Gulls Blanked In Peoria, 3-0

Published on January 28, 2005 under ECHL (ECHL)
San Diego Gulls News Release


PEORIA, Ill. – It was just a flat-out dominating performance by the Peoria Rivermen Friday night, who out-shot the San Diego Gulls 51-12 and out-scored them 3-0, before 4,645 at Carver Arena.

The only reason it wasn't more than a 3-0 win for the Rivermen was because of the stellar San Diego goaltending by both Mathieu Chouinard and Eddy Ferhi. Chouinard, who finished the game with 35 saves, was forced to leave the game early in the third period after re-aggravating his groin. Ferhi, who entered in relief, went on to make 13 saves.

San Diego (21-13-4) has now dropped two straight after winning its previous six games. Peoria (17-15-4) has now won five straight games.

After totally dominating the first period, Peoria defenseman Aaron Forsythe gave the Rivermen a 1-0 lead at the 19:16 mark with a slap shot from the left point that eluded a screened Chouinard.

Otherwise, Chouinard was the story in the opening frame, making save after save... after save. The Rivermen out-shot San Diego 21-2 in the first, but Chouinard single-handedly kept the beleaguered Gulls in the game. Of his 20 first-period saves, one came on a breakaway chance and another came on a post-to-post diving stop on ECHL All-Star Patrick Wellar.

The shooting barrage continued in the second period, as the Rivermen racked up another 15 shots. But they still couldn't increase their lead, as Chouinard continued to stand on his head.

Meanwhile, the Gulls continued to have their own problems offensively. After only mustering two shots in the first period, San Diego notched eight more in the second, but couldn't get anything past Peoria netminder Alfie Michaud. A few of those shots came on quality opportunities and at point-blank range, but Michaud was equal to the task.

It was still a 1-0 game early in the third, when arguably the worst thing that could've happened to the Gulls indeed happened. Chouinard, though losing in the contest, was on his way to a career game, but fell victim to the injury bug... again. After trying to make a toe save, Chouinard appeared to re-injure the same groin that's kept him on the shelf twice already this season. The red-hot netminder had all kinds of trouble putting pressure on the injured leg and was forced to leave the game, ending his night with 35 saves on 36 shots.

His replacement Ferhi, jumped right in and picked up right where Chouinard left off. He stopped a breakaway and a few other grade-A Peoria chances, keeping it a one-goal game.

That is until Russ Guzior made it 2-0 at 11:17 of the third, converting on a centering pass from Jake Riddle. After Ferhi got caught behind the net, Riddle took the puck away and fed a wide-open Guzior, who did the rest.

Right after the goal, San Diego's Nick Ganga cross-checked Guzior in the face and was assessed a match penalty and game misconduct. On the ensuing major power play, Peoria's Trevor Baker put the game away, connecting on a nice centering pass from Guzior at the 14:43 mark.

The only thing left in question was if Michaud could finish-off the shutout, which he did pretty easily. The Gulls, who only registered two more shots in the third, finished the game with a season-low total of 12. Peoria, on the other hand, notched 15 shots in the final frame for a game-total of 51, the most San Diego has allowed this season.

Notes: The Gulls are now 2-3-0 against teams outside of their division. They have eight games remaining this season against interdivision teams... San Diego is now 7-9-2 overall on the road... The 21 shots allowed by the Gulls in the first period is the most they've allowed in one period this season... Sylvain Deschatelets' eight-game point streak was snapped. He had 14 points in that span (4g, 10a)... Brian Gornick has 18 points in his last 18 games (12g, 6a)... Curtis Brown has 14 points (4g, 10a) in his last 11 games... Max Birbraer was activated from injured reserve Friday... Trevor Koenig was re-placed on the injured list with elbow tendonitis... He joins Wes Rypien (sprained knee) and Sean Murphy (broken thumb)... Jonathon Shockey, who is recovering from a separated shoulder, could be activated this weekend... Andrew Canzanello remains with the American Hockey League's Cincinnati Mighty Ducks...

The Gulls continue their season-high seven-game road trip Saturday against the Dayton Bombers, with game-time set for 4 p.m. (PST). San Diego will play in Toledo Sunday at noon (PST) and Wednesday at 4 p.m. (PST) before closing out the trek with two games in Wheeling and one in Johnstown.

All games can be heard live on KLSD 1360AM and www.sandiegogulls.com with Chris Ello calling the play-by-play*. All home games and many road games can be viewed on the Gulls' web site, courtesy of B2 Networks. Click the B2 Networks link on the home page for a list of the upcoming telecasted games. To view pictures from this season, visit www.sdgullsphotos.com and www.zerodogentertainment.com.

*NOTE: WEDNESDAY'S GAME IN TOLEDO AND THE FEB. 4 GAME IN WHEELING WILL BE TAPE-DELAYED, BOTH AIRING AT 7 P.M. (PST) ON KLSD.

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