ONTARIO, Calif. – The San Diego Gulls (8-5-1-0) won their franchise-record sixth consecutive game as they defeated the Ontario Reign (6-5-4-0) 4-3 in front of 8,380 fans at Citizens Business Bank Arena. The current six-game winning streak is San Diego’s longest unbeaten streak since a seven-game unbeaten run from March 27-April 10, 2016 (5-0-2).
Chris Wagner collected 1-2=3 points in his first appearance with San Diego after being reassigned the Anaheim Ducks earlier in the day, and Corey Tropp (0-2=2) extended his career-high point streak to seven games (3-7=10) with his sixth multi-point game of the season.
The Gulls improved to 7-4-1 in back-to-back games (3-3 in the second contest), and 7-0-1 when leading after two periods. Additionally, San Diego is 6-0-1 when scoring the first goal.
Wagner gave San Diego a 1-0 advantage at 19:33 of the first period when he took a feed off the boards from Andy Welinski and beat Jack Flinn glove side to notch his first goal of the season. Wagner’s tally gave the Gulls took a 1-0 lead heading into the first intermission despite being outshot 9-4 in the opening frame.
Early in the second period Ontario earned a power play with Austen Brassard in the penalty box for slashing, and the Reign cashed in as Jonny Brodzinski’s booming slapshot beat Gulls goaltender Dustin Tokarski to knot the game at one.
The goaltenders matched one another other save for save throughout the remainder of the period until Kevin Roy deflected Corey Tropp’s centering pass to score his team-leading seventh goal of the year. Roy’s tally with 4:56 remaining in the second period gave San Diego a 2-1 edge.
Ontario drew even just 1:56 into the third period as Michael Mersch’s point shot richocheted off Tokarski’s pad into the path of T.J. Hensick who tallied his sixth goal of the season for the Reign.
As they have done often this season, the Gulls responded quickly when Antoine Laganiere tallied his fourth goal after Brandon Montour’s pass from the half wall deflected off Chris Wagner and left Laganiere alone at the back post. Montour’s assist gives him 4=7=11 points over his last 12 games and he is now tied for seventh in scoring among AHL defenseman with 4-9=13 points.
Kalle Kossila (1-0=1) doubled San Diego’s lead at 6:32 of the third period, finishing off a breakaway after he was sprung in all alone by Corey Tropp to extend San Diego’s lead to 4-2.
The Reign pulled Flinn with two minutes remaining and Vincent LoVerde would cut the Gulls advantage to 3-2 with a blast from the right circle at 19:28. Despite the late tally, San Diego stayed composed defensively in the final 30 seconds and hung on to extend their win streak to six games.
Gulls netminder Dustin Tokarski (6-2-0-0) made 24 saves to earn his sixth win of the season in eight appearances, and has now picked up wins in four straight games. Ontario rookie goaltender Jack Flinn (1-2-1-0) stopped 19-of-23 shots in the loss.
San Diego returns home on Nov. 30 for a tilt with the Tucson Roadrunners at 7 p.m. Fans can purchase tickets by visiting AXS.com/Gulls or by phone at (619) 359-4730.
NOTES: Gulls forward Zac Larazza left the game in the first period due to an upper-body injury…Stefan Noesen led all Gulls skaters with four shots on net…Chris Wagner registered his first three-point game since Oct. 31, 2014 (1-2=3) vs. WBS (with Norfolk)…Jonny Brodzinski leads Ontario in scoring with 5-7=12 points in 15 games…Ontario winger Michael Mersch has recorded 0-5=5 points in his last six games.
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