Colangelo's four point night caps off Gulls' season with OT win over Firebirds

SAN DIEGO -- In front of a sell-out crowd at Pechanga Arena on fan appreciation night, the San Diego Gulls put on a show closing out the season with a 5-4 overtime win against the Coachella Valley Firebirds on Saturday. 

Anaheim’s young prospect Sam Colangelo clinched the game, scoring his fourth point (2 G, 2 A) of the evening going top shelf short-side past Firebirds’ netminder Aleś Stezka. Playing the previous night in Ontario, the rookie scored the only goal for San Diego. 

"I would be lying if I said it's not nice to score goals," Colangelo said after being the second rookie in Gulls' history to score 20+ goals. "It's something I love to do and take a lot pride in. I play with great players and be able to do that, you can't do that alone. I had a hell of a lot of fun this year."

Another up-and-comer in the Ducks’ system, defenseman Tristan Lunaeu finished his rookie season as the Gulls’ leader in points with 52 (9 G, 52 A) after posting two goals and an assist against the Firebirds. 

Gulls’ forward Jan Myšák (42 points) also recorded a multi-point night, assisting on three goals including Colangelo’s game-winner. 

Ultimately falling short of their season goal to qualify for the playoffs, the Gulls played with a sense of urgency, as they wanted to give their fans and themselves a performance that everybody could be proud of. 

"(I'm) proud of them," Gulls' head coach Matt McIlvane said when speaking to his team for the final time this season. "I'm proud of the way that we lived according to our values. We are one, being the brotherhood. That's a united group in there and that union got us through a lot of adversity." 

"The growth of the group was phenomenal. We're so proud of so many individuals, but also the way the group was able to grow together through the season, it was impressive." 

Despite Firebirds’ Andrei Loshko scoring the game’s opening goal, Colangelo jammed home the equalizer with eight minutes left in the opening period.

Coming down the right side of Stezka, Luneau’s shot deflects off a stick and while in the air, bats at the puck and squeaks in behind the net with less than 13 minutes in the second period. 

A minute later, Loshko cashed in on his second goal of the evening to tie the game at two a piece. 

After passing the halfway point of the game, forward Nico Myatovic posted his 10th goal of the season to give the Gulls their second lead of the night. Myatovic, directly in front of the crease, took a pair of whacks at the puck and tucked in the rebound passed Stezka.

Gulls’ defenseman Roland McKeown would be called for a cross-check, which led to Coachella Valley’s Oscar Fisker Mølgaard to tie the game 3-3. 

Thereafter the Firebirds’ power play goal, San Diego was able to answer back with a PP goal of their own scored courtesy of Luneau, who was set up for a one-timer by Colangelo. 

Gulls fan’s cheers quickly changed to boos after the Firebirds tied the game at 4-4 after a Logan Morrison goal from the outside of the crease to force overtime.

However 34 seconds into OT, all 12,920 fans in-attendance erupted and launched onto their feet after Colangelo called the game, earning his 40th AHL point (22 G, 18 A). 

"That crowd was amazing," McIlvane said. "This is the way Pechanga Arena should feel, and we're so thankful for support." 

"Hopefully all those guys come back next year," Colangelo said. "That was probably the biggest crowd I've ever seen here."

Gulls’ goalie Calle Clang finished the season finale with 27 saves and a .871 SV%. Playing 31 games in the 2024-25 season, the Swedish netminder capped off the season with a 11-13-4 record along with a 3.17 GAA and a .895 SV%.

It was a memorable night for the Gulls and their fans. Although they weren’t able to extend their season, they at least ended the year on a high note and have something to build on heading into the off-season. 

"Our story for the season is usually been the other way," McIlvane said. "It's like we're down goals, we comeback... The bottom line is that the guys stuck with it. We found a way to get it done in the end. And we showed the resiliency that our group has, and it's a really fun way to end the season."

"When you've got a young team, the learning curve doesn't get to be as long as you'd want it to be. Everybody's a year older now going into the next year, we'll be able to use that experience to be able to take off at a higher place than when we started this year."