Center Chris Mueller had two assists helping the San Diego Gulls defeat the Ontario Reign 3-2 Friday at Valley View Casino Center, ending a six-game losing streak.
Mueller, who was returned to the Gulls today by the Anaheim Ducks, their NHL parent team, assisted on Nic Kerdiles’ first-period goal and Shea Theodore’s second-period power play goal that gave the Gulls a 3-1 lead.
Michael Mersch scored two power-play goals for Ontario (11-3-2-0), the Los Angeles Kings’ American Hockey League affiliate. Mersch’s second goal with 10 minutes, 12 seconds left cut the Gulls lead to 3-2.
The Reign played the final 1:25 with six attackers against four Gulls defenders because of a tripping penalty against Mike Sgarbossa and coach Mike Stothers pulling goaltender Peter Budaj for a sixth attacker, but Gulls (10-7-0- 1) were able to kill the penalty.
Left wing Kyle Bonis scored at 4:32 of the second period to give the Gulls a 2-0 lead.
The goal was Bonis’ first with the Gulls. He was playing in his second game with the team after signing a professional tryout contract on Tuesday. The 26-year-old had been playing for the Toledo Walleye of the ECHL.
Gulls goaltender Matt Hackett stopped 23 of 25 shots to even his record at 3-3. Budaj stopped 28 of 31 shots before a crowd announced at 9,251.
The two teams will play again Saturday at Ontario’s Citizens Business Bank Arena as the Gulls begin a five-game road trip. The Gulls next game at Valley View Casino Center will be Dec. 18 against the San Jose Barracuda, the San Jose Sharks’ AHL affiliate.
— City News Service
