Gulls - Aces Game Preview

Published on April 3, 2004 under ECHL (ECHL)
San Diego Gulls News Release


The Gulls and Aces have met nine times so far this season with San Diego holding a 5-3-1 series edge. This is the last regular season match-up of the regular season

2003-04 HEAD-TO-HEAD SERIES:
11/11/03 San Diego 1 @ Alaska 8
11/12/03 San Diego 0 @ Alaska 3
11/25/03 Alaska 2 @ San Diego 3 (SO)
12/07/03 Alaska 3 @ San Diego 4 (SO)
01/09/04 San Diego 4 @ Alaska 2
01/10/04 San Diego 2 @ Alaska 4
01/11/04 San Diego 3 @ Alaska 4 (SO)
01/17/04 Alaska 2 @ San Diego 4
01/18/04 Alaska 1 @ San Diego 2

San Diego owns the all-time series match-up, posting a 62-17-5 record against its Pacific Division rival.

LAST HEAD-TO-HEAD MEETING: JAN. 18:

Mark Pederson scored twice while his linemates Greg Barber and Sylvain Deschatelets pitched in with two assists, leading the Gulls to a tight 2-1 win. It was 1-0 Gulls all the way into the third period before Pederson netted the game-winner midway through the third. Alaska finally solved Trevor Koenig with 19.1 seconds left in the game, but it was too little to late.

GULLS UPDATE:

The Gulls (48-13-10) have already clinched first place in the Pacific Division and Western Conference... They will officially play the Aces in the first round of the Kelly Cup Playoffs, which begins Tuesday at the Sports Arena... San Diego is 29-5-1 at the Sports Arena this season and is 20-1-1 in its last 22 games on home ice... If the Gulls win tonight, they will break the franchise record for most points in one season. The record currently sits at 107, set by the 1997-98 club... BATTLE FOR THE BRABHAM CUP:

The Brabham Cup is awarded to the regular season point champion in the ECHL. Entering today, The Gulls and Wheeling Nailers are tied for the best overall record, each with 106 points. Wheeling, however, has clinched the tiebreaker with more wins. In order for San Diego to win the Brabham Cup, one of the two must happen tonight: If the Gulls win, the Nailers must lose in regulation or overtime. If the Gulls lose in overtime, Wheeling must lose in regulation. If Wheeling wins or San Diego loses in regulation, the Nailers will take home the Brabham Cup. Wheeling closes out its regular season tonight in Atlantic City.

OTHER NOTES:

San Diego has won seven straight and is unbeaten in 17 of its last 18 games overall (13-1-4)... The Gulls are 44-10-5 against Pacific Division teams... They've lost in regulation only three times in their last 37 games (27-3-7) and six times in their last 53 games (39-6-8)... The Blue and Orange have broken the ECHL record for most wins by an expansion team... Koenig is second in the ECHL with 36 wins and fourth with a 2.19 goals-against average. He is unbeaten in 27 of his last 29 games (21-2-6)... Pederson was given the 2003-04 ECHL Sportsmanship Award, along with being named to the All-ECHL Second team. He leads the league with 44 goals and is tied for sixth with Deschatelets, each with 81 points... Barber, who was named to the ECHL All-Rookie Team, is tied for first among rookies with 76 points. He's second among rookies with 46 assists and tied for second with 30 goals... Clayton Read has a career-high seven-game point streak (5g, 6a)... Brian Gornick has a career-high five-game point streak and has 12 points in his last seven games (6g, 6a)...

ALASKA UPDATE:

The Aces (38-27-6) are closing out the regular season on an 11-game road trip... Alaska is 16-15-4 on the road this season and 6-2-2 on its current trek... The Aces are unbeaten in their last four games (3-0-1) after defeating Las Vegas 3-2 last night at the Orleans Arena... Kimbi Daniels, who's coming off a two-game suspension tonight, leads the team with 61 points and 42 assists... The Aces are the only Pacific Division team to have a winning record against the Gulls. They are 4-3-2 against San Diego, which includes a 4-1-0 mark in Anchorage. They are 0-2-2 at the Sports Arena this season...

TRANSACTIONS:

Rookie winger Paul Caponigri signed Wednesday... Kevin Grant, Chris Gobert, Jamie Black and Dennis Purdie all remain on the injured list... San Diego still has three players in the American Hockey League: Billy Tibbetts (Houston), Nick Lent (Springfield) and Josh Gratton (Cincinnati)...

FUTURE HEAD-TO-HEAD GAMES:

These two teams will square off in the opening round of the 2004 ECHL playoffs. It will be a best-of-five series with San Diego holding the home-ice advantage.

Game 1 @ San Diego Tuesday, April 6 (7:05 p.m.)
Game 2 @ San Diego Wednesday, April 7 (7:05 p.m.)
Game 3 @ Alaska Friday, April 9 (8 p.m. PST)
Game 4 @ Alaska Saturday, April 10 (8 p.m. PST)*
Game 5 @ San Diego Tuesday, April 13 (7:05 p.m.)*
*If necessary

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