Gulls Race Past Roadrunners with 5-3 Win
October 15, 2016 - American Hockey League (AHL)
San Diego Gulls News Release
SAN DIEGO - The Gulls opened their second season in San Diego with a 5-3 win over the Tucson Roadrunners in front of 10,727 fans at Valley View Casino Center.
Corey Tropp recorded 1-23 points, including the first goal of the 2016-17 campaign, while Antoine Laganiere (2), Michael Sgarbossa and Kalle Kossila contributed goals for San Diego.
Tropp opened the scoring at 8:07 of the first period with a power play goal to give the Gulls an early lead over the Roadrunners. Tyler Morley created space for himself, with the rookie center stick-handling between two Tucson penalty killers and feeding a pass across the front of the crease to Tropp who lifted the puck over the pad of Tucson goaltender Justin Peters.
Michael Sgarbossa extended San Diego's lead to 2-0, rifling a shot past Peters 51 seconds into the second period to give the Gulls a 2-0 lead just as Tucson's Michael Bunting had exited the penalty box. Just after Brandon Montour held the point, Shea Theodore fed a cross-ice pass to Sgarbossa who netted his first goal of the season.
Craig Cunningham scored a pair of goals for Tucson, including the first-ever Roadrunners goal at 2:17 of the second period to cut San Diego's lead to 2-1. Cunningham slotted home a rebound off the post to beat Gulls goaltender Dustin Tokarski for his first of the night in a scramble behind the Gulls' netminder.
Gulls center Kalle Kossila recorded his first goal of the season on the power play at 14:22 of the second period to extend the Gulls lead to 3-1. Left Wing Antoine Laganiere scored his first of the season, a power play goal, midway through the third period to put the Gulls ahead by three with 10:38 remaining.
Cunningham scored his second of the game on the power play minutes later to make it a 4-2 game, and Kyle Wood made it a one-goal game 1:38 later with a power play goal of his own at the 14:15 mark of the final period.
The Gulls made a late power play count as Antoine Laganiere scored his second goal of the night to ice the game with Brandon Burlon in the box for interference. The on-ice officials reviewed the play, and quickly confirmed the goal stood as the final marker for San Diego.
Five Gulls recorded multi-point efforts from five players, including Laganiere's first multi-goal effort of the season (2-02), Tropp's three points (1-23) and multi-assist games from defensemen Andy Welisnki (0-22), Brandon Montour (0-22) and Shea Theodore (0-22).
Tokarski registered his first win of the new campaign, stopping 29-of-32 shots, and making the saves he needed to to keep San Diego ahead at crucial times. San Diego outshot Tucson 43-32, while the Gulls power play finished the night 2-for-6, while the club killed off 3-of-6 penalties.
San Diego will host the Ontario Reign tomorrow night (7 p.m.) at Valley View Casino Center for the first rendition of Rivalry Night during the 2016-17 season. All fans in attendance will receive a magnet schedule courtesy of Dino's Greek Cafe & Taverna.
Three Stars: 1. Corey Tropp (SDG) 2. Antoine Laganiere (SDG) 3. Craig Cunningham (TUC)
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