SAN DIEGO -- Two early shorthanded goals were not enough to put the San Diego Gulls past the Calgary Wranglers, as they lost 4-3 at Pechanga Arena.
“The guys worked, they were competitive,” head coach Matt McIlvane said postgame. “But we can’t give the best team goals and be able to be at our best.”
Jan Mysak and Roland McKeown’s shorthanded tallies gave San Diego a 2-1 lead. Jeremie Poirier answered on the power play to tie things 2-2 with time dwindling in the first period. But, the Gulls were able to regain the lead with seconds remaining.
“We tried to play for [an] Ovechkin play,” Pavol Regenda recalled postgame. “Somehow it got to me. I didn’t even see it, I just slapped it in.”
The Gulls are one of two teams to put three goals behind Devin Cooley, who led the AHL with a .953 save-percentage entering the game.
“Three against Calgary is plenty,” McIlvane said. “Giving up four is the thing.”
A quick rush by the Wranglers and defensive miscommunication left Jakob Pelletier alone with an open net. Walker Duehr’s shorthanded goal completed Calgary’s comeback.
“We give one up on our power play from an entry where we're not backing it up,” McIlvane lamented. “And a simple line change in the first period where we get four guys changing on a short regroup. It's like we're gifting goals to the best team.”
The Gulls applied pressure during a late power play, but managed just four shots on goal in the period.
“We have a young team, we just have to figure out the scoring,” Regenda said. “How to create those opportunities for us to get a good scoring chance. And sometimes score some dirty goals.”
While McIlvane shouted out his young bottom-six forward group for providing needed energy and an overall solid showing from the defense, it was not enough. The coach felt “we set ourselves back, just with simple decisions."
“The goal isn't to be close,” McIlvane said. “The goal is to score more than them.”
The Gulls will look to rebound against the 8-5 Coachella Valley Firebirds. San Diego will play at Acrisure Arena on Friday, with puck drop at 7 p.m.