San Diego Gulls Rally: Bailey's Power-Play Ties It, Nesterenko Scores OT

Justin Bailey’s power-play goal with 6:37 remaining in regulation pushed the San Diego Gulls into overtime, and Nikita Nesterenko finished the comeback with an overtime tally as the Gulls defeated the Tucson Roadrunners 3-2 on Jan. 21, 2026. The victory improved San Diego to 17-12-6-2 on the season and extended their dominance over Tucson to 3-0 this year.

The late-game sequence underscored special teams and depth scoring as decisive factors. Bailey’s equalizer on the power play demonstrated the Gulls’ ability to capitalize with the man advantage in high-leverage moments. Nesterenko’s overtime winner was his first goal with San Diego this season, a timely contribution from a player who can swing momentum and provide secondary scoring when primary scorers are contained.

San Diego’s rally reflected a team finding ways to win tight games away from home. Overcoming deficits and closing under pressure are traits that matter in the AHL’s grind, where standings points and confidence transfer directly to development pathways. The 3-2 result in Tucson also reinforces a matchup edge; three wins against the Roadrunners this season suggest a tactical or personnel mismatch favoring the Gulls in this pairing.

From a roster-development perspective, clutch moments like Bailey’s power-play conversion and Nesterenko’s overtime finish carry outsized value. The AHL functions as both a competitive league and a pipeline for NHL talent, and timely scoring performances raise the profiles of players on the cusp of call-ups. For coaches and management, sustaining special-teams efficiency and extracting production from depth forwards will remain priorities as the season progresses.

Beyond Xs and Os, the result matters to San Diego’s fanbase and the local sports landscape. Winning on the road against a regional rival helps maintain momentum for attendance and regional interest in a non-traditional hockey market. The Gulls’ 17-12-6-2 record positions them for a meaningful midseason push, and victories like this one create narrative building blocks around resilience and clutch play.

San Diego now carries a three-game winning record over Tucson into the next stretch of the schedule, bolstering confidence and standing. The immediate focus will be on consistency in special teams and converting chances earlier so games do not require overtime dramatics. If Bailey and Nesterenko can produce more late-game impact, the Gulls will keep tightening their grip on points that matter for playoff positioning and player development.