The San Diego Gulls came into Tuesday night’s matchup riding high, having previously handled the Abbotsford Canucks in their earlier meetings this season. But this one was different. Despite a gritty effort on home ice at Pechanga Arena, the Gulls couldn’t hold off a third-period surge from the Canucks, falling 5-3 in a game that showed flashes of promise but ultimately slipped away late.
Let’s break this one down.
A Back-and-Forth Battle
The Gulls didn’t go quietly. In fact, they responded every step of the way-until the final stretch.
After taking an early lead and holding it into the second period, San Diego found themselves in a dogfight. Abbotsford tied things up in the middle frame, but Yegor Sidorov had an answer, burying his eighth goal of the season to reclaim the lead.
That tally also marked his 17th point of the year, putting him halfway to matching his total from last season-a strong sign of his continued growth as a key offensive piece.
The third period, though, belonged to the Canucks. Two quick goals flipped the script and put the Gulls on their heels.
Still, defenseman Roland McKeown wasn’t about to let it end there. He jumped into the play and fired home the equalizer-his third goal of the season-to bring the game back to level terms.
It was the kind of timely contribution teams count on from their blue line, and it kept San Diego in striking distance.
But Abbotsford had one more push in them, and this time, the Gulls didn’t have an answer.
Colangelo Stays Hot
Sam Colangelo continued his recent tear, opening the scoring on a power play with just over a minute left in the first period. The one-timer was textbook-clean, quick, and right on the money.
He wasn’t done there, either. Colangelo added an assist on McKeown’s third-period goal, giving him 3 goals and 7 assists over his last nine games.
That run has boosted his season totals to 7 goals and 9 assists for 16 points-a strong showing for a player who’s finding his rhythm.
Blue Line Boost
Tristan Luneau quietly turned in another solid performance on the back end, notching his second multi-point night of the season. He picked up assists on both Colangelo’s and Sidorov’s goals, bringing his season assist total to eight. The 19-year-old continues to show poise beyond his years, contributing offensively while holding his own in his own zone.
Sasha Pastujov also made his presence felt, registering two assists on the night-one on McKeown’s goal and another on Colangelo’s. That bumped his season totals to 8 goals and 18 assists for 26 points. Pastujov’s ability to drive play and create chances has been one of the Gulls’ most consistent bright spots this season.
What This Means Moving Forward
This was a game the Gulls had a shot to win, and they know it. They matched Abbotsford blow for blow for most of the night, but a late lapse proved costly. Still, there were encouraging signs-continued production from young forwards, offensive contributions from the defense, and a power play that stayed sharp.
If anything, this game was a reminder of how slim the margins are in the AHL. One or two shifts can flip the entire outcome. For San Diego, the challenge now is to tighten things up late, build on the positives, and turn that effort into points the next time out.