San Diego Gulls twice tied the score, forcing overtime for the fifth consecutive game, but were unable to keep their winless streak from reaching four games in a 3-2 loss to the Bakersfield Condors on Saturday evening in Bakersfield.
Joey LaLeggia scored the game-winner three minutes, 17 seconds into the planned five-minute overtime, taking a pass from Ty Rattie on a two-on-one rush and putting a shot from the right faceoff circle past Reto Berra for his 10th goal of the season.
“We’re in a rough patch right now and we have to find a way out of it,” Gulls right wing Corey Tropp said. “I haven’t been good at all to be honest. I think we just have to all take a look in the mirror and come to the rink on Monday ready to work and try to bounce back Tuesday.”
The Gulls tied the score for the second time with 2:26 left in regulation when Tropp put in the rebound of a shot by Joe Blandisi for his 14th goal of the season before a crowd announced at 5,204 at Rabobank Arena.
The Condors (23-22-8-1) had regained the lead with 8:22 remaining in regulation when Joe Gambardella scored on a rebound.
The Gulls tied the score 51 seconds into the second period when Nic Kerdiles put a rebound of a shot by Kevin Roy past Lauren Brossoit for his 11th goal of the season. The goal was Kerdiles’ 100th point in 164 American Hockey League games over five seasons.
Defenseman Ben Betker opened the scoring at 11:48 of the first period with a slap shot from the right point for his first goal in his 31 games with Bakersfield this season and second in 75 games with the Condors over three seasons. His most recent previous AHL goal had come on Dec. 6, 2016, in a 4-3 overtime victory over the Gulls.
The Gulls led in shots, 40-37, including an 18-12 advantage in the second period. Both teams took three shots in overtime.
Berra (13-8-2-0) made 34 saves, one night after being pulled after allowing three goals in the opening 6:14 in a 3-0 loss to the Ontario Reign. Brossoit (8-6-2-1) made 38 saves, two off his season high.
The Gulls league-leading power play was scoreless in its three opportunities. The Gulls killed both power-play opportunities for Bakersfield, the Edmonton Oilers AHL affiliate. The Gulls have successfully killed 25 of the past 27 shorthanded situations, 92.6 percent.
Despite the winless streak, the Gulls (30-20-3-1) have earned standing points in five of their last six games with two victories, two overtime losses and a shootout loss.
Gulls left wing Mike Liambas and Condors left wing Evan Polei drew five-minute major penalties for their fight 3:16 into the first period. The fight was Liambas’ fifth in 26 games with the Gulls this season.
The Gulls, the Anaheim Ducks AHL affiliate, will next play Tuesday, facing the San Antonio Rampage, the Colorado Avalanche and St. Louis Blues AHL affiliate, at Valley View Casino Center.
— City News Service