The San Diego Gulls allowed two power-play goals in the second period and were held scoreless in six power-play opportunities in a 2-0 loss Saturday night to the Ontario Reign at Valley View Casino Center.
Jack Campbell made 36 saves, including 17 in the third period, for his 15th shutout in 151 professional games and 10th in 123 American Hockey League games.
“He played the best game I have ever seen him play,” said Gulls coach Dallas Eakins.
Campbell faced the Gulls once in the regular season and three times in the Calder Cup playoffs last season as a member of the Texas Stars with a combined 2-2 record.
Campbell had been expected to be the backup behind Peter Budaj, who was recalled by the Los Angeles Kings, Ontario’s NHL parent team, Thursday after Jonathan Quick suffered a lower-body injury Wednesday. Budaj led AHL goaltenders in goals-against average, save percentage, shutouts and minutes played last season.
Gulls goaltender Matt Hackett stopped 25 of the 27 shots he faced in his season debut before a crowd announced at 7,017.
“We had some good chances,” said Gulls defenseman Shea Theodore, who took a game-high eight shots. “We were moving it well. We just have to do what we can to find the back of the net.”
Playing in its season opener, Ontario capitalized on a two-man advantage when T.J. Hensick tipped a Sean Backman pass from the point past Hackett two minutes, 58 seconds into the second period. Jonny Brodzinski was also credited with an assist.
Michael Mersch scored a power-play goal at 7:51 of the second period, with Backman and Brodzinski again getting the assists.
The Gulls (1-1-0-0) had two-man power-play advantages in both the first and second periods.
“I loved our five-on-threes,” Eakins said. “We had the looks we wanted. We had it open and we needed to finish it.”
The Gulls killed four of the Reign’s six power-play opportunities.
There were two fights, both in the second period.
Gulls right wing Corey Tropp and Ontario defenseman Zach Trotman both drew five-minute major penalties for their fight at 10:41 of the second period, with Tropp receiving an additional two-minute minor penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Gulls defenseman Stu Bickel and Reign center Michael Latta fought 2:12 later, with both receiving five-minute major penalties. Bickel led the Gulls with 210 penalty minutes in 59 games last season.
The Gulls, the Anaheim Ducks, AHL affiliate, will next play next Saturday night against Texas, the Dallas Stars AHL affiliate, at Valley View Casino Center.
— City News Service
