The San Diego Gulls are heading back to the Calder Cup Playoffs.
The hometown hockey team clinched a playoff berth Saturday night, despite falling 5-2 to the Ontario Reign at the Pechanga Arena in San Diego.
Saturday's punched ticket to the playoffs was a result of The Tucson Roadrunners' loss to the Colorado Eagles, where they conceded a game-winning goal in the final seconds of their game, which gave The San Diego Gulls their fourth Calder Cup Playoff berth in the past seven seasons.
Gulls head coach Joel Bouchard said that, despite the recent slump they've been on, they have come along way from where they were at the beginning of the year.
"We went from far behind if you look at where we were as a team on February," Gulls head coach Joel Bouchard said. "So, I think it’s a bit of getting what we deserve a little bit. Although the last five game hasn’t been what we want on the scoreboard. I don’t think it was five losses in the performance. I think we just are out of sync a little bit. We did change the lineup. We’re going to have some body back. We’re going to change the dynamic a little bit, but I think the last two weeks have been demanding. It’s good that we go through that adversity. But we have to gel together and go back at it."
Bouchard says that they will use this past losing week as a learning experience for the upcoming playoff battles.
"I think it’s good we went through this this week," Bouchard said. "It’s good. So let’s see how we can regroup. Like I said, work on our game. We have a lot of time. It doesn’t look like much, but six games and we’re not far off. Look at tonight. And we have to go through that adversity. I think the guys need that break tomorrow and we’ll go back next week."
And now that their playoff ticket is punched, The Gulls will seek to gain a better spot in the playoff bracket to avoid the toughest opponent as their first match-up.
The Gulls will face the Henderson Silver Knights next week with an opportunity to bounce back from their recent struggles.
