SAN DIEGO – The San Diego Gulls (9-5-1-0) extended their winning streak to a franchise-record seven consecutive games as they defeated the Tucson Roadrunners (9-3-2-0) 5-1 in front of 5,555 fans at Valley View Casino Center. The Gulls’ current seven-game win streak is the longest current such streak in the AHL and matches San Diego’s second-longest unbeaten streak in club history, a seven-game run from March 27-April 10, 2016 (5-0-2). The Gulls have scored three or more goals in all seven 
victories and now boast a 7-2-0-0 home record, including five straight wins.
San Diego would have to come back in this one as the Roadrunners struck first as Connor Garland found the back of the net at 12:32 of the first period when a shot from the point deflected off teammate Matia Marcantouni’s skate in front and right onto his blade to give Tucson a 1-0 lead.
Two minutes later the Gulls knotted the game when Scott Sabourin (1-1=2) took an Andrew O’Brien pass from behind the net and beat Tucson goaltender Adin Hill with a wrist shot from the slot. Tonight marked Sabourin’s first multi-point game of the campaign and first since November 20, 2015 against San Antonio when he was a member of the Ontario Reign.
“Points are hard to come by for myself lately, so it was obviously nice to get a few,” said Sabourin. “We seem to have found our stride over the last few games. As long as the team is winning and my line is doing its’ job then I’m happy.”
San Diego earned a power play at 14:39 of the first period and took advantage as rookie Kevin Roy tallied his team-leading eighth goal of the season and his eighth point in eight games (4-4=8) by following up his own rebound and jamming the puck past Hill to give the Gulls a 2-1 edge after 20 minutes of play.
“His habits are improving daily. He is turning into a more complete player for us,” said head coach Dallas Eakins on Roy. “We know he can score but we want him to be a complete 200-foot player like he showed tonight.”
The Gulls momentum carried into the second period as they continued to generate chances. The most prominent coming when Sabourin almost tallied his second of the night on a partial breakaway but was stoned by Hill on a five-hole bid.
At 13:19 of the second frame, a familiar face, Kenny Ryan (played with SD in 2015-16 and recently signed a PTO on Nov. 29), beat Hill with a wrist shot above the circles off a feed from Sabourin to give San Diego a 3-1 lead. Ryan registered two points (1-1=2) in his season debut along with three shots on net and a plus-two rating.
“I just wanted to do my job tonight. I’ve played for Dallas [Eakins] before and I know his expectations for me,” said Ryan. “I am excited to be back. I’m comfortable here.”
With Tucson forward Brendan Perlini in the box for hooking, San Diego took a commanding 4-1 lead when Antoine Laganiere (1-1=2) corralled a Nick Sorensen centering pass out of mid-air and beat Hill glove side. San Diego’s three goals in the period matched a season-high (Nov. 12 vs MB).
The Roadrunners did not go down without a fight. A majority of the play during the early stages of the third period took place in the San Diego zone and goaltender Dustin Tokarski fought off an onslaught of chances with his best stops coming during a scramble in front of the Gulls’ net.
Late in the third, Kale Kossila (1-1=2) tallied his fourth goal of the season when Sorensen fed him the puck in slot, beating Hill with a snapshot and the Gulls skated off with the victory. Sorensen collected two assists on the night (0-2=2) and his fourth point (1-3=4) in the last three games since returning to the lineup.
Gulls netminder Dustin Tokarski (7-2-0-0) made 19 saves to earn his seventh win of the season in nine appearances, and has now picked up wins in five straight games. Tokarski also has won all five starts at Valley View Casino Center. Tucson goaltender Adin Hill (7-2-2-0) stopped 24-of-29 shots in the loss.
“We just need to keep playing the way we are playing and stick to our vision and our values,” said Eakins. “Tokarski is playing extremely well for us right now and we have a lot of confidence going into this weekend against Stockton.”
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