Gulls Beat Florida 6-5 In Shootout

Published on November 8, 2003 under ECHL (ECHL)
San Diego Gulls News Release


SAN DIEGO – Fans certainly got their monies worth tonight. Well... the ones who like goals. The San Diego Gulls and Florida Everblades combined for 11 goals, seven alone in the second period. But it was the Gulls who had the last laugh, edging the Everblades 6-5 in a shootout Friday, before 5,845 at the Sports Arena.

It was the first time the Gulls played a team from the East. It was Florida's third game against the West. And judging by tonight, both coasts are in for some fierce competition. The same two teams meet again Saturday night, so make sure your seatbelt is fastened.

Samy Nasreddine gave the Gulls (3-1-1) a 1-0 lead with a power-play goal 12:57 into the first. Billy Tibbetts fired a shot from the left point that bounced to the slot where Dennis Purdie picked it up. The San Diego captain fed the right point to Nasreddine, whose wrist shot fluttered by a screened Rob Zepp.

Florida (5-2-3) tied it up 1:55 later on Brian McCullough's first goal of the game. Trevor Koenig couldn't control the rebound off Jon Insana's wrister from the right circle and McCullough was right there to tap it home.

The Gulls regained the lead two minutes into the second on Sandro Sbrocca's first tally. Dan Cousineau gained possession at the blue line and whipped a shot that caromed right to Sbrocca, who had an empty net staring him in the face.

Miguel Delisle put San Diego ahead 3-1 with a power-play goal at 6:15 of the middle frame. The Gulls fired a handful of point-blank shots that Zepp kept stuffing, but Delisle crept in and finally beat the Florida netminder. It was Delisle's first goal of the year.

The Everblades came back 36 seconds later with a power-play goal of their own. Brent McDonald, standing right in the slot, beat Koenig top-shelf for his fifth goal.

San Diego answered at 9:12 on a breakaway goal from Billy Tibbetts. Teams were fighting for the puck along the center ice boards before the puck squirted to Tibbetts, who beat Zepp five-hole for his team-leading fourth tally.

Keith Anderson and Reggie Berg then scored 57 seconds apart later in the frame to knot the game, 4-4. Anderson, who began the day leading the ECHL in points and goals, notched his 10th at 12:23. Berg then picked up his sixth at 13:30.

Nasreddine scored the seventh goal of the second period at 14:52, sneaking in from the point and burying a wrist shot from the hash marks. It was Nasreddine's second goal of the game and season. He had three goals all of last year.

McCullough tied it a 5-all 4:27 into the third period. Florida was skating with a two-man advantage and McCullough banked in a rebound at the left post. It was his second goal and fourth point of the game.

Teams skated to a scoreless overtime and proceeded to a shootout, where the goalies stole the show. Tibbetts was the only one to score in the extra frame as Koenig turned aside all five Everblades shooters.

Notes: The Gulls will donate another $850 to the San Diego wildfire victims, $25 for every Koenig save... Greg Barber's four-game point streak was snapped... Purdie played in his 200th career Gulls came Friday. He needs six more points for 500 in his professional career... Head coach Steve Martinson needs 12 more wins for 400 all-time. He's been the only coach in Gulls franchise history... David Burleigh (back spasms) and Clayton Read (sore foot) were both activated from injured reserve... Anderson extended his goal-scoring streak to eight games... Florida's Ryan Van Buskirk served the third of a five-game suspension...

San Diego closes out its brief homestand Saturday against Florida, with game time scheduled for 7:05 p.m. It will also be the fourth annual "Teddy Bear Toss," presented by San Diego Harley-Davidson and the California Office of Traffic Safety. Fans are invited to bring a new, unwrapped stuffed toy to toss onto the ice after the Gulls score their first goal. The California Highway Patrol will donate all toys to underprivileged children throughout the San Diego community.

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.

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ECHL Stories from November 8, 2003


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