The San Diego Gulls defeated the Rockford Icehogs 5-4 on Saturday, February 21, 2026, after a tightly contested game that was tied through two periods. The Gulls pulled ahead in the final minutes of the third period, led by Stian Solberg’s decisive goal, to claim the win in Rockford.
High-Scoring First Period Sets the Pace
The opening period featured five goals with both teams exchanging leads. Gavin Hayes got the Icehogs on the board first just 30 seconds into the game. Sasha Pastujov quickly answered for San Diego at 5:46. Jake Furlong and Hayes notched additional goals for Rockford, pushing the score to 3-2 in favor of the home team. Ryan Carpenter closed out the period with a goal for the Gulls at 19:32, leaving the Icehogs ahead by one.
Second Period Levels the Score
Scoring slowed down in the second frame, with only one goal scored. Stian Solberg tied the game for San Diego at 23:09, knotted at 3-3 heading into the final period. The balance of the game created anticipation for a tense and competitive final 20 minutes.
Third-Period Drama Decides the Outcome
Gavin Hayes gave Rockford the lead early in the third period at 45:21, his third goal of the game. Five minutes later, Sasha Pastujov tied the game at 4-4, keeping the contest alive. Just two minutes after that, Stian Solberg scored the game-winning goal at 52:32, securing the victory for San Diego with a late surge that Rockford could not answer.
Upcoming Rematch Scheduled
The two teams will meet again the following day, Sunday, February 22, 2026, at 4 p.m. CST. This closely matched pairing promises another exciting game as both teams look to gain the upper hand in their series.
