Game Preview

Finally, after back-to-back bye weeks, the first-place San Diego Seals are back in action tonight taking on the Vancouver Warriors at Pechanga Arena San Diego at 7:00PM PST.

“It was a welcome break since we’d been in such a grind,” said general manager and head coach Patrick Merrill. “It was nice we were able to go into the break at 4-2. The break helped us get healthy and let us kind of hit the reset button. We have been preparing the entire time for Vancouver.”

The last time the Warriors and Seals met, San Diego escaped with a one-goal victory in a heated matchup at Rogers Arena in Vancouver. The game came down to inches and seconds as goaltender Frank Scigliano made the final save on what would have been the game-tying goal with less than five seconds on the clock. The Seals are ready to get back in front of their home crowd on Friday night, looking to secure the season series against Vancouver.

“I remember taking a step back and looking around and thinking the fans are behind us and they helped us get the wins,” said Merrill about the home fans after the first two games in San Diego. “I was most impressed by the fans’ energy that they seem to bring. We could feel it! They cheered and celebrated at the right times and it was probably surprising for the opposition to see that crowd.”

San Diego is 2-0 at home this season. The Seals’ three-game win streak was thanks in large part to goaltender Frank Scigliano, who leads the league in save percentage (.797%) and ranks in the top-five in goals-against-average (11.00) and saves (259). After a slow start to the season, forward Casey Jackson netted six goals in the last two games.

“We’re really leaning on each other,” said Jackson. “We’re counting on the guy next to us and it just so happens that the ball is falling in the net.”

You can see your first place San Diego Seals tonight at 7:00 PM PST at Pechanga Arena San Diego. Coronado Brewing Co. will offer $3 cans of their Orange Ave. Wit to fans until the end of halftime. Reserve your seats now at SealsLax.com.