The San Diego Gulls battled hard but fell short in a high-scoring showdown against the Iowa Wild, losing 7-5 at Pechanga Arena San Diego. Both teams opened with a flurry of goals in the first period, with Caedan Bankier and Liam Öhgren striking early for Iowa before Nico Myatovic and Jan Myšák equalized for the Gulls. San Diego briefly took the lead in the second period with a goal by Tristan Luneau, but Iowa quickly regained control with tallies from Öhgren and Brendan Gaunce, including a power-play goal.
In the third, the Wild extended their lead with a power-play goal from Hunter Haight and an insurance marker by Adam Raska. The Gulls kept pressing, with Carson Meyer and Sasha Pastujov adding late goals, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Iowa’s potent offense. Öhgren and Gaunce led the Wild with three points each, while Myšák, Luneau, and Pastujov stood out for San Diego. Both teams showcased strong special teams play, each scoring twice on the power play. The Gulls will look to regroup as they prepare for their next matchup.
