The San Diego Gulls opened their coronavirus-delayed and shortened 2020-21 season with a 4-1 victory over the Bakersfield Condors Friday.
Lukas Dostal stopped 29 of 30 shots for the Gulls in their first regular-season game at their temporary home, the FivePoint Arena at Great Park Ice in Irvine.
They are playing there to ensure all personnel in the Anaheim Ducks organization are in one location under the same health protocols.
The Gulls are the Ducks’ American Hockey League affiliate.
Chase De Leo scored twice in the second period, off assists by Trevor Zegras and Simon Benoit. He also logged an assist on defenseman Kodie Curran’s goal later in the period,
Curran, 31, in his Gulls’ debut, increased the Gulls’ lead to 3-1.
Gulls right wing Matt Lorito scored the third period’s lone goal, redirecting Jacob Perreault’s pass into the net. Antoine Moreland was also credited with an assist.
The Condors, the Edmonton Oilers’ AHL affiliate, opened the scoring 4:56 into the first period when Devin Brosseau tipped in a shot from just inside the blue line.
The game was the Gulls’ first in nearly a year, since March 11. They are scheduled to play 44 regular-season games, 24 less than usual.
The AHL season customarily begins in early October.
The game was the first official game for Dostal in the Ducks’ organization. They selected the native of the Czech Republic in the third round of the 2018 NHL draft as the 85th overall selection.
The Gulls will face Bakersfield again at 5 p.m. Saturday, a game that will air on Fox5 San Diego.
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