The San Diego Gulls were limited to 15 shots and held scoreless on five power-play opportunities, including three in the third period, in a 3-0 loss to the San Jose Barracuda Saturday in San Jose.
The Gulls appeared to tie the score midway through the third period when Corey Tropp deflected Brandon Montour’s shot from the point into the net. However, referee Mike Campbell waved off the goal, ruling that Tropp had deflected the puck from above the height of the crossbar.
The Gulls’ two shots in the opening period were a season low for a first period.
The Gulls (11-7-1-0) were shut out for the second time in three games. They lost 4-0 at Stockton last Saturday.
The Barracuda, the San Jose Sharks AHL affiliate, increased their lead to 2-0 with six minutes, six seconds to play when Barclay Goodrow scored on a penalty shot. Goodrow was awarded the penalty shot when it was ruled that Montour had tripped him on a breakaway.
John McCarthy scored a short-handed goal with 5:02 left before a crowd at SAP Center at San Jose announced at 4,152.
Defenseman Tim Heed opened the scoring at 16:12 of the second period with his fourth goal in five games for San Jose (9-6-0-3).
Troy Grosenick recorded his third shutout, improving to 4-4-1-2.
Dustin Tokarski made 31 saves for the Gulls, including 13 in the third period as his record fell to 9-4-0-0.
Left wing Ryan Garbutt and center Nick Sorkin both made their debuts with the Gulls.
The Anaheim Ducks, the Gulls NHL parent team, announced earlier Saturday they had assigned the 31-year-old Garbutt to the Gulls. Garbutt has 39 goals and 48 assists in 305 NHL games, including two goals and an assist in 27 games with the Ducks this season.
The Gulls announced earlier Saturday they had signed the 25-year-old Sorkin to a professional tryout agreement. Sorkin had six goals and 10 assists in 19 games with the Wheeling Nailers of the ECHL this season. He had 12 goals and 14 assists in 77 games over two seasons for the AHL’s Hamilton Bulldogs.
Garbutt was among the Gulls starters Saturday, taking two shots. He was called for holding the stick at 16:55 of the third period, giving the Barracuda their lone power-play opportunity, which the Gulls killed.
Sorkin played in Sweden in the 2015-16 season.
Sorkin did not take any shots.
The two teams will play again Sunday at SAP Center at San Jose. The Gulls will next play at Valley View Casino Center Tuesday against the Ontario Reign, the Los Angeles Kings AHL affiliate.
— City News Service
