Kalle Kossila scored the winning goal in a shootout and Spencer Abbott scored in the third period and the shootout as the San Diego Gulls defeated the visiting Tucson Roadrunners, 3-2, Saturday evening.
It was the team’s second victory over the Roadrunners, following an 8-3 win Friday evening.
On Saturday night, the Gulls shot second in the shootout. Both teams failed to score on their first shots, with Tucson also failing to score on its second. Abbott scored on the Gulls second shot. The Roadrunners tied the shootout on Mike Sislo’s goal. Kossila ended the shootout with his goal on the Gulls third shot.
Abbott gave the Gulls (7-7-1-0) their only lead in regulation with a goal with nine minutes, 17 seconds to play. Pacific Division leading-Tucson tied the score with 1:34 left in the third period on Lane Pederson’s power-play goal after coach Mike Van Ryn had pulled goaltender Marek Langhamer for a sixth attacker.
Neither team scored during the five-minute overtime, which under American Hockey League rules is played with three skaters per team, two less than during regulation. The Gulls were outshot in overtime 5-3.
The Roadrunners (8-2-2-1) opened the scoring 6:19 into the first period on Lawson Crouse’s power-play goal before a crowd at Valley View Casino Center announced at 10,002 for Star Wars Night.
Following a scoreless second period, the Gulls tied the score 6:59 into the third period when defenseman Andy Welinski put a shot through traffic past Langhamer for his sixth goal of the season.
“We weathered the storm in the first, then the second and third we came back firing,” Abbott said.
The Gulls were outshot 13-6 in the first period and 38-36 for the game, a night after ending their streak of being outshot for 10 consecutive games.
Kevin Boyle (5-4-1-0) made 36 saves, including 26 over the first two periods, for his second victory in two nights following three consecutive losses, including one in overtime. Langhamer (1-0-1-1) made 34 saves, including 17 in the second period.
The Gulls, the Anaheim Ducks AHL affiliate, were scoreless on three power-play opportunities, while Tucson scored on two of its four.
The Gulls are 13-1-0-1 in two seasons against the Roadrunners, the Arizona Coyotes AHL affiliate, including a 3-0 record this season.
The two teams will meet again Wednesday at the Tucson Convention Center Arena.
— City News Service
