Goaltender Anton Khudobin stopped all 16 shots he faced in regulation in relief of Matt Hackett helping the San Diego Gulls rally from a two-goal deficit, but allowed Emile Poirier’s overtime goal in a 5-4 loss to the Stockton Heat Saturday night at Valley View Casino Center.
The Gulls took six shots in overtime, which in the American Hockey League is played with three skaters per team, two fewer than in regulation, but all were turned aside by Stockton goaltender Kent Simpson, who made 16 saves in the third period.
Poirier and Mason Raymond teamed on a two-on-one rush up the ice on the winning goal, with Poirier redirecting the puck past Khudobin two minutes, 34 seconds into overtime for his 11th goal of the season, and third in two nights against the Gulls.
Gulls coach Dallas Eakins lifted Hackett when Hunter Shinharuk’s goal on the Heat’s 11th shot gave Stockton a 4-2 lead 3:11 into the second period. The Gulls cut the deficit to 4-3 on Mike Sgarbossa’s second goal of the game at 9:49 of the second period.
The Gulls tied the score, 4-4 when Chris Mueller scored 14 seconds into the third period. Muller opened the scoring 56 seconds into the game with his 13th goal of the season. The Heat, the Calgary Flames’ AHL affiliate, took a 2-1 lead on goals by Turner Elson and Kenney Morrison. The Gulls tied the score on Sgarbossa’s goal 12:41 into the first period, but Stockton reclaimed the lead on Poirier’s goal at 17:11.
Simpson made 41 saves, the most in his 11 games with the Heat (24-23-1-2) before a crowd announced at 7,399.
“I thought we had lots of opportunities to finish and lots of chances,” Eakins said. “The finish just wasn’t there.”
Hackett made seven saves. The overtime loss ended a five-game home winning streak for the Gulls (28-20-2-2), but extended their points streak to seven games, which includes five victories and a shootout loss.
The victory ended Stockton’s six-game road losing streak. The Gulls, the Anaheim Ducks, AHL affiliate, were held scoreless on their three power-play opportunities, but killed the Heat’s only power-play opportunity.
The game ended a streak of 21 consecutive Gulls game where the team scoring first went on to win. The Gulls have not lost in regulation when scoring first, with a 23-0-1-1 record.
The Gulls will next play Tuesday night at Bakersfield, the Edmonton Oilers AHL affiliate. The two teams will also play Friday night at Valley View Casino Center.
— City News Service