AHL San Diego Gulls

Berra, Gulls Blank Milwaukee 2-0

Published on March 17, 2018 under American Hockey League (AHL)
San Diego Gulls News Release


The San Diego Gulls won 2-0 over the Milwaukee Admirals tonight at Valley View Casino Center to extend their club record home standings point streak to nine games (8-0-1-0). Tonight marked the fourth shutout of the season for San Diego, tying the four shutouts in 2016-17 for the most in a season in club history. San Diego has now earned standings points in seven of their last eight games (4-1-2-1) and 15 of their last 18 contests (12-3-2-1).

The Gulls killed all three Admirals power play opportunities, and over the last 10 games San Diego has successfully killed 33 of 36 (91.7%) opposition power plays. Since Jan. 26, the Gulls have killed off 62-of-67 (92.5%) PK opportunities and 73-of-79 (92.4%) since Jan. 17.

Reto Berra stopped all 37 shots to earn his third shutout of the season, tying his AHL career high set last season with Springfield. Berra now sits atop the all-time club leaderboard with three shutouts as a Gull. Berra has earned back-to-back wins this week, stopping 70-of-71 shots for a 0.50 goals-against average (GAA) and .986 save percentage (SV%). In his last 16 games, Berra is 10-4-2 with a 2.24 GAA and .937 SV%.

Mike Liambas scored his fourth goal of the season 43 seconds into the second period to open the scoring for San Diego. Scott Sabourin and Julius Nattinen each tallied assists on the goal.

Kalle Kossila sealed the victory with an empty-net goal at 19:18 of the third period, his 15th goal of the season, which set a new career high. Kossila (15-28=43) surpassed the 14 goals he scored in his rookie campaign last season. Jeff Schultz earned an assist on the goal and now has two assists (0-2=2) in as many games.

Tonight's attendance was 10,257.

POSTGAME QUOTES

San Diego Gulls

Mike Liambas

On his goal

We talked to Natty (Nattinen) and Sabby (Sabourin) before the game, and we always talk about getting pucks to the net and work on it in practice. The bad angle shots can end up in the goalie's feet and there will be little rebounds there and we knew against this team and against this stand up goalie we would have to battle to get a dirty one. One popped in for us and it just worked out.

On Milwaukee

They are a really well-structured team in the neutral zone similarly to us in that way and a speedy team. This was going to be a game of mistakes and whoever could capitalize on those mistakes would come out on top. I think it was a tight game and we hit a couple posts but other than that it was a pretty tight game

On moving forward with confidence

We have to have great habits that are reactionary that you don't have to think about it, and come playoff time those habits are going to be huge. We are going to be in situations like this down the stretch here and in playoffs so we have to learn to play the right way and play the clock.

Reto Berra

On the game

I think that it was a tight game but I thought that we deserved to win. I felt that we controlled and played a really disciplined game. I feel it is always like this because we have a really great team as long as we play the right way and with discipline we will be successful.

On his shutout

It is always nice to get a shutout but most important is to win. I always say if you have a shutout as a goalie it means the whole team played really great in front of your. Today again everyone was doing the right things in front of me.

On his game

I am really happy with my performance, absolutely. If you can keep it to zero it is always a good night, so yeah I'm happy.

On the team's confidence moving forward

At this time of year it is normally tight games so you want to make sure you bring them home if you lead. It is not always easy and it is a battle sometimes, but if we play the right way and play with discipline we will be successful.

Head Coach Dallas Eakins

On the game

It was extremely tight, obviously by the score, but I think if you were sitting in the crowd it was quite entertaining. There were lots of chances and I thought that both goalies were excellent, but a real tight game and that's what you are going to see this time of year.

On Mike Liambas

He was really skating and really engaged. He is like that most nights but I think he really turned it up a notch here playing against his old team.

On maintaining confidence moving forward

In games when you score really early there is so much game left that it is very hard to hold the lead. I still thought that we had more chances where we could have spread the lead out. We hit a couple posts that would have been nice, and we had a couple good looks in the slot. In the other end it was Yogi (Reto Berra) shutting the door for us so it's the things you talk abut all the time, every year, game in and game out about protecting the lead, and for me the best way to protect the lead is to score a goal.

On the duo of Berra and Kevin Boyle

It's awesome, and we have as much belief in Kevin (Boyle) as we do Yogi (Berra), and it's just a great feeling for your team, your bench, the guys on the ice knowing that if there are chances coming to your net we've got two guys back there stopping the puck.

Check out the San Diego Gulls Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



American Hockey League Stories from March 17, 2018


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central