2024-25 San Diego Gulls/Tulsa Oilers

[Ducksforcup]

Nice to see the Gulls competitive in every game. Giving up way too many goals still, but it seems like improvement.

 

[mightyquack]

2-2 after 40. Good first part of the period, before giving up a couple of dumb penalties which set them back. Then a solid final 4 minutes of the period to get the momentum back.

Sidorov has had a good first game back so far with 4 shots, him and Colangelo look a handful on a line together, it's a shame they have Carpenter centering them as he is....not very good. I'd love to see Harkins in between those two, as I think they would do some serious damage at the AHL level.

Clang has been fantastic in net so far too.

I found it interesting that the commentators seem to think Pasta is the PP QB on the 1st unit rather then Luneau, with Luneau seen as more of the shooter.

The Gulls PK is a big worry. They are either too passive, or become way over aggressive leaving a lot of space open. Just can't find the right mix. Luneau vacating the zone on the PK looking for a stretch pass when the other Gulls defenceman was in a puck battle was a vibe too . I'm glad Luneau is getting PK time though, as he needs to learn.

 

[Static]

 

[mightyquack]

3-2 Marlies, Marlies get the puck deep, win the puck below the goal line and Solow (probably Marlies best player so far) banks it off Clang's back and into the net.

 

[mightyquack]

You can see why the coaching staff has issues with Dioncio, he can do some great things with the puck and with his skating. Then other times, he just has complete brain fades. He had one in the 2nd period where he got the puck stripped by the forward (who started at least 10m away from him) because he was too casual then in the 3rd period he has the puck in his own zone under no pressure so there is the potential for a line change and he decides to try a slap pass which goes straight for icing resulting in them getting hemmed in.

 

[mightyquack]

4-2 Marlies. They fire the puck in deep, it comes around the boards and Caufield isn't able to get it out. Marlies forward spins and throws a puck from behind the net up the middle to the Marlies forward in the slot, who rips a one timer into the net.

Not a good luck when you get beaten to the puck despite only three Marlies players being in the offensive zone compared to five Gulls players.

 

[mightyquack]

It's games like this that people will look and see Clang is only 27/31 for saves this game and think he's had a bad game. The third goal he gave up wasn't fantastic, but three one timers in the slot with no Gulls defender in sight is just brutal defending....

 

[mightyquack]

Gulls get one back, Dioncio on the PP. Bailey holds a clear in on the PP, Sidorov has a shot blocked, Nestrenko gets it back to Dioncio on the point who plays it to Sidorov who does a great job of drawing in 3 of the PK'ers and lays it back to Dioncio who one times it in.

Another PP where the Gulls looked horrible and were outworked, but managed to score on it.

 

[Hockey Duckie]

Gulls get one back, Dioncio on the PP. Bailey holds a clear in on the PP, Sidorov has a shot blocked, Nestrenko gets it back to Dioncio on the point who plays it to Sidorov who does a great job of drawing in 3 of the PK'ers and lays it back to Dioncio who one times it in.

Another PP where the Gulls looked horrible and were outworked, but managed to score on it.

Thanks for all of the detailed updates!

 

[Static]

 

[mightyquack]

5-3 Marlies on the empty netter.

McKeown going for the back door shot with the goaltender pulled and over 2 minutes left to play, no surprise it misses the net and goes all the way around and an easy EN for Clifford. Just terrible, terrible hockey IQ by McKeown to try that.

The fact you have all your top skill players out with so much time left and you try a play like that....is exactly why the Gulls are where they are (and why McKeown is a career AHL'er).

 

[mightyquack]

Thanks for all of the detailed updates!

No problem, whenever I'm not working I try to catch Gulls games (assuming it doesn't clash with Anaheim games). Always good to see some of our younger players play, even if it's more frustrating then watching the Ducks most of the time .

 

[mightyquack]

It's a subtle play, but Sidorov's ability to draw in defenders and open space for others is really, really evident on the PP. Very smart player.

 

[Static]

It's a subtle play, but Sidorov's ability to draw in defenders and open space for others is really, really evident on the PP. Very smart player.

Both he and pastujov could have futures as PP2 guys, if we get lucky.

 

[mightyquack]

Gulls lose 5-3.

1st star: Solow (TOR)
2nd star: Bailey (SD)
3rd star: Pasta (SD)

Kicked off at the end, Colangelo and Dioncio get into it with a couple of Marlies players, looked like a Marlies player slashed Colangelo with a few seconds left away from the puck. Think Dioncio got tossed after the game finished too.

Deserved loss for the Gulls, who I feel like outside of about 10 minutes in the 2nd period were clearly second best for the majority of the game.

Sidorov, Colangelo, Pasta and Bailey were our most dangerous forwards. Bailey will be a good addition to the forward group I feel, adds some good size and for my first viewing, I was impressed with his skating. For his first game back Sidorov was very dangerous and didn't look like he missed a beat. Colangelo is Colangelo, he's a top tier forward at the AHL level. Pasta continues to impress me too, just always generates dangerous chances.

Clang was good in net, the stats won't show it, but he made several highlight reel saves to keep it close. He really gets zero help from infront of him a lot of the time.

 

[mightyquack]

Both he and pastujov could have futures as PP2 guys, if we get lucky.

They certainly have middle 6 NHL potential for me. I come away impressed pretty much everytime I see them play for the Gulls.

Pasta is now 7th in the AHL in scoring for players aged 21 and under, but he has played quite a few less games then everyone ahead of him. On a PPG basis, he's 3rd behind Nazar and Del Bel Belluz. Very impressive turnaround.

 

[AngelDuck]

I’m getting moderately excited about Pastujov. He appears to be improving at a rapid rate and is still 21 years old until July.

Unlike other players in our org, he’s been a high producer at multiple different levels now and IMO that is very important when projecting Potential success.

 

[SmokeyDuck]

Crazy that Pasta is now their leading scorer, after spending good time in the ECHL this season.