Busy Gulls get another win, 2-1 in Stockton
February 28, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL)
San Diego Gulls News Release
STOCKTON, Calif. - Jesse Bennefield and Rob Flynn provided the needed offense and netminder Tom Lawson stopped 34 shots, leading the San Diego Gulls to their fourth straight win with a 2-1 triumph against the Stockton Thunder Tuesday.
Their four-game winning streak is a new season high for the Gulls (24-23-5), who also move into a third-place tie with the Bakersfield Condors in the Pacific Division. Meanwhile, the Thunder (8-33-11) are now winless in their last 15 games (0-11-4).
San Diego dominated the first two periods and could've had a bigger lead if it wasn't for the brilliant goaltending of Jake Moreland, who finished with a game-high 37 saves. But it was Lawson's turn to shine in the third period, as he stopped all 18 Thunder shots.
Stockton had a golden opportunity to tie the game late in the third when the Gulls got into some penalty trouble. With Nikita Korovkin already sitting in the box, San Diego was accessed a too-many-men on the ice penalty, giving the Thunder a two-man advantage for 1:11. Lawson, however, came up with a bunch of crucial saves to thwart the opportunity.
Similar to Sunday's match, teams traded first-period goals. Stockton hit the scoreboard first on Joel Irwin's power-play goal 9:53 into the frame. Irwin had the puck inside the left point and fired a shot that beat a screened Lawson for his 18th goal of the season, six of which have come against the Gulls.
But late in the first period, San Diego took over and tied it at the 18:58 mark on Bennefield's team-leading 24th goal. Bennefield and Hildenbrand scooted in two-on-one and played catch with the puck before Bennefield finally slipped it past a sliding Jake Moreland.
The second period was all Gulls, as they out-shot the Thunder 19-10. Moreland, however, was spectacular and turned aside all but one of San Diego's bids. The only shot he couldn't stop came via a redirection on a Gulls power play at 4:22. That's when Rob Flynn tipped home Jonathon Shockey's blue line slap shot for his fifth goal of the season and game-winner.
Notes: Bennefield has 14 points (5g, 9a) in his last nine games... Hildenbrand has 14 points (6g, 8a) in the last nine games... Wires has nine points (3g, 6a) in the last five games and was named runner-up for ECHL Player of the Week... The trio has combined for 15 points in the last two games... San Diego has killed 97 of 107 penalties in the last 18 games (90.7 percent) and has scored power-play goals in six of its last seven games... 10 of the Gulls' last 14 games have been decided by one goal... They're in a stretch of eight games in 11 days, including three more matches this week... Chris Cava made his Gulls debut Tuesday...
The Gulls will bus all night back to San Diego and open a four-game homestand Wednesday against the Long Beach Ice Dogs at 7:05 p.m. San Diego will then host the Las Vegas Wranglers Friday at 7:35 p.m. and Saturday at 7:05 p.m. Friday is Military Appreciation Night and the first 5,000 fans will get a sleeveless T-shirt, courtesy of your San Diego county Toyota Deals. Saturday is Disco Night and 5,000 special "Fro" wings will be handed out, courtesy of Jerome's Furniture.
All games can be heard on KLSD 1360AM and www.sandiegogulls.com with Chris Ello calling the play-by-play. Most games can also be viewed on the Gulls' web site, courtesy of B2 Networks. Click the B2 Networks (Watch the Game Live) link on the home page for a list of the upcoming viewable games. To view pictures from this season, visit www.zerodogentertainment.com.
ECHL Stories from February 28, 2006
- Busy Gulls get another win, 2-1 in Stockton - San Diego Gulls
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- Royals' Defensemen Provide Spark To Beat Greenville, 4-2 - Reading Royals
- Gladiators Clinch Playoff Berth with 3-2 win over Ice Pilots - Atlanta Gladiators
- Blades down Stingrays 4-1 as Berg beco mes all-time Everblades leading goal scorer - Florida Everblades
- Ice Pilots in the community - Pensacola Ice Pilots
- Everblades Get Revenge: Beat Rays 4-1 - South Carolina Stingrays
- Maris Ziedins Returns To Thunder - Stockton Thunder
- Utah's Kinasewich Named In Glas Co ECHL Player Of The Week - ECHL
- Wires Runner-Up For Player Of The Week Honors - San Diego Gulls
- Utah's Kinasewich ECHL Player of Week - Utah Grizzlies
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- Glass called up to Binghamton - Charlotte Checkers
- Victoria's Boxma Named Rbk Hockey ECHL Goaltender Of The Week - ECHL
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- Condors read for Dr. Seuss's birthday; Month-long blood drive coming to an end - Bakersfield Condors
- Stingrays Play Strong At Home, Grab Fifth - South Carolina Stingrays
- ECHL Today - ECHL
- Falcons set for three-game road trip this week - Fresno Falcons
- Hot Goaltender Ends Condors Perfect Home Division Record - Bakersfield Condors
- Holden's 53 Saves Lead Falcons to Victory - Fresno Falcons
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