Kevin Boyle made a team-record 53 saves as the San Diego Gulls defeated the Ontario Reign 5-2,Saturday evening, for their eighth consecutive victory, matching their longest streak in their three seasons in the American Hockey League.
Defensemen Keaton Thompson and Andy Welinski and center Sam Carrick each had a goal and an assist for the Gulls, who scored the first four goals.
“One thing we’ve worked a lot on is finding different ways to score goals, and there was certainly a good illustration of that tonight,” Gulls coach Dallas Eakins said.
Boyle (16-8-1-0) won his sixth consecutive game. He made 17 saves in the first period, 21 in the second and 15 in the third. Boyle’s 16 victories are the most among AHL rookie goaltenders.
Boyle erased the previous record of 46 saves set Jan. 5 by Reto Berra and equaled by Boyle a day later.
Carrick opened the scoring 15:29 into the first period, putting in the rebound of a shot from the point by defenseman Korbinian Holzer, who was playing for the Gulls for the first time since Feb. 27, 2016.
Holzer, who was assigned to the Gulls Wednesday by their NHL parent team, the Anaheim Ducks, and Kevin Roy were credited with assists.
The Gulls (28-17-1-0) scored again 30 seconds later when Giovanni Fiore put a shot past Jack Campbell for his 13th goal of the season. Carrick and Thompson were credited with the assists.
Thompson scored his fourth goal of the season 18:20 into the first period when he put a shot around Campbell’s left pad. Corey Tropp and Kalle Kossila were credited with the assists.
Welinski scored on a wrist shot 4:36 into the second period off assists by Corey Tropp and Nic Kerdiles before a sellout crowd at Valley View Casino Center announced at 12,920.
Ontario, the Los Angeles Kings AHL affiliate, cut the margin to 4-2 on power-play goals by T.J. Hensick at 12:51 and Philippe Maillet at 16:57.
The Gulls capitalized on a two-man advantage when Eric Fehr scored his team-leading 17th goal of the season with three seconds left in the period. Welinski and Kossila were credited with the assists.
The Gulls were outshot, 55-32, including a 15-5 disadvantage in the third period.
The Gulls league-leading power play scored on one of five opportunities. The Reign (23-19-3-1) scored on two of their three power plays.
Campbell (11-10-3-1) made 27 saves as his winless streak was extended to five consecutive games, including two overtime losses.
The Gulls also won eight consecutive games from Nov. 11-Dec. 2, 2016.
The two teams will play again Sunday at Ontario’s Citizens Business Bank Arena.
— City News Service
