Tyler Morley scored what proved to be the game-winning goal four minutes, 28 seconds into the third period as the San Diego Gulls defeated the Rockford IceHogs, 3-2 Saturday evening for their 12th victory in 14 games.
Rookie goaltender Kevin Boyle made 11 of his 30 saves in the third period, holding Rockford scoreless in his first game with the Gulls since Jan. 22.
Boyle was recalled from the Utah Grizzlies of the ECHL Thursday, the same day the Gulls NHL parent team, the Anaheim Ducks, recalled goaltender Jhonas Enroth from his loan after John Gibson was sidelined because of a lower body injury.
The Gulls (30-14-2-2) killed five of the IceHogs’ six power-play opportunities, including a two-man disadvantage for 59 seconds in the first period. The Gulls were scoreless on their five power-play opportunities before a crowd at Valley View Casino Center announced at 10,077.
Morley took a pass from Scott Sabourin and put a shot past Jeff Glass for his third goal of the season and second of the month. Ryan Garbutt was also credited with an assist.
“Two hard-working teams grinded it out tonight and we got the points in the end,” Morley said. “That’s all that matters.”
The IceHogs (21-25-8-3) tied the score, 2-2, 4:08 into the second period when defenseman Ville Pokka put in a rebound of a shot by Michael Latta for a power-play goal.
Rockford, the Chicago Blackhawks American Hockey League affiliate, opened the scoring 1:31 into the first on Kyle Baun’s goal.
The Gulls got their first goal 4:16 later on defenseman Brandon Montour’s slap shot from the point off assists by fellow defenseman Jaycob Megna and forward Kevin Roy. Montour was returned on loan to the Gulls from the Ducks earlier Saturday.
The Gulls took a 2-1 lead at 12:16 of the first period on Megna’s fifth goal of the season.
Glass stopped 28 of 31 shots.
“We played OK tonight,” Gulls coach Dallas Eakins said. “Obviously we want to be better. But we still found a way to win and that’s the important thing as we head down the stretch and into the playoffs.”
The Gulls will next play Tuesday against the Tucson Roadrunners, the Arizona Coyotes NHL affiliate, at the Tucson Convention Center Arena. Their next game at Valley View Casino Center will be Friday against Tucson.
The Gulls are 4-1-0-1 against the Roadrunners, with their lone regulation loss coming in the most recent game between the two teams, Feb. 19 at Valley View Casino Center.
— City News Service
