Gulls Beat Bako, 3-2

November 14, 2003 - ECHL (ECHL)
San Diego Gulls News Release


BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - The San Diego Gulls scored two power-play goals and added a short-hander, powering their way past the Bakersfield Condors 3-2 Friday night at Centennial Garden. The win breaks San Diego's three-game losing streak.

During their recent skid, the Gulls (4-4-1) struggled both offensively and with special teams - not scoring and allowing too many power-play goals. But they killed two birds (or Condors) with one stone Friday. San Diego not only got some stingy penalty killing, but also took care of things in the attacking zone.

Kevin Grant led the charge for the Blue and Orange with a goal and assist, his first multipoint game of the season. Miguel Delisle and Dennis Purdie also chipped in with tallies. Trevor Koenig turned aside upped his record to 4-1-1.

The Gulls grabbed a quick 2-0 lead with a power-play goal and shorthanded goal less than four minutes apart in the first period. Grant netted his first of the year at 7:13 with San Diego skating on a two-man advantage. Samy Nasreddine flung a cross-ice pass to Grant, who beat Peter Hirsch with a wicked slap shot from the high slot.

Purdie then put home his second of the season with a shorthanded breakaway tally at 11:02. Eric Skaug, who recorded his first professional point with an assist, cleared the puck off the boards and behind the Bakersfield defense. Purdie picked it up and was off to the races. It was San Diego's third shorthanded marker of the season, tied for second most in the ECHL.

San Diego's power play went back to work midway through the second when Paul Rosebush was assessed a five-minute major for elbowing Cliff Loya. On the ensuing man advantage, Delisle notched his second of the year, giving the Gulls a commanding 3-0 lead. Grant started the play with another rocket from the blue line. Hirsch got a piece of Grant's shot, but the puck deflected in the air and Delisle was right there to punch it in.

The Condors (4-7-1), who entered the day with the league's worst power play, got one at 16:28 of the middle frame to make it a 3-1 game. Randy Perry's original shot sailed wide, but the rebound caromed back in front of the net. Jimmy Drolet snuck in from the point, found the puck and tucked in his first of the season. Bakersfield now has three power-play goals in 56 chances, an abysmal 5.4 percent.

Kevin Riehl cut the San Diego lead to one with 4:38 remaining, deflecting Perry's long shot just past Koenig. It was Riehl's third goal and team-leading ninth point. That's as close as the Condors could get however as Koenig and company shut the door from there.

Notes: The Gulls were outscored 14-2 during their three-game skid... They've scored a total of 16 goals in their four wins and five goals in their five losses (which includes an overtime loss)... San Diego has been shorthanded 68 times already this season - almost eight times per game... Purdie now needs four points for 500 in his pro career... The Gulls are 78-16-5 against Bakersfield... Billy Tibbetts remains out with a fractured wrist. He won't return for at least another two weeks... The Gulls were 4-4-1 after nine games last season...

San Diego concludes its road trip Saturday in Long Beach, with game time scheduled for 7 p.m. The Gulls return home to face the Fresno Falcons Wednesday in a rematch of last season's Taylor Cup Finals. All games can be heard 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 biweekly soon. Stay tuned for more details.



ECHL Stories from November 14, 2003


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