The San Diego Gulls entered the week with eight games remaining on their 2025-26 regular season American Hockey League schedule. The end goal, as in every season, is to secure a berth in the Calder Cup playoffs. As of yet, the Pacific Division team is still stirring the pot to make it happen.
The Gulls entered Wednesday’s home game against the Tucson Roadrunners holding a narrow one-point advantage over the Roadrunners for the division’s seventh and final playoff berth.
It’s getting down to crunch time.
The Gulls received a reality check after dropping last weekend’s two-game set in Canada to the last place Abbotsford Canucks, incidentally last year’s Calder Cup champions. The Canucks, the AHL affiliate of the NHL Vancouver Canucks, topped the Gulls by scores of 5-2 and 5-3.
In the series opener, the Gulls (AHL affiliate of the NHL Anaheim Ducks) found themselves down 3-0 through two periods, bounced back with two goals to start the third period but surrendered two late goals, including an empty net goal, to snap a two-game winning streak.
In the latter game, the Canucks (24-36-3-3) snapped a 3-3 tie with two late goals. Sasha Pastujov keyed the visitors with two power play goals.
The Canucks rewarded their fans for a hugely disappointing campaign in the team’s final homestand of the season.
Tucson (30-24-9) has played one less game than San Diego (29-23-8-4), which could play a significant role in the final order of finish.
The top seven teams in the Pacific Division qualify for postseason play. The Ontario Reign (41-19-3-2) and Colorado Eagles (38-16-5-5) have both clinched playoff berths while separated by one point at the top of the standings. The next four teams were separated by three standings points: San Jose (38-21-2-2), Coachella Valley (27-21-5), Bakersfield (34-19-9-1) and Henderson (33-20-7-4).
The Gulls were 10 points behind San Jose, nine points behind Coachella Valley, eight points behind Coachella Valley and seven points behind Henderson.
The Gulls have a bit of work to do to climb farther up the division standings. The immediate plan of action is to hold onto seventh place.
The top finisher in the division receives a bye in the first round of the playoffs, meaning the No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4 finishers in the division standings get to host games in the first round.
The Gulls scored four key points in a home ice sweep of Bakersfield (7-4 on March 20) and Calgary (5-4 on March 22) to remain in the playoff chase.
The Pacific Division has been extremely competitive this season with the top two teams separated by one point, the top three teams separated by seven points, the top four teams separated by eight points and the next four teams separated by nine points.
Eight of the 10 teams in the division have winning records.
It’s not time to throw in the towel quite yet.
In the win over Bakersfield on Pride Night, the Gulls made it a festive evening by scoring four goals in the first period in a timely display of offense and went four-for-four on the penalty kill against a team ahead of them in the division standings.
The Gulls broke out to a 4-0 lead on Youth Sports Night against Calgary, added an empty net goal by Nathan Gaucher to complete his first career hat trick, then saw the Wranglers score with less than one second left to hold on for a 5-4 win.
Gaucher received a call-up to Anaheim later in the week.
