Sports stats



AHL San Diego Gulls

Gulls Win Preseason Opener in Shootout over Reign

October 6, 2016 - American Hockey League (AHL)
San Diego Gulls News Release


SAN DIEGO - The San Diego Gulls opened the 2016-17 preseason with a 4-3 shootout win over the Ontario Reign in an entertaining contest at Citizens Business Bank Arena.

Both teams traded numerous scoring chances in an end-to-end three-on-three overtime. Gulls rookie goaltender Kevin Boyle extended the game to a shootout after denying Daniel Ciampini's breakaway attempt with 30 seconds remaining in overtime to extend the game to a shootout.

Kevin Boyle stopped Daniel Ciampini's shootout attempt to clinch the shootout victory, with Ondrej Kase's shootout goal standing up as the game-winner.

The Gulls opened the game with a dominant opening period, driving play in the offensive zone for large portions of the fame, outshooting Ontario 13-5. Stefan Noesen opened the scoring with a late power play goal at 19:40 of the opening frame, beating Ontario netminderr Jack Flinn with a high tip off a deft pass from Gulls center Tyler Morley with Ontario's Corey Ward serving a two-minute tripping penalty.

Ontario quickly evened the score 32 seconds into the second period when Corey Ward buried a shot past Gulls goaltender Matt Hackett from the slot following a quick feed by Daniel Ciampini from behind the net.

Kevin Roy restored the lead moments later for San Diego with a quick snap shot past Flinn from the hash marks at 2:47 of the second period, registering his first goal (unassisted) of the preseason.

At the halfway point of the second frame, both teams introduced new goaltenders with Kevin Boyle manning the Gulls net for the remainder of the contest after Hackett stopped 10-of-11 shots in 30:02 of action. Jonah Imoo came in to relieve Jack Flinn who allowed two goals on the 18 shots he faced in 30:02.

Stefan Noesen scored his second goal of the game at 12:08 of the second period to extend San Diego's lead to 3-1, batting in a loose puck past Imoo shortly after his introduction to the game. Noesen jumped on a sloppy turnover from a Reign defenseman at the top of the crease. Noesen led all skaters with his multi-goal effort (2-02) on in addition to his five shots.

Ontario forward Lucas Lessio made it a one-goal game at 9:29 of the third period with a hard shot after Ontario won an offensive-zone faceoff that beat Gulls goaltender Kevin Boyle.

Shortly after Ontario's second goal, Gulls right wing Nick Tarnasky and Ontario left wing Zack Trotman dropped the gloves in a spirited bout that go the young crowd on their feet. Ontario hosted it's first-ever Education Day, with nearly 5,000 local students invited to partake in the game themed around the importance of learning, school spirit and following your dreams.

Ontario evened the score at 3-3 with 4:28 remaining in the third period when right wing Miles Koules snuck shot past Kevin Boyle.

Stefan Noesen and Corery Tropp each had point-blank chances late in the third with just under 2:30 remaining in the contest but couldn't find a way to put the puck past Imoo.

Gulls rookie goaltender Kevin Boyle stopped 23-of-25 shots during 34:58 of action in his first appearance in a Gulls sweater.

San Diego finished the game outshooting Ontario 38-36. The Gulls power play went 1-for-3 on the man advantage, while the team killed both penalties in the contest.

SHOOTOUT ATTEMPTS: Kevin Roy (SD): Goal Gasper Kopitar (ONT): Miss Julius Nattinen (SD): Miss Quentin Shore (ONT): Goal Ondrej Kase (SD): Goal Daniel Ciampini (ONT): Miss

San Diego will host Ontario in its second preseason game on Oct. 10 at Honda Center (7 p.m.), home of the club's National Hockey League (NHL) affiliate Anaheim Ducks. The game and parking will be free of charge to all fans. Seating is general admission (first-come, first-served basis). Doors open at 5:30 p.m.

Check out the San Diego Gulls Statistics

• Discuss this story on the American Hockey League message board...

American Hockey League Stories from October 6, 2016


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