SAN DIEGO (CNS) - Antonie Laganiere scored two third-period goals and Corey Tropp had a goal and two assists as the San Diego Gulls opened their second American Hockey League season with a 5-3 victory over the Tucson Roadrunners Friday night at the Valley View Casino Center.
The Gulls never trailed, taking a 4-1 lead on Laganiere's power-play goal with 10 minutes, 38 seconds to play in the third period before a crowd announced at 10,727.
Tucson, the Arizona Coyotes AHL affiliate, cut the lead to 4-3 on power- play goals by Craig Cunningham with 7:23 left and Kyle Wood with 5:45 remaining.
Laganiere added an insurance goal with 1:22 to play off assists by Tropp and Shea Theodore.
Tropp opened the scoring 8:07 into the first period when he tapped in a pass by Tyler Morley.
The Gulls increased their lead to 2-0 on Mike Sgarbossa's goal 51 seconds into the second period.
Craig Cunningham scored a power-play goal for the Roadrunners at 2:17 of the second period.
The Gulls reclaimed a two-goal lead with 5:38 left in the period on Kalle Kossila's power-play goal off assists by Tropp and Andrew Welinski.
Goaltender Dustin Tokarski stopped 29 of 32 shots for the Gulls, the Anaheim Ducks AHL affiliate. Tucson goaltender Justin Peters stopped 38 of 43 shots.
The Gulls scored on two of six power-play opportunities and the Roadrunners three of six.
Gulls left wing Nick Tarnasky and Tucson right wing Stefan Fournier drew five-minute major penalties for their fight at 2:30 of the second period.
"Lots to work on, but happy with the effort," Gulls coach Dallas Eakins said.
The Gulls will play host to the Ontario Reign Saturday at 7 p.m. Ontario, the Los Angeles Kings AHL affiliate, eliminated the Gulls, four games to one in last season's Calder Cup Pacific Division Finals.
