Chiefs Ruin Gulls Comeback in a Shootout, 5-4

December 4, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL)
San Diego Gulls News Release


SAN DIEGO - Randy Rowe scored the game-winner in the fourth round of a shootout, as the Johnstown Chiefs snuck past the San Diego Gulls 5-4 on Sunday night before 3,198 at the ipayOne Center.

San Diego (8-7-4) still picked up a point and is now unbeaten in its last five games (3-0-2) and 11 of its last 13 (7-2-4).

The Gulls trailed 3-0 in the first period and 4-3 entering the third before making a comeback to send the game into overtime. Just 1:33 into the final frame, Jesse Bennefield banged in a rebound off a Guillaume Fournier shot to make it 4-4.

In the shootout, Steve Hildenbrand tallied San Diego's lone marker, while Rowe and Jean Desrochers scored for Johnstown (6-8-6).

A night after losing 7-1 to San Diego, the Chiefs came out firing with the initial three goals of the match. Their first two came short-handed - and only 71 seconds apart - marking the first time the Gulls have allowed more than one short-handed goal in the same game this season.

Johnstown increased its lead to 3-0, this time with a power-play tally by Joe Tallari at the 7:58 mark of the opening period. But the Gulls responded when Hildenbrand struck from the right-wing circle to get San Diego on the scoreboard 2:27 later.

Richard Keyes added a score of his own with 2:19 left in the first to pull San Diego within one - the fifth total goal of the opening frame. The forward's centering feed went off a Chief defender's skate and into the net for his seventh goal in 15 contests with the Gulls.

San Diego tied the match in the second, when Cody McLeod notched his second score in two days since missing four games with an injury. On the play, the forward redirected a back-handed shot by Keyes into the net at the 13:26 mark.

The Gulls' advantage was short-lived, however, since Johnstown responded just 67 seconds later to retake the lead at 4-3. Justin Kelly netted Johnstown's second power-play marker of the night with a wrister directly in front of the goal to beat keeper Tom Lawson.

Notes: Four Gulls notched multi-point games, led by Keyes's three points. The forward has 10 points (3g, 7a) in his last five games... Hildenbrand has 16 points (5g, 11a) in his last nine matches... Lawson entered the day sixth in the ECHL with a 2.19 goals-against average... San Diego has killed 55 of its last 62 penalties but allowed a pair Sunday... Dan DaSilva was recalled to Lowell of the American Hockey League... Andy Thompson (wrist) and Doug MacIver (knee) both remain out of the lineup, recovering from injuries...

The Gulls conclude their longest homestand of the year Friday against the Phoenix Roadrunners, with game-time set for 7:35 p.m. San Diego will then visit the Utah Grizzlies for the first time with a pair of games (Saturday and Monday, Dec. 12). 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 (All upcoming games CAN BE VIEWED). Click the B2 Networks (Watch the Game Live) link on the home page for a list of the upcoming telecasted games. To view pictures from this season, visit www.zerodogentertainment.com.



ECHL Stories from December 4, 2005


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