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AHL San Diego Gulls

Gulls Get Shocked by Moose in Overtime

October 29, 2016 - American Hockey League (AHL)
San Diego Gulls News Release


WINNIPEG, Manitoba -Scott Kosmachuk's goal 1:31 into overtime gave the Manitoba Moose (3-3-0-1) a 3-2 victory over the San Diego Gulls (2-2-1-0) on Friday night at MTS Centre in Winnipeg. Kosmachuk finished a two-on-one rush during three-on-three play in the extra period, backhanding a pass from Chase De Leo over the shoulder of Gulls goalie Kevin Boyle, who made 27 saves in his AHL debut.

Stefan Noesen and Corey Tropp scored goals for San Diego, who secured a point in their first-ever visit to Canada. The Moose and Gulls will play again on Saturday night before meeting twice in San Diego in two weeks over Veterans Day weekend (Nov. 11-12).

"This is one of those games we can look back on down the road when we have a lead going into the third period," said veteran San Diego defenseman Jeff Schultz, "We can look at this one, see what we did wrong and learn from it."

Jumping in front for the third time in five games this season, San Diego controlled play throughout the first half of the opening period. Noesen's wrist shot from right wing, taken after a faceoff win in the offensive zone, slid through traffic and underneath Moose goalie Eric Comrie to give the Gulls a 1-0 lead at 7:08, with assists going to Ondrej Kase and Nate Guenin.

The Moose answered back seconds after a power play expired later in the period, with Brendan Lemieux springing Quinton Howden free in the near corner for a walkout attempt. Howden pulled the puck inside the near post on Boyle for his team-leading fourth goal of the season, knotting the game at one 13:14 into the first.

The lone goal of the second period came on a Gulls power play, as Schultz's wrist shot from the left point found Corey Tropp in the low slot. San Diego's leading scorer tipped the point shot between his legs and behind Comrie for his third goal and ninth point of the young campaign, lifting the Gulls to a 2-1 lead at 14:21. San Diego killed a Manitoba penalty split between the second intermission and carried their one-goal lead into the final frame.

Tropp currently ranks tied for second among league leaders in points, and leads all skaters (minimum four games) with 1.80 points-per game.

An elbowing penalty on Manitoba's Ryan Olsen gave the Gulls a power play opportunity midway through the third period, but despite four shots on net San Diego could not find a comfort-seeking third goal.

When the Moose were awarded a power play after the Gulls got caught with too many men on the ice, Manitoba was able to convert. Kosmachuk's curling drive from outside the left circle was left loose behind Boyle on the rebound. Julian Melchiori was able to slide the puck from near post to far, where De Leo had two taps at it before settling home his first goal of the year, good for a 2-2 tie at 12:36.

"They're a high-skill team, move the puck well, and establish the forecheck well," added Jeff Schultz. "Tonight came down to special teams, and that was the difference."

The Gulls had to hang on through a rough stretch late in the third period, killing three straight icing calls with tired legs before then having to kill a Tropp tripping penalty with 2:08 left in regulation.

"(Tyler Morley) did a great job of staying hot on the faceoff dot, and allowed us to catch our breath," said Schultz, who was one of the five skaters trapped on the ice for almost two minutes of action, "We had just enough energy to get the puck out and make a change."

San Diego was able to hang on and levied one shot during overtime before losing the puck in their offensive zone, leading to the De Leo-Kosmachuk tandem rush and the eventual game-winner.

Eric Comrie stopped 30-of-32 shots faced to earn the victory in net for Manitoba, improving to 2-2 on the season.

NOTES: San Diego went 1-for-3 on the power play, the Moose 1-for-4...San Diego has scored a power play goal in four of their five games...after not losing a game in the regular season in 2015-16 when leading after forty minutes, the Gulls are 1-1-1 entering the third period in 2016-17...Zac Larraza was recalled from the Utah Grizzlies (ECHL) and made his season debut for the Gulls, going scoreless with two penalty minutes (PIM)...Brandon Montour led the Gulls with five shots on goal and leads the entire AHL with 32 shots this season...San Diego was out-shot in a game (30-29) for the first time in 2016-17.

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