Gulls Beat Idaho 3-1
March 28, 2003 - ECHL (ECHL)
San Diego Gulls News Release
BOISE, Idaho - The San Diego Gulls jumped out to a two-goal lead Tuesday night, but couldn't hold it. Tonight was a different story. San Diego scored twice in the first period, once in the second and went on to beat the Idaho Steelheads 3-1 Friday night, before 4,735 at the Bank of America Centre.
With the victory, the Gulls (42-20-5) assure themselves of having at least a two-point lead over the Bakersfield Condors for second place in the West Coast Hockey League. The Condors are playing host to the Anchorage Aces tonight. San Diego still has one game in hand on Bakersfield as well.
The Steelheads (50-14-4) suffered only their third regulation home loss of the season. Their six-game winning streak also came to an end tonight.
Just like they did Tuesday night, the Gulls jumped out to a 2-0 lead. Sylvain Deschatelets got things started with his 22nd goal 13:45 into the first period. Dennis Purdie wound up for a slap shot, but fired a pass over to Deschatelets, which fooled Idaho netminder Jason Cugnet. Once Deschatelets grabbed the puck he had an empty net staring him right in face. Cory Cyrenne, in his second game back from a concussion, gave San Diego the two-goal lead with his 12th goal at 18:32. Kevin Grant, in his own zone, fed a streaking Cyrenne, who made a nice stick-handle and beat a screened Cugnet.
Idaho cut the lead in half on Joe Rybar's 25th goal, finishing off a two-on-one rush 4:32 into the second period. Marty Flichel skated the puck down the wing, faked a shot that fooled Trevor Koenig and dished it to Rybar, who easily tapped it in.
But unlike Tuesday, the Gulls were able to answer and regained their two-goal lead on a Samy Nasreddine power-play tally. Nasreddine took a pass from Grant and fired a low slap shot from the blue line that was deflected in by Idaho defenseman Jonathan Shockey. It was Nasreddine's third goal and only San Diego's fifth power-play goal in 69 chances against Idaho this season.
The Steelheads had a few chances in the opening minutes of the third period, but Koenig was equal to the task. The rest of the stanza belonged to the San Diego defense, which completely shutdown the Idaho attack.
Notes: The Gulls still have more wins than the Condors, the tiebreaker if both teams finish with the same amount of points... Koenig is three wins away from 100 in his Gulls career... If the Steelheads win their final four games, they will break the WCHL record for most wins in one season... That would also set the all-time single-season high with 112 points... Mark Pederson was placed on the 14-day injured list today, which will keep him out the remainder of the regular season... Grant was activated from IR. The Gulls are now 25-6-1 with him in the lineup... Miguel Delisle, who spent the last five seasons in juniors, was signed and made his professional debut tonight... Robb Wismer was waived... Marc Busenburg and Rob Voltera remain with the American Hockey League's Hershey Bears
San Diego finishes its three-game set in Boise Saturday, with game time set for 6 p.m. (PST). The Gulls conclude their final road trip of the regular season Wednesday in Long Beach before returning home. All games can be heard live on AM1130-KSDO with Chris Ello calling the play-by-play. The Gulls' Internet radio show broadcasts live every Tuesday from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. on wsradio.com with Tera Black and Jeremy Zager hosting.
ECHL Stories from March 28, 2003
- Grizzlies Can't Hold On Versus Houston - Utah Grizzlies
- Steelheads Fall to Gulls, 3-1 - Idaho Steelheads
- Generals Clinch Playoff Spot - Greensboro Generals
- Kingfish fall to Gators, 4-1 - Baton Rouge Kingfish
- Gulls Beat Idaho 3-1 - San Diego Gulls
- Sea Wolves Propel Past Ice Pilots, 4-3 in the Shootout - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- Storm Trip Cyclones, 3-2 - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Blades Douse Inferno 3-1 - Florida Everblades
- Komets clinch Tarry Cup - Fort Wayne Komets
- Blades Drop Crucial Game To Bandits - Arkansas RiverBlades
- Condors Sign Western League Scorer - Bakersfield Condors
- San Diego and Idaho Clash Again At B of A Centre - San Diego Gulls
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Generals Game Night Notes - Greensboro Generals
- Pederson on IR; Grant Activated; Delisle Signed; Wismer Waived - San Diego Gulls
- 'Gades Hayward Earns AHL Call-Up - Richmond Renegades
- Las Vegas Wranglers Unveil New Logo - Las Vegas Wranglers
- Sullivan Called up to Lowell - Baton Rouge Kingfish
- Stringer Wins Sportsmanship Award - ECHL
- Matt Poapst Activated Off Of 7 Day I.R. - Pensacola Ice Pilots
- Sea Wolves Make Three Roster Moves - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- Stingrays to Face Pee Dee in First Round - South Carolina Stingrays
- Countdown to Face-Off - Kalamazoo Wings
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