Kalle Kossila scored with 39 seconds left to give the San Diego Gulls a 4-3 victory over the Ontario Reign on Saturday in Ontario, extending their season-high winning streak to five games.
Corey Tropp sent a pass from behind the net to Kossila who put a shot from the slot over Cal Petersen’s blocker for his seventh goal of the season.
“Corey made a great play, beat two guys and I went to the slot and it went straight to my tape,” Kossila said. “I was lucky to get the goal.”
Kossila also had two assists. The three points tied his career high in his 86 games in the American Hockey League. Kossila has a point in five consecutive games.
“He has really made a commitment to being the best guy on the ice at all times, including practice,” Gulls coach Dallas Eakins said.
The Gulls (14-11-1-0) have trailed during each game of the winning streak, which equals the third-longest in their three AHL seasons. They were down 3-2 when Scott Sabourin swatted his own rebound over the shoulder of Petersen as he was falling to the ice with 7:46 left in the second period.
The Gulls opened the scoring 4:15 into the first period when Nic Kerdiles deflected Keaton Thompson’s shot from the point past Petersen for his third goal of the season in his eight games with the team this season, including two in the past two games.
Kossila was also credited with an assist. The Gulls are 8-0-1-0 when scoring first.
Ontario (13-12-1-1) tied the score at 16:07 of the first period when defenseman Jordan Subban put a shot from the point past Reto Berra for his first goal in 18 AHL games this season.
Subban was playing his second game with the Reign since being assigned to them by their NHL parent team, the Los Angeles Kings, on Dec. 8. Subban was acquired by the Kings Dec. 7 from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for forward Nic Dowd.
Subban’s first 16 AHL games this season were with the Utica Comets, Vancouver’s AHL affiliate. Subban is the younger brother of Nashville Predators defenseman P.K. Subban and Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Malcolm Subban.
The Gulls regained the lead 2:30 into the second period on Tropp’s power-play goal off assists by Kossila and Marcus Pettersson before a crowd announced at 7,115 for the afternoon game at Citizens Business Bank Arena.
Ontario regained the lead with two goal 18 seconds apart.
Sean Walker snuck a shot under the pad of a sprawling Berra for an unassisted goal at 5:23 of the second period. Matt Moulson put in a rebound of a shot by Mike Amadio at 5:41 of the second period for his first goal in his eight games with the Reign.
The Gulls, the Anaheim Ducks AHL affiliate, led 34-33 in shots, including a 15-10 advantage in the second period. Berra (5-2-0-0) made 30 saves to win his fourth consecutive decision. Petersen (7-6-0-0) also made 30 saves.
The Gulls, who lead the 30-team AHL by scoring on 24.6 percent of their power plays, scored on one of three power plays. The Gulls, who are last in penalty killing at 76 percent, killed all three penalties.
There were two fights, both in the first period. Defenseman James Melindy was in a fight for the third time in his seven games with the Gulls, brawling with Ontario left wing Jamie Devane at 10:28 of the first period. Both players drew five-minute major penalties.
Gulls defenseman Steve Oleksy and Reign center Brett Sutter drew five- minute majors for their fight at 16:38 of the first period. All three of Oleksy’s fights have come in games against Ontario. Sutter is a son of former Los Angeles Kings coach Darryl Sutter.
The Gulls will next play Wednesday against the Tucson Roadrunners, the Arizona Coyotes AHL affiliate, at Valley View Casino Center.
— City News Service