Aces Top Gulls, 4-2

Published on January 11, 2004 under ECHL (ECHL)
San Diego Gulls News Release


ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Alaska snapped the Gulls five game winning streak Saturday night, reclaiming sole possession of third place in the Pacific Division. Dan Murphy was a brick wall in net and four different Aces lit the lamp en route to the 4-2 Alaska victory.

Murphy was unbeatable all night, stopping 25 of the Gulls' 27 shots, including several spectacular saves in the games' final minutes. Alaska (21-10-3) got points from ten different players in the game and reclaimed third place in the tight-race atop the Pacific Division.

Despite another stellar game from left-winger Mark Pederson, who now has goals in seven consecutive games, the Gulls (21-9-2) now fall back to fourth place in the division, four points behind the first-place Idaho Steelheads. They now trail Las Vegas by three points and Alaska by one. Despite the loss, however, San Diego still boasts the division's best winning percentage, with games in hand on all three teams they're chasing.

It didn't take long for Pederson to extend his goal-scoring streak. The left-winger put the Gulls up, 1-0, 14:36 into the first period, deflecting a Mike Garrow shot from the high slot past Alaska goalie Dan Murphy for his team-leading 20th tally of the year.

Alaska tied it up, 5:44 into the second period on rookie Jordan Cameron's third goal of the year. Forward Mike Lee found Cameron at the top of the left circle and the left-winger slapped the one-timer past Gulls' goalie Trevor Koenig for the Aces' first score.

Alaska stayed hot, taking the lead 11:35 into the second period when Kimbi Daniels beat Koenig on a shot from the blue line that caromed off the left goal post for the score. It was Daniels' 11th goal of the season and put the Aces up, 2-1.

The Aces were cruising to start the third until Lee was called for a double minor, 7:27 into the period, putting the Gulls on the power play. The Blue and Orange were quick to take advantage, tying the game at two on Cliff Loya's third goal of the season. Clayton Read screened Murphy in net and Loya knocked home the goal from the top of the slot, 9:16 into the third.

The back-and-forth game continued when Alaska defenseman Louis Maas put the Aces back on top, 13:09 into the third, tipping in Joe Talbot's shot for the Aces third goal of the night. It was Maas' first goal of the season.

The Gulls got another opportunity to tie the game when Alaska was called for having too many men on the ice, putting San Diego back on the power play. Coach Steve Martinson pulled Koenig in favor of the extra skater, giving the Gulls a two-man advantage. San Diego took advantage, blasting a flurry of shots at Murphy, but the Aces netminder was up to the challenge. After three spectacular saves by Murphy, Aces center Mark Smith finally came up with the puck and launched a shot the length of the ice that found a home in the empty net, putting the game away. The goal was Smith's 14th of the year, and capped Alaska's 4-2 win.

Notes: The loss snaps the Gulls five game winning streak as well as a five game road winning streak... Daniels' goal in the second period marked the first time the Gulls had trailed in more than 335 minutes of play... Pederson's seven game goal-scoring streak puts him one game shy of the Gulls all-time record, held by Mark Woolf (eight straight games in 2001-02). He has 14 points (9g, 5a) in the last seven games... Justin Hellegards was put on team suspension... Trent Clark was signed on Wednesday...

The Gulls wrap up their weekend series with the Aces Sunday at Sullivan Arena. Game time is 8:00 p.m. (PST). San Diego then pays a visit to the Fresno Falcons on Friday, Jan. 16 before returning home to the Sports Arena. All games can be heard live on KPOP 1360AM with Chris Ello calling the play-by-play. The Gulls Internet radio show, hosted by Tera Black and Jeremy Zager on wsradio.com, will begin airing live every other Monday from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., starting Jan. 19.

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ECHL Stories from January 11, 2004


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