Falcons Edge Gulls, 4-2

Published on January 16, 2004 under ECHL (ECHL)
San Diego Gulls News Release


Fresno, California – Mark Pederson put his name in the Gulls record book Friday night by scoring a goal in his ninth straight game, but it wasn't enough to keep San Diego from falling to Fresno, 4-2.

Fresno goalie, Dave Marlin, was playing his first game with the Falcons and was unbeatable after the first period. He picked up just his fourth professional victory after stopping 27 of 29 shots, leading the Falcons (11-21-4) to their first win in their last five games. Another new addition for Fresno, forward Mike Mathers, added a goal and an assist, keying the offense for the struggling Falcons.

San Diego (21-10-3) got two goals from Pederson but blew multiple leads and extended their winless streak to three. They remain in fourth place in the Pacific Division, six points behind the first-place Idaho Steelheads. They trail Las Vegas by four points and Alaska by two, but have games in hand on each.

Fans didn't have to wait long to find out if Pederson would make history. Just 3:05 into the first period, the Gulls' veteran left-winger picked up a bouncing puck at the top of the slot, skating in toward the Fresno net and poking a wrister inside the left post, putting San Diego up, 1-0. It was Pederson's 22nd tally of the year and the eighth time this season that he has scored the game's first goal.

Fresno came charging back, 7:21 into the first, when forward Adam Stefishen intercepted Pederson's centering pass in the San Diego zone, taking the puck down the ice and beating Gulls' netminder David Burleigh from the top of the left circle. The unassisted goal was Stefishen's second of the season.

Unfortunately for the Falcons, Pederson wasn't satisfied with just making Gulls' history. He also wanted to win the game. He notched his second goal of the night, 16:50 into the first, to put the Gulls back on top, 2-1. Sylvain Deschatelets directed the puck through traffic to a streaking Pederson, just in front of the Fresno net. Pederson flicked a wrister past Marlin for his 23rd goal of the year, putting him just one back of the ECHL lead.

Holding leads has been a real bug-a-boo for the Gulls this season, however, and the trend continued, 16:15 into the second. Falcons' forward Michael Kiesman won a battle for the puck against the boards and skated in toward the San Diego net before launching a slap shot that soared over Burleigh's left shoulder, tying the game at two apiece. Fresno's leading scorer, Kris Porter, picked up the assist on Kiesman's eight goal of the year.

The Falcons then took the lead, 5:58 into the third period, when rookie defenseman Kevin Truelson came in from the blue line to pick up a centering pass at the top of the slot, then launched a slapshot that beat Burleigh inside the left post. The goal was Truelson's seventh of the season and gave Fresno their first lead of the game, 3-2.

Mathers added an empty-netter, 19:34 into the third, to cap the Falcons' scoring and put the game on ice.

Notes: Pederson has 17 points (12g, 5a) in the last nine games... The ECHL record for longest goal-scoring streak is 16 games set by Darren Schwartz of the Wheeling Thunderbirds during the 1992-1993 season... San Diego in now winless in their last three games (0-2-1)... The Gulls have killed 94 of their last 101 penalties... The Gulls had scored on the power play in 11 straight games before going 0-4 with the man advantage tonight... This was the Falcons first victory this season when trailing after the first period (1-17-1)... Deschatelets picked up two assists in the game and is now tied for the team lead with 20... Billy Tibbetts remains with the American Hockey League's Springfield Falcons... Josh Gratton was loaned to the AHL's Cincinnati Mighty Ducks on Tuesday... Kevin Grant was added to the injured list this week with a strained neck...

The Gulls return home tomorrow to host the Alaska Aces for two games. Puck drops at 7:05 on Saturday and floppy hats, courtesy of your San Diego County Toyota Dealers, will be given to the first 5,000 fans. Sunday's game kicks off at 5:05 and "Skate with the Gulls" will be held immediately after the conclusion. The Gulls then take a break for the ECHL all-star game. Forward Greg Barber will be the Gulls' representative in the event, taking place on Wednesday, Jan. 21 in Peoria, Ill. You can catch all the all-star game action on Channel 4-San Diego at 5:30 p.m. PST. 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 16, 2004


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