Falcons Complete Sweep Of Gulls, 5-1
April 15, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL)
San Diego Gulls News Release
SAN DIEGO - Brett Hammond and Kelsey Muench scored two goals each, as the Fresno Falcons completed a four-game sweep of the San Diego Gulls with a 5-1 victory Saturday night at ipayOne Center. The outcome eliminated the Gulls from the ECHL's Kelly Cup Playoffs.
With the win, Fresno advances to the Pacific Division Finals against the winner of the Bakersfield-Long Beach series, which the Condors lead 2-1.
Brad Both and Rob McFeeters added two assists apiece for the Falcons, who finished the year 8-0-2 against San Diego, including the regular season.
A night after losing a heartbreaker, 2-1 in overtime, the Gulls fell behind 2-0 midway through the first period Saturday and never recovered. Hammond struck first at 8:33, and Muench added another tally - short-handed - less than two minutes later for the two-goal Fresno advantage.
The Gulls tried to come back when Jesse Bennefield cut the deficit in half with 4:19 left in the frame. The power-play tally was the rookie forward's first professional goal in the playoffs after the All-Star led San Diego with 30 scores during the regular season.
The Falcons, however, wouldn't let the Gulls back into it. Fresno broke the game wide open with two more goals in the middle frame, and suddenly they led 4-1 with 6:17 remaining before the second intermission. Hammond and Muench lit the lamp once each again, giving the duo six total goals for the series.
And that's how the game went to the third period, when the Falcons capped the scoring with a power-play goal with 8:55 left.
The Gulls went just 1-for-11 on the power play, while Fresno scored once in seven man-advantage chances throughout the match. Overall, the two clubs combined for 23 penalties for 46 minutes.
For the four games, the Falcons out-scored San Diego by a 15-8 margin. Saturday's match was the first of the series not decided by one goal, as two of the first three went into overtime.
Notes: The Gulls have lost seven straight playoff games, dating back to 2004... This was only the fifth time San Diego has lost a series (16-5)... The last time the Gulls won a playoff game (and series) was Game 7 of the 2003 Taylor Cup Finals against Fresno... Defenseman Nikita Korovkin, who took a puck off the side of his face Friday night, didn't play Saturday...
San Diego returns to action in October for its fourth season in the ECHL. Season ticket packages for 2006-07 are currently available. For pricing and benefits, contact 619-224-4625 ext. 7. To view pictures from this season, visit www.zerodogentertainment.com.
ECHL Stories from April 15, 2006
- Condors Fall to Long Beach in Game Two - Bakersfield Condors
- Falcons Complete Sweep Of Gulls, 5-1 - San Diego Gulls
- Rookies Pace Steelheads Past Wranglers, 4-2, Series Lead at 3-1 - Idaho Steelheads
- Steelheads Take Game 4, Win 4-2 - Las Vegas Wranglers
- 'Blades grab 2-0 series with with 4-2 win - Florida Everblades
- Gajic Leads Gladiators past Stingrays, 5-3 - Atlanta Gladiators
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- San Diego Looks To Stave Off Elimination - San Diego Gulls
- Condors Preview: Pacific Division Semifinals - Game Three - Bakersfield Condors
- Pardy returns to Wranglers for game four - Las Vegas Wranglers
- ECHL Today - ECHL
- Aces sweep Grizz, 6-2, advance to West Final - Alaska Aces
- 2-1 Overtime Win Propels Falcons to 3-0 Series Lead - Fresno Falcons
- Fresno Stuns Gulls In OT, Gulls Down In Series 0-3 - San Diego Gulls
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