Gulls Advance To Taylor Cup Finals With 3-1 Win
April 19, 2003 - ECHL (ECHL)
San Diego Gulls News Release
SAN DIEGO -- Miguel Delisle joined the San Diego Gulls in late March with no professional experience. Well the 21-year-old rookie now how has a story to tell. His goal with nine minutes left in regulation not only won the game for the Gulls, it advanced them to the Taylor Cup Finals.
The game was tied, 1-1 when the Condors thought they took the lead early in the third. Jeff Goldie had a bid in-close on Trevor Koenig 4:20 into the final frame, but was ruled to never have crossed the goal line. That took the wind out of Bakersfield's sails as Delisle's marker and Dean Tiltgen's empty-netter put the Condors away 3-1 Friday, before 4,370 at the Sports Arena. San Diego now advances to the Taylor Cup Finals for the sixth time in franchise history.
J.J. Wrobel gave the Condors their first lead since Game 2 with his first playoff goal 14:47 into the opening frame. Bakersfield had the cycle going in the San Diego zone and the puck game to Wrobel in the left wing corner, where he banked a shot off Gulls defenseman Dan Cousineau and past Trevor Koenig.
The Gulls had a golden opportunity to tie the game moments later on Dennis Purdie's short-handed breakaway, but Kevin St. Pierre - who's arguably struggled the past two games - stood his ground and knocked the shot away.
Mark Pederson, however, converted 52 seconds into the second period to knot the score. Mike Garrow blasted a shot from the right point that eventually caromed to the slot. Purdie grabbed hold of the puck and knocked it over to Pederson, who slipped it behind St. Pierre for his third goal.
San Diego had an excellent chance to take the lead with a two-man advantage for 50 seconds later in the middle frame, but St. Pierre and company kept it a 1-1 game.
That's the way it stayed until Delisle potted the game-winner with 9:04 left in the third period. Tiltgen started the play by hustling in the corner and taking the puck away. Delisle took Tiltgen's pass and whistled a shot that was steered aside. The rookie winger pounced on his own rebound though and flipped it behind an outstretched, sprawled St. Pierre.
The Condors tried to comeback, but Tiltgen's empty-netter with 38 seconds left officially put them away. It was Tiltgen's second goal and second point of the game.
Notes: The Gulls are 18-4 all-time against the Condors in the postseason, beating them in all six series... San Diego has never been eliminated in the first round... Koenig stopped 152 of 158 shots in the series: a 1.17 goals-against average and .962 save percentage. He's now 18-8 lifetime with the Gulls in the postseason... Pederson leads the league with seven points and has scored at least one point in every game of the series... San Diego outscored the Condors 15-6 in the series...
The Gulls now await the winner of the Fresno Falcons - Idaho Steelheads series. No matter who wins, Game 1 of the Taylor Cup Finals will be Friday, April 25. If Fresno wins, San Diego will have the home-ice advantage. If Idaho wins, the series will start in Boise. All games can be heard live on AM1130-KSDO with Chris Ello calling the play-by-play. You can listen to the Gulls Internet Radio Show's archives anytime on wsradio.com, with Tera Black and Jeremy Zager hosting.
ECHL Stories from April 19, 2003
- Falcons Aim to Clinch Finals Berth - Fresno Falcons
- Statement from Men O'War on Hockey's Future in Lexington - Burlington
- Falcons Grab Stranglehold on Series - Fresno Falcons
- Taylor Cup Finals Dates Announced - San Diego Gulls
- Gulls Advance To Taylor Cup Finals With 3-1 Win - San Diego Gulls
- Gulls Eliminate Condors - Bakersfield Condors
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