo by Jack Lima
Arnold spoke about the overtime and shoot out. “It was our first experience with it, and maybe there was a little hesitation out there. It was almost a scary start there, had to dive and get that puck out. There were some chances there in the last half. In the shootout we’ve got to put one of those in. [Gillies] did his job and saved the first shots. We’ve got to be better there.”
“Our power play has been going along pretty well there. It’s kind of disappointing to not be able to capitalize in that first period and get an early lead. We will watch films tonight to figure out what we were doing wrong and come back tomorrow night,” said Arnold
After the game, Friberg commented on the overall game, “I think we were a little sloppy. We could have been better. But it’s always good to come out with the win and the 2 points.”
Gulls Michael Sgarbossa score the game winning shootout goal past Jon Gilles – Photo by Jack Lima
Stockton had seven odd-man advantage chances but were not able to score. Both of the Gulls goals were power play shots, giving them two of four successful chances. Gillies had 31 saves in the net for the loss, while Gibson had 19 and Hackett made the other 13 for the win.
These two teams come back Saturday night for a repeat on Halloween.
You must be logged in to post a comment.