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Gulls Beat Ice Dogs Yet Again, 5-3

March 23, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
San Diego Gulls News Release


SAN DIEGO – Two streaks were kept intact Tuesday night... The San Diego Gulls beat the Long Beach Ice Dogs 5-3, stretching their unbeaten streak to 23 games over their Southern California rival... Sylvain Deschatelets also earned three assists, extending his career-high point streak to 20 games.

The sidebar story was Scott Kirton, who picked up two goals and an assist for his first three points in a Gulls uniform. But it wasn't how many points he earned, it was when he earned them. The Gulls were trailing 3-1 midway through the second before Kirton setup a goal, giving San Diego some much-needed momentum. Kirton then took matters in his own hands, scoring the game-winning and insurance marker in the third.

With the win, the Gulls (43-13-10) take sole possession of first place in the Western Conference, now leading the Louisiana IceGators by two points. They also pick up ground on the Wheeling Nailers for the best overall record in the ECHL. San Diego now trails Wheeling by only four points with a game in hand. The Blue and Orange also inch closer to the Pacific Division title, needing just five points in their remaining six games to clinch.

Meanwhile, it's just another win over the Ice Dogs (22-39-5). The Gulls' last regulation loss to Long Beach came Oct. 26, 2002. Since then, they are 22-0-1 against the Ice Dogs, finishing this seasons' season-series with a 9-0-1 mark.

San Diego grabbed a 1-0 lead on Clayton Read's first goal of the game 5:38 into the game. Just as a Gulls power play expired, Samy Nasreddine held in an errant clearing pass inside his own zone. Nasreddine faked a shot then whipped a cross-ice pass to David Neale standing in the left faceoff circle. Neale then found a wide-open Read, who redirected it past a sprawled T.J. Aceti.

Derek Seal tied it, 1-1, at 17:02 of the first with his third goal of the year. Seal grabbed a pass from newcomer Michael Vyhlidal at center ice and weaved his way into the San Diego zone. After maneuvering around two Gulls defenders, Seal stopped just outside the right wing circle and wristed it behind Trevor Koenig.

The Ice Dogs took the lead 4:13 into the second on a power-play goal by Mike Ouellet. Mark Gouett, positioned at the point, took a pass from Martin Paquet and fired a slap shot that was tipped in by Ouellet for his 15th tally.

Alex Kim gave the Ice Dogs a two-goal cushion with his team-leading 24th goal at 10:04, capitalizing on an outnumbered attack. Kim pounced on the puck at his own blue line and skated in two-on-one with Paquet. The Long Beach center wouldn't need his teammate however, as he penetrated to the crease and bounced a shot off Koenig into the net.

The Gulls came right back to tie the game, 3-3, with two late goals in the second. Kevin Grant struck first at 14:11, making it a one-goal game. Kirton took the puck away just inside the Ice Dogs zone and dumped it to Deschatelets along the right wing boards. Deschatelets then centered a pass to a streaking Grant, who poked it home. It was Grant's seventh goal and first since coming off the injured list. With the assist, Deschatelets extended his point streak to 20 games.

Read then cashed in his second of the night – 12th of the season – at 19:34, converting on a San Diego power play. Nasreddine had the puck at the point and unleashed a slap shot that Aceti stopped. The rebound, however, bounced right to Read, who easily punched it by the rookie netminder. Neale also garnered an assist, his second of the game.

Kirton scored San Diego's third and fourth unanswered goals in the third period to give the lead back to the Gulls... and back for good. He buried his first of the night at 1:29, one-timing home a pass from Mark Pederson. Kirton connected with Pederson again at 13:34 to give the Gulls a 5-3 advantage. It was his 19th and 20th goals of the season, first and second with the Blue and Orange. Deschatelets earned assists on both goals, his second and third of the game.

Notes: The Gulls are unbeaten in 12 of their last 13 games (8-1-4)... They've lost in regulation only three times in their last 32 games (22-3-7) and six times in their last 48 games (34-6-8)... San Diego is 39-10-5 against Pacific Division teams, which includes a 26-2-0 mark at home... The Gulls are 36-10-2 lifetime against the Ice Dogs, which includes three seasons in the West Coast Hockey League... Deschatelets has 32 points during his point streak (11g, 21a). The 20-game streak ties Pederson for the ECHL season high... Pederson has 12 points (6g, 6a) in his last seven games... Neale has a point in four of his last five games... Koenig is unbeaten in 22 of his last 24 games (16-2-6)... Greg Barber was scratched after suffering a thigh injury Sunday. His status is day-to-day... Chris Gobert missed his third straight game with an upper leg injury... Head coach Steve Martinson served the fourth of a five-game suspension... Billy Tibbetts was loaned to the American Hockey League's Houston Aeros on Saturday... Nick Lent remains with the AHL's Springfield Falcons, while Josh Gratton is still with the AHL's Cincinnati Mighty Ducks... Dennis Purdie remains on the injured list...

The Gulls now embark on a three-game road trip, which sees them play Friday and Saturday in Boise, Idaho and Monday in Fresno. Friday and Saturday's games start at 6:05 p.m. PST while Monday's game against the Falcons begins at 7 p.m. Friday's game against the Steelheads will be tape-delayed on KPOP 1360AM until 7 p.m. (PST). All other games can be heard live on KPOP 1360AM and www.sandiegogulls.com with Chris Ello calling the play-by-play. The next edition of the Gulls Internet Radio show, hosted by Tera Black and Jeremy Zager on wsRadio.com, will air live Monday, April 5 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. To view pictures from this season, visit www.sdgullsphotos.com and www.zerodogentertainment.com.

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