Sports stats



Gulls continue to feast on Pacific Division

March 15, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
San Diego Gulls News Release


SAN DIEGO –– When you're the first place club and you play the two bottom teams in the division, wins are expected. The San Diego Gulls didn't disappoint last week, coming away with three straight victories. Now with just 10 games left in the regular season, the Blue and Orange are creeping their way to another division crown.

The Gulls began their week with two straight home wins against the last-place Fresno Falcons Friday and Saturday nights. Then they took the short road trip to Long Beach and took care of the Ice Dogs on Sunday.

With the perfect 3-0-0 record last week, the Gulls expand their Pacific Division lead to eight points over the red-hot Las Vegas Wranglers, who only have nine games left in the regular season. San Diego is now two points back of the Louisiana IceGators for the top spot in the Western Conference. The Blue and Orange, however, have two games in hand on Louisiana. Overall in the ECHL, the Gulls have the second-best winning percentage (.726), but it's going to be tough catching the Wheeling Nailers, who are running away with 99 points.

WEEK IN REVIEW:

March 12 vs. Fresno:

Greg Barber scored his first career hat trick and added an assist, while Mark Pederson added a goal and three assists, leading the Gulls to a 4-1 victory over the Falcons. Sylvain Deschatelets, the other forward on San Diego's top line, finished with two assists. The Gulls jumped out to a 1-0 lead 7:15 into the first period on Barber's first goal of the game. They made it 2-0 midway through the second on a power-play goal by Pederson. Fresno cut the lead in half 7:15 into the third before Barber answered with his second of the game minutes later. The San Diego rookie sealed the win with an empty-netter and hat trick tally late in the final stanza.

March 13 vs. Fresno:

Deschatelets scored twice, including the game-winner midway through the third period, leading San Diego to a tight 5-4 win over Fresno. It looked like the Gulls were going to run away with the game after taking a 4-1 lead midway through the second period. The Falcons, however, scored three straight goals to tie the game early in the third. Fresno had all the momentum, but Deschatelets made sure San Diego would skate away with the two points as he netted the deciding tally with 9:13 left in the third.

March 14 @ Long Beach:

Pederson lit the lamp twice and added an assist, while Sandro Sbrocca and Barber had the other tallies en route to San Diego's 4-2 win in Long Beach Sunday. The Ice Dogs jumped out to a 1-0 lead on Jerome Marois' tally midway through the first period. Pederson evened it early in the second before Sbrocca gave the Gulls the lead at 7:01 of the middle frame. Pederson struck again at 11:49 before Long Beach cut the lead back to one at 18:19 of the second. Barber, however, put the game away late in the third while the Gulls were skating on the two-man advantage.

THIS WEEK:

San Diego returns home Friday to face the Fresno Falcons, with game-time set for 7:35 p.m. The Gulls play in Fresno Saturday at 7 p.m. before coming back home to host the Bakersfield Condors Sunday, March 21. Sunday's game is a 5:05 p.m. start with "Skate with the Gulls" held immediately afterward.

PLAYER NOTES:

Pederson is tied for second in the ECHL with 77 points. He leads the league with 42 goals... Deschatelets has scored a point in 15 of his last 16 games... Barber leads all ECHL rookies with 70 points, 28 goals and 42 assists... Trevor Koenig is unbeaten in 20 of his last 21 games (14-1-6)... Colin Zulianello remains out with a sore groin... Dennis Purdie (sprained shoulder) and Kevin Grant (neck strain) both remain on the injured list... Josh Gratton remains with the American Hockey League's Cincinnati Mighty Ducks... Brian Gornick and Andy Reierson were assigned by Cincinnati...

TEAM NOTES:

The Gulls' last regulation loss to Long Beach came Oct. 26, 2002. Since then, they are 21-0-1 against the Ice Dogs, including an 8-0-1 mark this season. San Diego is 35-10-2 lifetime against the Ice Dogs, which includes three seasons in the West Coast Hockey League... The Gulls are unbeaten in their last nine games (5-0-4)... They've lost in regulation only twice in their last 28 games (19-2-7) and five times in their last 44 games (31-5-8)... San Diego is 36-9-5 against Pacific Division teams... The Gulls are 25-5-1 at home and 15-7-9 on the road...

All 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, March 22 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. To view pictures from this season, visit www.sdgullsphotos.com and www.zerodogentertainment.com.

• Discuss this story on the ECHL message board...

ECHL Stories from March 15, 2004


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent San Diego Gulls Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central