Rookie right wing Troy Terry scored in the first and third periods and Joseph Blandisi had a goal and two assists as the San Diego Gulls defeated the San Jose Barracuda, 4-3, Friday evening at Pechanga Arena San Diego.
Blandisi’s power-play goal gave the Gulls a 4-2 lead with three minutes, 39 seconds to play. San Jose right wing Jonathon Martin scored a power- play goal with one second left after Barracuda coach Roy Sommer pulled goaltender Josef Korenar for an extra attacker.
The victory extended the Gulls winning streak to a season-high five games and their standings point streak to 10 games, also a season high, on eight victories and two shootout losses.
In the American Hockey League, teams receive two points for any type of victory and one point for a loss in overtime or a shootout.
“We’re keeping our momentum going and we’re not showing any signs of slowing down,” said Gulls goaltender Kevin Boyle who stopped 27 of 30 shots for his seventh consecutive victory, the Gulls longest streak in their four seasons in the AHL.
“The confidence is there and we’re coming out, especially in the third period, it’s usually our best period over these past few weeks.”
Early in the third period, Blandisi held the puck along the right wing wall, drawing two defenders to him. Blandisi passed to Terry, who was alone in front of the net. Terry faked to his left, then slid the puck between Korenar’s legs 1:32 into the period for his second goal of the game and 14th goal of the season.
Terry is tied for first in scoring with among AHL rookies with Syracuse Crunch center Alex Barre-Boulet with 33 points, despite playing four fewer games.
San Jose cut the deficit to 3-2 with 6:44 to play on Dylan Gambrell’s power-play goal.
The Pacific Division-leading Barracuda (19-7-1-3) opened the scoring 16:28 into the first period when Gambrell won a battle behind the net, threw the puck to the slot to a wide open Vincent Praplan, who scored his fourth goal of the season.
The Gulls (16-11-1-3) capitalized on a San Jose turnover to tie the score with 12 seconds left in the first period on Terry’s goal off Blandisi’s assist.
The Gulls took their first lead with 5:08 left in the second period on center Adam Cracknell’s first goal in his six games with the team.
The Gulls were outshot, 30-26, including a 14-8 disadvantage in the third period, before a crowd announced at 10,253.
Korenar (13-2-0-1) made 22 saves. He entered the game leading the AHL in goals-against average, 2.19.
The Gulls, the Anaheim Ducks AHL affiliate, scored on one of four power-play opportunities. The Barracuda, the San Jose Sharks AHL affiliate, scored on two of three power-play opportunities.
San Jose’s .700 points percentage is second-best in the AHL despite going winless in four consecutive games against the Gulls, including a shootout loss.
The Gulls will begin a four-game road trip Sunday in Ontario.
— City News Service
