The San Diego Gulls suffered their first loss at Valley View Casino Center following six victories, squandering a two-goal lead in a 4-3 shootout loss to the San Jose Barracuda on Friday.
Both teams were scoreless in the first two rounds of the shootout. Brandon Montour, the Gulls’ third shooter, also failed to score. Jeremy Langlois scored on the Barracuda’s third-round shot to end the shootout.
San Jose center Scott Timmins tied the score with a goal with 24 seconds left in regulation before a crowd announced at 10,010.
There was no scoring during the five-minute overtime, which is played with three skaters on each team, two fewer than normal. Montour was awarded a penalty shot in overtime, but failed to score.
The Gulls took a 2-0 first-period lead on goals by Nick Ritchie and Chris Muller. The goal was the team-leading ninth of the season for the 19-year- old Ritchie, the Gulls’ youngest player.
The Barracuda, the San Jose Sharks’ American Hockey League affiliate, tied the score on second-period goals by Barclay Goodrow and Bryan Lerg.
The Gulls, the Anaheim Ducks AHL affiliate, regained the lead on Nic Kerdiles’ power-play goal 13 minutes, 45 seconds into the third period.
The Gulls scored on all two of their seven power-play opportunities and killed four of San Jose’s five power-play chances.
Goaltender Troy Grosenick stopped 27 of 30 shots for the Barracuda (4-6- 0-1). John Gibson stopped 26 of 29 shots for the Gulls (9-2-0-1).
Gulls center Joseph Cramarossa and San Jose defenseman Joakim Ryan engaged in the game’s only fight, drawing five-minute major penalties for their brawl 8:30 into the first period.
The Gulls wore their road black jerseys. They will wear camouflage- inspired jerseys in Saturday’s game against the Barracuda at Valley View Casino Center.
