The San Diego Seals took on the Vancouver Warriors at Rogers Arena Friday night in the first of two meetings this season. The Seals are uncharacteristically looking into the playoff picture from the outside, having lost each of their first three home games. Meanwhile, the Warriors are uncharacteristically looking down from near the top of the standings after adding a number of key pieces in the offseason. However, the Seals would regroup after losing an early 6-2 lead, as seven different players scored in an 11-9 win. San Diego improves to 2-3 on the season heading into a home-and-home series with Philadelphia the next two weeks. Vancouver drops to 3-2; they play at Ottawa next week before a crucial home-and-home series with Rochester.
Seals retain first half edge despite big Vancouver run
San Diego set the tone early, with Tre Leclaire scoring just 32 seconds into the game. Connor Robinson (8:05 power play) and Zach Currier (8:37) quickly made it 3-0 Seals. Vancouver finally broke through when Shane Simpson scored in transition (14:07) to make it 3-1 after the first quarter. But the Seals struck quickly again in the second, with Danny Logan (0:20) and Pat Kavanagh (2:27) extending the lead to 5-1. Adam Charalambides (4:44) cut the lead to three, but Kavanagh scored again (6:56) for a 6-2 lead.
The Warriors would then go on a four-goal run in a span of less than two and a half minutes to erase San Diego’s lead. A second goal from Charalambides (8:09 power play), Reid Bowering (8:56), Keegan Bal (9:42), and Curtis Dickson (10:21) leveled the game at 6-6. Dylan Watson broke the run 26 seconds later, giving the Seals a 7-6 halftime lead.
Seals hold off late comeback for key road win
Leclaire opened the second half scoring with his second goal (1:13). Charalambides’ hat trick goal (5:41) pulled the Warriors within 8-7, but Watson scored again (9:52) to keep the Seals up two, 9-7 going into the fourth quarter. A second goal from Currier (2:46) pushed the lead to 10-7, before goals from Bal (13:56) and Marcus Klarich (14:04) pulled Vancouver back within one. Curtis Dickson then appeared to tie the game, but no goal was called on the field, and replays were inconclusive, keeping the goal off the board. Eli Gobrecht then closed out the scoring with an empty net goal (14:56).
Other Stats Of Note
Seals: Leclaire (2g, 4a); Currier (2g, 2a); Kavanagh (2g, 2a); Watson (2g, 1a); Logan (1g, 1a); Gobrecht (1g, 1a); Robinson (1g); Wesley Berg (3a)
Warriors: Charalambides (3g); Bal (2g, 2a); Klarich (1g, 2a); Dickson (1g, 1a); Simpson (1g); Bowering (1g); Jesse King (3a)
San Diego remains one of two teams still undefeated on the road (2-0; ironically, Vancouver is the other)
Trevor Baptiste outdueled Max Adler as the Seals won 19 of 24 faceoffs; Baptiste also led all players with 9 Loose Ball pickups
Christian Del Bianco (VAN): 46 saves; Chris Orglieri (SD): 41 saves
