![\"Calle](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/SUT-L-locals-1219-01.jpg\")
Calle Clang is the third goaltender in San Diego Gulls history to have allowed one or fewer goals in four consecutive starts. (Andy Hayt, San Diego Gulls)<\/p>\nThe job requirement for a hockey goalie is pretty straightforward: stop opponents from scoring goals in your team\u2019s net.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s the physical component.<\/p>\n
The mental aspect can be more complicated. In a sport where pucks often take wicked, seemingly inexplicable bounces and the area in front of and around a goal crease can look like chaos, a good goalie must have a combination of physical skill, deep concentration and short memory.<\/p>\n
Gulls goalie Calle Clang is figuring it out. All aspects of the game are coming together for the 23-year-old Clang in his fifth professional season.<\/p>\n
Clang has a 2.19 goals-against average and a .912 save percentage in 13 games in net. Since returning from a three-week leave of absence for personal reasons on Dec. 1, the Olafstrom, Sweden native is tied for the American Hockey League lead with two shutouts, ranks third in both goals-against average and save percentage; with Clang in goal, the Gulls have won seven games.<\/p>\n
Clang was at his best between Dec. 7 and 17, allowing one goal in four consecutive contests and posting a .958 percentage during that span.<\/p>\n
On Friday night, Clang made 19 saves and helped the Gulls earn a 1-0 victory over Abbotsford at Pechanga Arena. The Gulls lost 4-0 to the Canucks on Saturday with backup Tomas Suchanek in net.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, I thought I played pretty well in the games before my absence as well; I just didn\u2019t get the results,\u201d Clang said. \u201cBut I think the difference this year compared to the other two years is that I just stay in my own stuff \u2014 like, I don\u2019t worry about anything else than just my own stuff. And that makes a huge difference.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel like there\u2019s nothing like technical or physical that is that different, I would say, but just the mental side (is). I feel more mature, and I\u2019m executing at a high level right now, so (I\u2019m) just trying to keep it going.\u201d<\/p>\n
NHL teams look for goalies who can keep their composure when a game\u2019s intensity level increases. The game is seldom more frantic than when an opponent is hunting a game-tying or go-ahead score.<\/p>\n
That was the case late in Friday\u2019s game when Abbotsford brought on an extra skater and had a power play in the final minute.<\/p>\n
Clang made several saves, while the Gulls defenders in front of him contributed by getting in front of pucks and helping clear the types of rebounds and caroms that can lead to multiple scoring chances.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was just trying to stay present, just find the puck and be as calm as possible, because I know at the end, the puck will have to go past me to go in,\u201d Clang said. \u201cI just kind of stayed pretty calm, and was looking for the puck one at a time but we did an unbelievable job. (Tyson) Hinds too with a couple blocks and (Ryan Carpenter) with the effort. So that makes it easier for me as a goalie.\u201d<\/p>\n
Calle Clang is the third goaltender in San Diego Gulls history to have allowed one or fewer goals in four consecutive starts. (Andy Hayt, San Diego Gulls)<\/p>\n
Ville Husso was the Gulls\u2019 primary goalie for most of the season before his sharp play led to two extended promotions with the NHL\u2019s Anaheim Ducks. The Gulls will continue to rely on Clang while looking for improved play from ECHL call-ups Vyacheslav Buteyets and Suchanek. The Gulls are 1-6 in games started by Buteyets and Suchanek this season.<\/p>\n
Entering a two-game at Tucson beginning Tuesday, the\u00a0Gulls are 16-12-6-2. Their 40 standings points are good for sixth in a hyper-competitive 10-team Pacific Division. Six teams are separated by just seven standings points.<\/p>\n
Every game \u2014 and every goal \u2014 matters.<\/p>\n
\u201cCertainly seen what we\u2019re capable of,\u201d Gulls coach Matt McIlvane said. \u201cYou know that our highest end is very high. The part we\u2019ve got to overcome in the back half of the season is what it looks like when we\u2019re off or we\u2019re not on. The variance is too big, and that\u2019s going to be our challenge.\u201d<\/p>\n
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