Aces Edge Gulls in OT, 4-3
April 8, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
San Diego Gulls News Release
SAN DIEGO â The Gulls took a 2-0 lead into the third period of Wednesday night's Game 2 of the first round of the Kelly Cup playoffs, but the Aces lit the lamp three times in the third, then put the game away 16:15 into overtime to take a commanding two games to none lead.
Charles Linglet notched two goals including the game winner, and Dan Murphy turned away 42 shots to lead the way for Alaska. The series heads back to Alaska this weekend, where the Gulls will play two win-or-go-home games in Anchorage.
The first period led to San Diego's demise in Game 1, as Alaska exploded out to a 4-0 lead. The Gulls dominated after that, but it was a moot point. So everyone in the building knew Steve Martinson would have his troops more than ready to go in the opening frame Wednesday night.
San Diego didn't disappoint as Scott Kirton dented the scoreboard just 20 seconds into the contest, giving the Blue and Orange an early 1-0 lead. Nick Lent, who scored in his Gulls debut Tuesday, muscled his way behind the net and dished a pass to Igor Pohanka. Kirton, stationed in the slot, took Pohanka's ensuing centering feed and wristed it past Murphy.
The Gulls had a glorious opportunity to take a two-goal lead when they were awarded a two-man advantage for 1:24 moments later. They cycled the puck well and had chance after chance, but couldn't get anything past a red-hot Murphy. The Alaska netminder, who stopped 37 shots in Game 1, continued adding to his personal highlight reel and kept it a 1-0 game.
That's how it would stay until Mark Pederson cashed in a power-play marker 4:49 into the second, giving San Diego a 2-0 advantage. Clayton Read and Evgueni Nourislamov played catch with the puck at the point until Nourislamov finally flicked a pass that deflected to Sylvain Deschatelets right in front of the crease. Deschatelets then backhanded a shot that caromed off the post to Pederson, who slipped it behind Murphy.
Alaska cut the lead back to one 59 seconds into the third period. Garret Prosofsky rushed the puck into the Gulls zone, reached the right wing corner and threw a no-look centering pass in front of the net. Trevor Koenig thought he had the puck covered in the crease, but he didn't and Chris Lipsett snuck in and poked it home.
The Aces continued crashing the net and tied the game, 2-2, at the 6:31 mark. Linglet grabbed the puck in the left wing corner and skated around the net to the other side. He then fed a pass across the crease to Kimbi Daniels, who banked it past Koenig.
Linglet gave Alaska the lead with a power-play goal at 14:23, blasting in a slap shot from the top of the right circle. The Gulls, however, came right back 32 seconds later to even it back up at three goals apiece. Greg Barber had the puck along the right wing boards and fed it to Deschatelets, standing just outside the crease. Deschatelets then nudged it to Pederson, who banged it in for his second of the night.
The overtime period provided plenty of hard hits, but no goals until the Aces finally put the game away, 16:15 into the extra frame. Joe Talbot won a faceoff in the left circle of the Gulls' zone and slid the puck to Linglet, who knocked home the score past an out-of-position Koenig.
Notes: San Diego has an all-time record of 57-29 in the playoffs, which includes a 36-15 mark at home... The Gulls are 4-2 all-time against the Aces in the playoffs. They eliminated them in the 1997 WCHL Finals... San Diego is now 6-7 all-time in playoff overtime... San Diego is now 13-7 in Game 2... The Gulls have been down two games to none four times, coming back to win three of those series... The Aces haven't made it to the postseason since 2002 and have lost its last three playoff series... They have lost 12 of their last 16 playoff games overall, dating back to 1999... Koenig is 22-13 in his Gulls playoff career... Billy Tibbetts remains with the American Hockey League's Houston Aeros... Both Dennis Purdie and Jamie Black remain on the 30-day injured list...
Round one of the playoffs, sponsored by Assil & Flowers Vision Institute and Medical Group, Inc. now shifts to Anchorage, Alaska. Game 3 at Sullivan Arena is scheduled for Friday, starting at 8 p.m. (PST). If necessary, Game 4 would also be in Anchorage Saturday, again beginning at 8 p.m. (PST). If the series stretches to a fifth and deciding game, it would be Tuesday, April 13 in San Diego.
All games can be heard live on KPOP 1360AM and www.sandiegogulls.com with Chris Ello calling the play-by-play. The next edition of the Gulls Internet Radio show, hosted by Tera Black and Jeremy Zager on wsRadio.com, will air live Monday, April 19 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. To view pictures from this season, visit www.sdgullsphotos.com and www.zerodogentertainment.com.
ECHL Stories from April 8, 2004
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- Peoria's Szuper Named Sun National Bank ECHL Saver of the Month - ECHL
- Aces Edge Gulls in OT, 4-3 - San Diego Gulls
- Aces WIN 4-3 in OT - Alaska Aces
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