Gulls Beat Long Beach, 5-4 in Shootout

February 16, 2003 - ECHL (ECHL)
San Diego Gulls News Release


SAN DIEGO -- The Ice Dogs scored twice in the third period to force a shootout, but the San Diego Gulls were too much in the overtime frame and went on to beat Long Beach 5-4 Saturday night, before 11,565 at the Sports Arena.

San Diego has now won four in a row and lead the Bakersfield Condors by four points for second place in the West Coast Hockey League standings.

The Gulls (31-15-3) jumped out to a 1-0 lead with a power-play goal from Cory Cyrenne midway through the first period. Trevor Sherban got the puck at the point and fired a shot at Mike Buzak. Kevin Grant pounced on the long rebound and got his ensuing shot tipped in by Cyrenne standing between the hash marks. It was Cyrenne's 11th tally of the season and eighth point in the last four games.

Long Beach (16-29-3) grabbed a 2-1 lead with two quick goals 1:53 apart early in the middle frame. Michal Pinc struck with his first of the night at 3:12, banging in a centering feed from Chris Peyton. Denis Ladouceur put the Ice Dogs in front with his fifth marker at 5:05, also taking advantage of a centering pass from Peyton.

The Dogs' lead was short-lived however as San Diego came right back with three goals in a four-minute span to go ahead 4-2. Dean Tiltgen started the flurry with his 20th at 8:17, knocking in a rebound off Grant's point shot. Then a red-hot Mark Pederson put home his 31st, fluttering a shot over a stretched-out Buzak at 9:25. Grant notched the Gulls' third power-play goal of the evening at 12:21 with a blistering slap shot from the blue line. It was Grant's fourth goal of the season, three of which have come via the man advantage.

Mike Barrie, who was acquired from the Fresno Falcons yesterday, netted his first goal in an Ice Dogs uniform - 11th on the year - five minutes into the third period. Barrie, standing between the circles, took a pass from Jamie O'Leary and promptly wristed it past Cris Classen to get Long Beach back within one.

Less than two minutes later, Pinc tied it up with his second of the game - eighth of the season - picking up the puck in the slot and beating Classen glove side.

In the shootout period, the Gulls beat Buzak twice on goals by Pederson and Sylvain Deschatelets. Classen turned aside four of five Long Beach shooters.

Notes: San Diego has won seven straight against the Ice Dogs and are 9-1-0 against them this season... The Gulls have outscored Long Beach 40-16 this season and 27-9 during the last five games... Pederson has eight goals in his last four games, including two hat tricks... Classen is 8-1-0 this year and 22-5-1 in his Gulls career... Trevor Koenig remains out of the lineup with a knee sprain... Samy Nasreddine is still out with a back injury and won't be back for another month... Dennis Purdie remains on injured reserve with a shoulder injury... Mike Garrow remains with the American Hockey League's Utah Grizzlies... Marc Busenburg and Rob Voltera remain with the AHL's Hershey Bears...

The Gulls have a day off before going up to Fresno for a President's Day affair with the Falcons. Game time at Selland Arena Monday is a special 1 p.m. start. San Diego moves on to Long Beach Wednesday and then goes right back to Fresno on Friday. The Gulls return home Saturday, Feb. 22 to take on Fresno yet again. All games can be heard live on 1130AM-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 February 16, 2003


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