Gulls Beat Aces, 4-2

Published on January 10, 2004 under ECHL (ECHL)
San Diego Gulls News Release


ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Mark Pederson, Josh Gratton and Sandro Sbrocca each had a goal and an assist, leading the San Diego Gulls to another victory, this time 4-2 against the Alaska Aces Friday night at Sullivan Arena. San Diego has now won five straight on the road and 12 of 13 overall.

With the win the Gulls (21-8-2) jump over the Aces (20-10-3) for third place in the Pacific Division. San Diego is now only three points behind the front-running Las Vegas Wranglers, who fell to the Peoria Rivermen Friday night. The Blue and Orange remain two points back of the second-place Idaho Steelheads.

The Gulls still have games in hand on all three teams in the Pacific Division race: five on Las Vegas, four on Idaho and two on Alaska. San Diego entered the day with the best winning percentage in the division – third overall in the ECHL.

Sbrocca gave the Gulls an early 1-0 lead 2:45 into the game. After skating around an Alaska defenseman, Sbrocca came to the near post and roofed it over Dan Murphy for his second goal of the season – first since Nov. 7.

San Diego grabbed a two-goal cushion thanks to Barber's power-play goal at 9:12 of the first. Kevin Grant unleashed a shot from the point that bounced off a couple of bodies right to Barber, who banged it in. It was Barber's 10th goal.

Mike Scott got the Aces on the board and cut the Gulls lead in half 3:39 into the second period with his team-leading 18th goal. Mark Smith got the original shot that Trevor Koenig saved, but the rebound trickled right to Scott, who easily tapped it into net.

Gratton regained San Diego's two-goal advantage with a breakaway goal at 11:36 of the second. After serving a penalty for Sbrocca, Gratton jumped out of the box and chipped the puck away from an Aces defenseman. The rookie winger then rushed in all alone, made a fancy deke and tucked it past an out-stretched Murphy. It was Gratton's second point of the night. He also assisted on Sbrocca's first-period goal.

Pederson put the game away with his team-leading 19th tally 2:29 into the third. David Neale started the play by intercepting a clearing pass just inside the Alaska blue line. Neale then dropped a pass to Trent Clark, who whipped it to Pederson and the Gulls leading scorer finished it off. Pederson has now scored in six straight games.

Kimbi Daniels made it a 4-2 game with his 10th goal at 15:03, but it was too little to late for the Aces. Koenig, who was stingy in net all game long, improves his record to 15-4-2.

Notes: San Diego has won 12 of its last 13 games and is unbeaten in 19 of its last 23 games overall (18-4-1)... It's won five straight on the road... The Gulls are 17-2-1 in their last 20 games against Pacific Division teams... They've outscored their opponents 49-25 in the last 13 games... Alaska was 0 for 9 on the power play... San Diego has killed 81 of its last 86 penalties... Pederson is riding a six-game goal-scoring streak. He has 13 points (8g, 5a) in the last six games... Sylvain Deschatelets didn't score Friday, but still has 11 points (2g, 9a) in his last six games... Friday was Grant's 35th birthday... Billy Tibbetts was loaned to the American Hockey League's Springfield Falcons... Justin Hellegards was put on team suspension... Clark was signed on Wednesday...

The Gulls continue their weekend series with the Aces Saturday and Sunday at Sullivan Arena, with both games starting at 8 p.m. (PST). San Diego pays visit to the Fresno Falcons on Friday, Jan. 16 before returning home. 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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