The San Diego Gulls are heading into the All-Star break on a high note-and with some serious momentum. With a 7-4 win over the Henderson Silver Knights at Pechanga Arena, the Gulls notched their third straight victory and tied their season-high for goals in a single game. That kind of offensive outburst doesn’t just show up out of nowhere-it’s the result of depth, execution, and a team starting to find its rhythm.
Now sitting at 21-14-6-3 with 51 points, San Diego finishes the night tied for fifth in the Pacific Division. Not a bad place to be when you're about to hit the reset button for the break.
Balanced Attack, Big Results
Head coach Matt McIlvane summed it up best: “Objective is to score more than the other team, and we were able to do so tonight.” Simple?
Sure. But the way the Gulls went about it was anything but.
All four lines got involved, and the scoring came from up and down the roster-exactly what you want to see from a team looking to make a second-half push.
Goaltender Calle Clang continues to be a rock between the pipes. He turned away 33 of 37 shots to earn his 11th win of the season, matching his career high. Clang’s been steady, and on nights like this, that’s exactly what you need behind a high-octane offense.
Phillips Breaks Through
Matthew Phillips led the charge offensively with a three-point night (1G, 2A), finally snapping a 12-game goal drought in the process. That goal had to feel good-not just for Phillips, but for a team that’s leaned on his playmaking all season. With 9 goals and 22 assists (31 points), he’s now tied for the team lead in scoring.
“We’ve got tons of weapons on this team,” Phillips said. “Personally, it feels great to score one, but we have a lot of guys that have been stepping up lately.”
And he’s not wrong. This Gulls team is deep, and on paper, this was one of their most complete lineups of the season.
Pastujov Keeps Producing
Sasha Pastujov continues to show why he’s one of the most exciting young players on the roster. He recorded a goal and an assist, including a helper on the power play, and now sits at 10 goals and 21 assists-tied with Phillips atop the team leaderboard. Pastujov’s blend of vision and finishing touch has been a major asset, especially on the man advantage.
Bailey Sets the Tone Early
Veteran forward Justin Bailey wasted no time getting the Gulls on the board, scoring just 1:17 into the first period. That early spark set the tone for a fast-paced, high-energy game.
Bailey added an assist later, bringing his season total to 15 goals and 10 assists. He leads the team in goals and has been a consistent presence both on the scoresheet and in the locker room.
“At this point in the season, all the games get tight,” Bailey said. “But we know who we are.
When we’re playing with pace and winning battles, we’re a tough team to deal with.” That’s been evident over this three-game win streak, where the Gulls have looked more cohesive and confident than at any point earlier in the season.
Special Teams Stepping Up
The Gulls’ power play has quietly started to click. Ryan Carpenter added his second power-play goal of the season-his ninth overall-and the team has now scored with the man advantage in three of their last four games. That’s a trend worth watching as the stretch run approaches.
Yegor Sidorov also continued his strong play, netting his 13th goal of the season off a one-timer set up by Phillips. The 20-year-old winger now has six points in his last six games and is developing into a reliable scoring threat.
McKeown Adds Insurance, Blue Line Contributes
Defenseman Roland McKeown delivered a key insurance goal in the third, his fourth of the season. He was assisted by Nikita Nesterenko and Tyson Hinds, who picked up their fifth and tenth points of the year, respectively. It’s another example of how the Gulls are getting contributions from all over the lineup-not just the top six or the power-play unit.
Physical Edge on Display
Things got chippy in the second period, with multiple Gulls stepping up physically. Tristan Luneau dropped the gloves after coming to the defense of his goaltender, earning his first fighting major of the season.
Konnor Smith followed suit with his own five-minute fighting penalty, and Judd Caulfield chipped in with a roughing call to close out the period. It wasn’t just about scoring goals-San Diego showed they’re willing to push back when the game gets gritty.
Looking Ahead
With the All-Star break now underway, the Gulls will get a chance to rest and reset before diving into a crucial stretch of the season. They’ll return to action on February 13 against the Bakersfield Condors in a back-to-back set that could have playoff implications down the road.
“It’s time to reset and recover and get ready for a real great push,” McIlvane said. And if these last three games are any indication, the Gulls are gearing up to be a serious problem for the rest of the Pacific Division.