Gulls Down Long Beach, 2-1

January 29, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
San Diego Gulls News Release


SAN DIEGO – The math is simple when the Gulls play the Ice Dogs...just add two points for San Diego. The Blue and Orange stretched their unbeaten streak against Long Beach to 20 games and extended their overall winning streak to seven with a 2-1 victory Thursday night at the Sports Arena.

San Diego's last regulation loss to Long Beach came Oct. 26, 2002. Since then, the Gulls are 19-0-1 against their Southern California rival, including a 6-0-1 mark this season. The only time the Blue and Orange haven't come away with two points over the last 19 head-to-head meetings was in a 1-0 shootout loss on Nov. 15.

More importantly, Steve Martinson and his troops extend their Pacific Division lead to five points over the idle Idaho Steelheads. The Gulls are now only one point behind the Louisiana IceGators and Mississippi Sea Wolves for the top spot in the Western Conference. They're three points back of the Wheeling Nailers for the best record in the ECHL.

San Diego took a 1-0 lead on a goal by guess who? Mark Pederson of course. The veteran left-winger netted his league-leading 29th goal 9:12 into the first period, connecting on a pass from fellow red-hot linemate Sylvain Deschatelets. The Ice Dogs had control of the puck behind their own net, but Deschatelets stole it and fed a wide-open Pederson, who redirected it past Colin Zulianello. Pederson now has a point in 16 straight games, also tops in the ECHL.

Long Beach came right back at 15:46 of the first when Lee Sorochan beat David Burleigh with a slap shot from the right wing circle. It was Sorochan's third goal of the season.

Chris Gobert regained the Gulls' lead with a power-play goal, 4:42 into the second, on another setup from Deschatelets. Gobert was streaking down the slot and one-timed Deschatelets' centering feed behind T.J. Aceti, who replaced an injured Zulianello in the latter moments of the first period. Zulianello left the game with 2:45 left in the opening period after a collision in front of the net with Gobert, who was pushed into the crease by a Long Beach defenseman.

Gobert's goal proved to be the game-winner as offense went to bed the remainder of the game. The Ice Dogs mustered 10 shots in the third period, but continued to be stymied by San Diego's stingy defense. Burleigh finished the game with 31 saves, upping his record to 8-5-0

Notes: San Diego has won eight straight at home... Pederson, Deschatelets and Greg Barber have combined for 50 points (20g, 30a) in the last 11 games... Pederson has 27 points (18g, 9a) during his 16-game point streak... Barber assisted on Pederson's first-period goal, which extended his career-high point streak to nine games. He has 18 points (6g, 12a) in his last 11 games... Deschatelets has 27 points (5g, 22a) in the last 16 games... The Gulls are unbeaten in 20 of their last 23 games (19-3-1), outscoring their opponents 80-47... San Diego is 26-7-3 against Pacific Division teams, including a 16-1-0 mark at home... They've now killed 121 of their last 134 penalties (90.3 percent)... Clayton Read (concussion) and Kevin Grant (neck strain) both remain on the injured list... Rookie defenseman (Evgueni) Nourislamov signed Thursday... Josh Gratton remains with the American Hockey League's Cincinnati Mighty Ducks...

The Gulls continue their homestand Friday against Idaho and Saturday against Bakersfield. Friday's game starts at 7:35 p.m. and the first 5,000 fans will receive free wall clocks, courtesy of American Airlines. Saturday's game begins at 7:05 p.m. and will feature the ZOOperstars! as the intermission entertainment. San Diego then hits the road for three games in Boise, Idaho next week. All games can be heard live on KPOP 1360AM 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 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. To view pictures from tonight's game, as well as previous Gulls' games, visit www.sdgullsphotos.com.



ECHL Stories from January 29, 2004


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