Falcons Nip Gulls, 4-3
Published on February 23, 2003 under ECHL (ECHL)
San Diego Gulls News Release
SAN DIEGO -- In a heated battle of feathered foes, the Fresno Falcons sunk their talons deep into the wings of the San Diego Gulls, beating them 4-3 in front of an announced crowd of 6,840 at the San Diego Sports Arena. Despite the loss, San Diego (33-17-3) remains in second place in the West Coast Hockey League standings, while Fresno (28-18-5) is in fourth.
The Falcons bit first when Jason Weaver found the back of the net at 6:27 of the first period. Fresno defenseman Cory Murphy's pass found Weaver, who roofed the puck just under the crossbar, beating San Diego goaltender Cris Classen. Fresno team points leader Kris Porter added to his point total by also earning an assist on the goal.
The Gulls were quick to strike back, notching their first goal when Dean Tiltgen unleashed a wrist shot from the far left boards that beat Fresno goaltender Mark Gowan on his stick side. Clayton Read and Mark Pederson both earned assists on the goal that came at 9:30 of the first period.
Classen, filling in for an injured Trevor Koenig, stopped multiple scoring chances including a breakaway attempt by Porter. Gowan held his own as well, stuffing a breakaway attempt by Pederson.
Fresno launched an attack against the Gulls in the second period, putting three goals past Classen including two on the power-play. Falcon winger Brad Both struck first, wristing a shot from the high slot that clinked the crossbar behind Classen at 5:47. Colin Embley earned the assist.
The Gulls evened the score at two with a power-play goal by Pederson at 11:46 of the second period. Kevin Grant, having just come out of the penalty box, found the puck and sent it to Tiltgen. Tiltgen's pass found the tape of Pederson's stick and he easily deflected the puck past Gowan. The goal was Pederson's 33rd of the season. He leads his San Diego club in goals and points.
The Gulls party was short-lived however, when they soon found themselves on the penalty kill with Grant in the sin bin for hooking. Fresno pounced on the extra man opportunity and Murphy found the back of the net at 14:51. Because of traffic in front of the net, Classen never saw Murphy's slapshot from the blue line that sailed over his shoulder. Jason McBain and Embley earned the assists.
Fresno added insult to injury, scoring another power play goal when San Diego's Brian Morrison was in the penalty box for slashing. The Falcons took just nine seconds to beat the best penalty-killing unit in the league. Fresno won the face-off and a quick pass from Kayle Short to Drew Schoneck resulted in a tipped-in goal by Embley at 18:54.
R.J. Enga, kept silent most of the game, gave the struggling Gulls some life late in the third period when he put the puck past Gowan from just outside the crease. Sylvain Deschatelets passed the puck to Enga at the back door who one-timed it past Gowan. Kevin Grant also earned an assist on the goal that came at 14:43 of the third period.
Despite a flurry of scoring opportunities for the Gulls, they were kept silent by Gowan for the remainder of the game. Gowan faced 44 shots while Classen faced 29 in the game.
Notes: The Gulls need only 10 more points to clinch a playoff berth... Pederson has 18 points in the last eight games (10g, 8a), including two hat tricks... Koenig, nursing a knee sprain, will probably be back in the lineup next week... Dennis Purdie remains on IR, but should also be back next week... Dennis Mullen was placed on the season-ending injured list Sunday... Mike Garrow will miss the next couple of weeks with an ankle sprain... Mike McGhan, experiencing concussion-like symptoms, missed his fourth straight game... Samy Nasreddine, out with a back injury, is still at least a few weeks away from returning... Marc Busenburg and Rob Voltera remain with the American Hockey League's Hershey Bears...
San Diego closes out its brief two-game homestand Sunday against Bakersfield, with game time set for 5 p.m. It will be the second of six "McDonald's Nights" with "Skate with the Gulls" held immediately following the game. Cox/Time Warner Channel 4 will provide live television coverage. All games can be heard live on 1130AM-KSDO with Chris Ello calling the play-by-play. The Gulls' Internet radio show broadcasts live every Tuesday from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. on wsradio.com with Tera Black and Jeremy Zager hosting.
ECHL Stories from February 23, 2003
- Condors beat Gulls 6-2 - Bakersfield Condors
- Condors Thump Gulls, 6-2 - San Diego Gulls
- Ice Dogs Collar Falcons, 6-5 - Long Beach Ice Dogs
- Grrrowl erase early 2-0 deficit , but lose a 7-6 shootout to the Pee Dee Pride - Greenville Grrrowl
- Blades Fall in Shootout - Arkansas RiverBlades
- Sea Wolves Rally Past Ice Pilots, 3-2 - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- Cyclones Return Home with Win over Bombers - Cincinnati Cyclones
- A First for Fritz as Condors Win 5-2 - Bakersfield Condors
- Idaho Holds off Anchorage - Alaska Aces
- Falcons Nip Gulls, 4-3 - San Diego Gulls
- Falcons Win Ninth Straight on the Road - Fresno Falcons
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