The San Diego Gulls and Colorado Eagles are gearing up for their final showdown of the 2025-26 regular season tonight at Blue Arena. The puck drops at 6:05 p.m. PDT, and fans can catch the action on AHLTV via FloHockey or tune in to the Gulls Audio Network.
This season, the Gulls have held their own against the high-octane Eagles, boasting a 3-4-0-0 record. San Diego has shown they can keep pace with Colorado's fast play, snagging their first two victories since 2022 on the Eagles' home turf. Notably, the Gulls were the first AHL team to net a shorthanded goal against Colorado this season, racking up 17 goals in total against them.
Last night's matchup at Blue Arena was a thriller. The Gulls emerged victorious in a nail-biting contest that featured a dramatic third-period comeback and a four-round shootout.
Sam Colangelo reflected on the game, saying, "We need to build on how we played them. Not just in the third period but throughout the game-get pucks behind them, wear them down, crash the net, and challenge their goalie. It's a 2-1 series for us in the last three games, and we're aiming to close it out tomorrow night."
The excitement was palpable throughout the game, especially in the second period when both teams lit up the scoreboard with five goals in just over five minutes. Nathan Gaucher got things rolling for the Gulls, followed by Colangelo and Matthew Phillips.
With under two minutes left in regulation, Tristan Luneau narrowed the two-goal deficit, and Sasha Pastujov tied it up in the final 30 seconds, pushing the game into overtime. Nikita Nesterenko clinched the win in the shootout, securing two crucial points for San Diego.
In goal, Tomas Suchanek delivered an impressive performance, stopping 24 of 29 shots in his 12th appearance this season.
Head coach Matt McIlvane praised the team's effort, stating, "The story of the game is resiliency and character. It's something our group has shown before, and this was a big moment to step up and get it done."
Tonight's game promises to be another exciting chapter in this season's rivalry. The Gulls are looking to end the series on a high note and carry that momentum forward.