Gulls - Aces Game Preview
January 9, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska â Just another big game for the San Diego Gulls. Getting used to hearing that lately? The Gulls can jump into sole possession of third place in the Pacific Division tonight as they start a three-game weekend series with the Alaska Aces at Sullivan Arena.
San Diego has won 11 of its last 12 games, but has been stuck in fourth place for weeks. The Gulls, however, do have games in hand on all three teams ahead of them and have the best winning percentage in the Pacific Division â third best overall in the ECHL. They also continue to beat up on Pacific Division teams. The Blue and Orange are 18-5-2 against teams in their division, including a 16-2-1 mark in their last 19 games against Pacific Division foes.
The stats don't end there...
The Gulls have outscored their opponents 45-23 in their last 12 games... They've allowed only five power-play goals in their last 77 times short-handed... Mark Pederson has a five-game goal-scoring streak and has 11 points (7g, 4a) in his last five games... Sylvain Deschatelets also has 11 points (2g, 9a) in the last five games... And the Gulls are 59-16-4 all-time against the Aces...
But these aren't the Aces of old, a team San Diego used to totally dominate. It's a whole different story in Anchorage, Alaska this season.
Alaska enters the day third in the Pacific Division, one point ahead of the Gulls and four points behind the first-place Las Vegas Wranglers. The Aces have won two straight and are unbeaten in 12 of their last 13 games overall (10-2-1). They also hold a 14-5-1 mark at Sullivan Arena.
Two of their home wins have come against the Gulls this season. San Diego made its first trip to Anchorage in November and was absolutely embarrassed. Alaska won the first game 8-1 and then shut out the Gulls 3-0 the next night.
The Gulls got a little redemption with two shootout wins against the Aces back at the Sports Arena. And don't think for a second that they wouldn't love to get even more revenge in this three-game collision.
Not everything is going San Diego's way right now though. Billy Tibbetts, who had 11 points in his last five games, was sent to the American Hockey League's Springfield Falcons today. No word on when he will return.
Tibbetts was an integral part to the Gulls' success. With him in the lineup, San Diego was 12-3-1. Without him the Gulls are 8-5-1, good but not great. Tibbetts had 23 points (6g, 17a) and 102 penalty minutes in 16 games this season. He missed 14 games with a fractured wrist.
This is the fifth of 10 meetings between the Gulls and Aces in the regular season, with Alaska holding a 2-0-2 edge. The two teams will meet five more times, including Saturday and Sunday. Both of those games also start at 8 p.m. (PST).
ECHL Stories from January 9, 2004
- Bertoli And Allen Stay Hot As Titans Blank Bombers - Trenton Devils
- Sea Wolves Crush Ice Pilots, 5-1 - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- Gladiators shutout by Cottonmouths, 4-0 - Atlanta Gladiators
- Pride end winless streak with OT win - Myrtle Beach Thunderboltz
- Titans Blank Bombers, 5-0 - Dayton Bombers
- Chiefs Win 4-2 Over Cincinnati - Johnstown Chiefs
- Bullies Derail Express 5-1 - Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies
- Bullies to Visit Local Hospitals Next Week - Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies
- Checkers Dave Inman Snatches Another ECHL Award - State Recalled - Charlotte Checkers
- Game Preview: Idaho vs. Fresno - Idaho Steelheads
- Billy Tibbetts Loaned to AHL - San Diego Gulls
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Gulls - Aces Game Preview - Alaska Aces
- Engelland Assigned By Lowell - Las Vegas Wranglers
- Bullies To Visit Local Hospitals Next Week - Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies
- Fingerhut Signs, Riva Back with Titans - Trenton Devils
- Internet Radio Show Back - San Diego Gulls
- ECHL, MeiGray Group Co-Sponsor Third Annual Game-Worn Jersey Charity Auction - ECHL
- Gaucher, Russell Joining Pride - Myrtle Beach Thunderboltz
- Walby Activated off IR - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- Today In The ECHL - ECHL
- Ice Pilots Team Up With Gulf Breeze Police Department - Pensacola Ice Pilots
- Ice Pilots Sign Defenseman Nick Cammarata - Pensacola Ice Pilots
- Inferno Game Notes -January 9th vs. Toledo Storm, 7:30pm - Columbia Inferno
- Rookie Defensemen Byrne, Hoffman Returned to Worcester - Peoria Rivermen
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