The San Diego Seals got a much-needed momentum-boosting win heading into the 2024 NLL Playoffs, closing out the regular-season with a 16-9 win over the Vancouver Warriors on Friday night at Pechanga Arena.
The Seals came roaring out of the gate and outscored Vancouver 4-1 in the opening quarter. Wes Berg scored exactly one minute into the game and 2:15 later, Dane Dobbie scored to give the Seals a 2-0 lead, scoring on a power play goal from the right wing. After a Warriors goal, Kyle Jackson spun away from a Vancouver defender and scored from the top of the circle to put San Diego up 3-1. Curtis Dickson capped the first quarter scoring with a late goal to put the Seals up 4-1.
Vancouver, which came into Friday night’s game on a five-game win streak,returned the favor in the second, outscoring San Diego, 4–1 to open the period and tie the game 5-5. The Seals stopped the run, however, with three goals in the final 1:23 of the first half. Tre Leclaire scored first and 11 seconds later, Danny Logan came up with a steal and scored on a breakaway to put the seals up 7–5. Dickson’s second goal of the night with 1.9 left to put San Diego up 8-5 at the break.
San Diego carried the momentum into the third quarter with two quick goals. Dickson scored 1:31 in, his third of the night to put the Seals up 9-5, and 12 seconds later, Danny Logan scored from the top of the circle to put the seals up 10-5. A pair of Vancouver goals trimmed the seals lead to 10–7, but Tre Leclaire’s goal with 2:38 left gave the Seals an 11-7 lead after three quarters.
Season goal-scoring leader Austin Staats, Jackson and Berg all scored for the Seals in the fourth quarter for the final goals in the 16-9 win.
With the win, San Diego finishes the regular-season 13-5 and will open the 2024 NLL Playoffs next Saturday night at Pechanga Arena at 7 p.m. as the League’s No. 2 seed. They’ll face the NLL’s No. 7 seed.
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