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AHL San Diego Gulls

Gulls Ride Comforts of Home to 3-2 Victory

April 8, 2018 - American Hockey League (AHL)
San Diego Gulls News Release


The San Diego Gulls defeated the Ontario Reign 3-2 at Valley View Casino Center to earn the club's 20th win on home ice this season. San Diego is 20-12-1-0 at home this season and reached the 20-win mark for the third consecutive season. In the last 13 games on home ice, the Gulls are 10-2-1-0 with a .808 points percentage. San Diego had a season-high 47 shots on goal tonight to surpass the previous high of 44 set on Dec. 16 vs. Stockton.

Kalle Kossila collected his second consecutive multi-point game with a goal and two assist (1-2=3) to set a new career high of 51 points (19-32=51). Kossila surpassed his previous high of 14-34-48 points set as a rookie in 2016-17. The three-point game marked the fifth time this season Kossila has recorded at least three points (last: 2-2=4 on Jan. 3 at Texas).

Corey Tropp recorded his eighth multi-point game of the season with a goal and assist (1-1=2). Tropp scored his second goal in as many games for his 17th goal of the season with his assist marking his 40th of the campaign. Tropp has tallied 2-2=4 points his last four games.

Kevin Roy scored his 13th goal and 36th point of the season on a breakaway at 8:38 of the second period. Joe Blandisi earned an assist for the second straight game on the goal.

Steven Oleksy earned an assist for the second straight game to set a new AHL career high with his 20th point of the season (7-13=20). His 20th point surpassed the 2-17=19 points he collected with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in 2015-16.

Defenseman Brian Cooper tallied his eighth assist of the season Corey Tropp's opening goal.

POSTGAME QUOTES

San Diego Gulls

Kalle Kossila

On the win

It's huge. I think we haven't been playing our greatest lately so I think that hopefully we can turn it around and this is going to give us a boost.

On the fans

It's a packed house out there and our fans are great no matter what happens. They support us so it's nice to give back sometimes.

On winning

It's all about winning. It doesn't matter if you play unreal, if you lose it is still going to feel bad so it's a great win for us and let's enjoy it for a bit.

On the playoff atmosphere

We talk about it in the locker room that every game is a playoff atmosphere game for us and we just have to be ready to go. I think that it's preparing us for playoffs when we have to play those games right now.

On the moment of solidarity honoring the Humboldt Broncos

It was really emotional, especially with us knowing Chris (Beaudry), their assistant coach, and what happened to their team. You don't want that to happen to anybody, that's just horrible. I think that we wanted to play for that team.

On the importance of Wednesdays game

It's huge. Every game is important and it's not about the points either, it's about us playing well and being ready for the playoffs.

Head Coach Dallas Eakins

On the game

I was encouraged coming out of last night's loss and I thought we picked right up off where we left off. I thought our energy was great. Obviously our special teams with our power play getting a couple, and our penalty kill was excellent so all the ingredients for a good win.

On the Humboldt Broncos

It just reminds you of how it is such a privilege to come into a rink and make a living, and it's that sobering reminder that this should be a great day no matter what. We talked about it a little before the game with our group and obviously a lot of emotions here over the last 24 hours for our guys because we do have a connection there, and I thought our guys played excellent getting through that.

On Kalle Kossila

He is a student of the game and since day one when he came in here at the start of last year he has been all over his shifts. He wants to see all of his face-offs, and he works extremely hard. I think that he is such a great reminder that if you put in the work and invest your time great things are going to happen.

On the playoff atmosphere

Especially with that team, no matter where they go we usually stand in their way and no matter where we go they are usually in our way. I don't think either team would have it any other way.

On the fans

It's incredible and it just keeps getting better. Our fans have accepted us into their community and made us feel welcome, and it's such a privilege to live here and to come into this arena. It's full, and it's loud, and our fans are behind us whether we are playing well or we are struggling. Our fans know when to lift us up and to keep us going and it's such a privilege for not only our staff and our players but our whole organization to be part of America's Finest City.

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American Hockey League Stories from April 8, 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.

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