LIVE: Gulls Fall To Reign 7-4 In Game 1

May 4, 2022

By AJ Manderichio/SanDiegoGulls.com

The San Diego Gulls fell the Ontario Reign 7-4 in  Game 1 of their First Round matchup at Toyota Arena.

With the loss, the Gulls are on the brink of elimination and face a do-or-die Game 2 tomorrow.

THIRD PERIOD RECAP

Trevor Carrick pulled the Gulls within one at 3:18 of the final frame.

Drew Helleson curled the puck behind the net, fighting off a stick check and finding Blake McLaughlin at the post. The rookie couldn’t stuff home a chance, but Helleson worked the puck free, finding Carrick sliding down from the point. The defenseman blasted a shot past the unsuspecting Matthew Villalta and into the back of the net for his first goal of the postseason.

Akil Thomas responded just over two minutes later, restoring Ontario’s two-goal lead with a wrist shot from the hash marks.

Martin Frk would push Ontario’s lead to a game-high three goals with his first of the series, sending a slap shot past Lukas Dostal at 7:40 of the period. It chased the Gulls netminder, as head coach Joel Bouchard inserted Olle Eriksson Ek following the Reign’s sixth goal of the game.

Thomas would score again – a shorthanded goal into the empty net – to tie a franchise record for the most goals allowed in a postseason game.

Alex Limoges would find the back of the net late, ripping home a loose puck in the slot for his first professional postseason goal. Olen Zellweger picked up an assist, collecting his first professional point and assist on the tally.

SECOND PERIOD RECAP

Vladimir Tkachev extended Ontario’s lead, collecting a power-play goal with 3:57 left in the middle frame. The Russian forward deked around the Gulls defense to put himself in the slot, sliding the puck past Dostal for his first goal and third point of the game.

FIRST PERIOD RECAP

San Diego scored just 11 seconds after the puck dropped, with Josh Lopina collecting his first professional…